The Latest Breaking News from Nick Castellanos

PHILADELPHIA — The Phillies returned to Citizens Bank Park on Friday with a different lineup than most expected. Infielder Kody Clemens, who was activated earlier that day, was in the eight hole. Bench outfielder Jake Cave was in the seven hole. Instead of batting second and third, Bryce Harper and…

PHILADELPHIA — John Middleton wanted to be the one to tell Bryce Harper. So, shortly after lunchtime in Philadelphia on the first Monday in December, once Trea Turner had accepted the Phillies’ $300 million offer, the owner reached for his phone and called the star slugger at home in Las…

PHILADELPHIA — A lot of scouting directors will roll their eyes when you talk about Top 100 prospects. There’s a good reason for that. Back when Baseball America first popularized the genre, an organization could mostly take pride whenever one of its minor league hopefuls earned national accolades. It was…

The biggest question was when. You can’t often say that about $300 million contracts. But Trea Turner’s was one of them. That’s how much sense he made for the Phillies. And if the Phillies were willing to pay him $27.5 million a year through his 40th birthday, well, they certainly…

SAN DIEGO — The Phillies got their man.

PHILADELPHIA — The news that the Phillies are planning to be without Bryce Harper until after the All-Star Break brings some clarity and some confusion to their offseason.

The star outfielder will miss the first half of next season after undergoing Tommy John surgery.

PHILADELPHIA — Phillies designated hitter Bryce Harper underwent “successful” Tommy John surgery with Dr. Neal ElAttrache in Los Angeles on Wednesday, according to a team press release. In the release, the Phillies said that Harper is expected to return as designated hitter by the 2023 All-Star break, and could return…

The Phillies’ star dealt with an injured right elbow last season that limited him to DH duties.