Harper feels his prime Philly seasons are 'for the next 10 years'

NEW YORK -- Bryce Harper knows the math.

He turns 32 years old next week. Next year will be his 14th big league season. And the rest of the Phillies' core -- the one that has taken a step back each season after winning the 2022 National League pennant -- isn't getting any younger.

So, what does that mean for the Phils' proverbial window to win a World Series championship?

"Obviously, it’s getting shorter, right?" Harper said following the Phillies' season-ending 4-1 loss to the Mets in Game 4 of the NL Division Series on Wednesday night at Citi Field.

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Of course, Harper isn't ready to slam it shut just yet.

After all, he hasn't even reached the halfway point of the 13-year, $330 million contract he signed in 2019. The Phillies also handed out huge contracts to bring back Aaron Nola and extend Zack Wheeler prior to this season.

"But, I think at the same time, you don’t pay Wheels and Noles if you don't think you're going to be competitive for the next five years," Harper said. "Obviously, the [NL] East is going to get better. The Nationals are going to be a lot better next year, the Braves, obviously, are going to get better next year -- they're going to be healthy. Their young guys are really good over here [in New York]. They play really good baseball. Miami always has a pitching staff, right?"

As for Harper, the two-time NL MVP is confident he'll still be playing at an elite level for the entire seven years remaining on his deal -- and then some.

"This is going to be a crazy answer, but I think my prime is for the next 10 years," Harper said. "You know what I’m saying? I don’t think I’m faltering in any way."

Harper hasn't quite replicated his 2021 season -- when he led the Majors with a .615 slugging percentage and a 1.044 OPS -- but he did rack up 30 homers and 42 doubles to go with an .898 OPS this season.

Perhaps most important, Harper played 145 games -- his most since 2019. That came after missing 99 games over the past two seasons.

Harper, though, is confident that staying on the field will be the norm moving forward.

"Kind of the way I run my stuff, and what I do -- getting ready for the seasons and things like that," Harper said. "Obviously age, right? But at the same time, age is getting younger and younger, so I don't think this is my prime years. I think the prime is coming, as well."

How long it lasts remains to be seen, but it's hard to imagine this isn't Harper's prime.

Harper has a 1.016 career OPS in the postseason. That ranks fifth all-time among players with at least 150 playoff plate appearances, behind only Lou Gehrig (1.214), Babe Ruth (1.214), George Brett (1.023) and Carlos Beltrán (1.021).

Even in what was a down NLDS for Harper -- and the entire Phillies' offense -- he still finished 4-for-12 (.333) with three extra-base hits, three RBIs and five walks in four games vs. the Mets. Harper had a 1.279 OPS and ignited the offense with a massive two-run homer in the club's lone win in Game 2.

But Harper could do nothing but watch -- with his helmet on and bat in hand at the top of the dugout steps -- as Kyle Schwarber swung through a 101.1 mph fastball from Edwin Díaz to end the Phillies' season.

"I wish I could have done more, obviously, on a personal level," Harper said. "I wish I could have had that last at-bat, obviously. In that situation it would have been a lot of fun, but just wasn't able to get it."

Of course, Harper's biggest regret from the series came in the top of the sixth inning of Game 3.

Trailing by just two runs at the time, Harper swung and missed at three straight pitches from Sean Manaea. Nick Castellanos then lined into a double play. The Mets doubled their lead in the bottom half.

"I think that's just the situation, when he's trying to do too much," manager Rob Thomson said after the game. "Trying to get the club -- put the club on his shoulders."

But that's who Harper is and what Harper has done many times. He hopes to be in a position to do so again in the coming years.

After all, the Phillies’ window may be shrinking -- but it’s not closed yet.

“We’ve just got to be better,” Harper said. “Got to finish the job. I mean, obviously, we’ve got a great group of guys in here, we’ve got a really good core -- just wasn't able to get the job done.”