Bryce Harper Eyes Post-Playing Career, Tabs Kyle Schwarber

Bryce Harper has years left on his contract, but he's already thinking about his next chapter. On July 4, 2026, it was reported that Harper wants to own part of a Major League Baseball franchise and oversee its baseball operations.

Harper remains under contract with the Philadelphia Phillies through 2032 and continues to produce at an elite level when healthy. He has averaged 4.0 bWAR per season over the past five seasons, despite injuries.

Harper has laid out his case for another contract with the Phillies before his current one expires. However, the team seems unlikely to extend him anytime soon.

Harper recently discussed his long-term ambitions, revealing that he'd like to own part of an MLB franchise and help oversee its baseball operations. He's already picked a manager: his Philadelphia Phillies teammate Kyle Schwarber.

"I was messing with him about that," Harper said. "I'm like, 'Dude, you're going to be the best manager. If I ever own a team, you're going to manage my team.'"

The compliment speaks to the respect Harper has for his fellow veteran Schwarber, who has become one of the Phillies' clubhouse leaders during the club's sustained run of World Series contention. Schwarber's leadership skills and experience make him an ideal candidate for the role.

Harper's prospects of actually owning a big-league team remain hypothetical, but he seems adamant that Schwarber would be the only choice for a skipper. As reported by Stephen J. Nesbitt and Zack Meisel for The Athletic, Harper would like to own part of an MLB franchise one day and run its baseball operations, like Derek Jeter and Buster Posey have done before him.

The Philadelphia Phillies have a strong team with talented players like Harper and Schwarber. Harper's plans for his post-playing career may not have an immediate impact on the team, but they show his commitment to the sport and his desire to stay involved.

As Jason Foster wrote for MLB.com, Harper remains an exceptional player when healthy, with a .914 OPS and 149 OPS+ over the past five seasons. His plans for the future are exciting, and fans will be eager to see what he achieves next.

The respect between Harper and Schwarber is clear, and their partnership could be a strong one in the future. With Harper's contract extending through 2032, he has plenty of time to focus on his playing career before turning his attention to ownership and management.

For now, Harper will continue to play at an elite level, and fans will enjoy watching him and Schwarber lead the Phillies. The future is bright for this talented team, and Harper's plans are just the beginning of an exciting new chapter.