Bryce Harper Reveals Giants Were Close to Signing Him

Phillies star says Bruce Bochy's retirement was the "deal breaker" that led him to choose Philadelphia over San Francisco.

Mar. 2, 2026 at 8:55pm

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In a recent interview, Philadelphia Phillies star Bryce Harper revealed that he was very close to signing with the San Francisco Giants during his 2019 free agency, but ultimately chose the Phillies because Giants manager Bruce Bochy was retiring at the time. Harper said the Phillies and Giants were the two finalists for his services, and Bochy's departure from the Giants was the "deal breaker" that made him pick Philadelphia.

Why it matters

This story provides an interesting behind-the-scenes look at Bryce Harper's free agency decision-making process and how factors beyond just money and team performance can influence where a star player ends up signing. It also highlights the significant impact a manager can have in attracting top talent to a team.

The details

In the interview on the 'Pat McAfee Show', Harper said the Phillies and Giants were the two finalists for his services during the 2019 offseason, with San Diego and a couple other teams also in the mix. However, he revealed that Bochy's retirement from the Giants was the "thing that killed" him and made him ultimately choose the Phillies over San Francisco. Bochy had been the Giants' manager since 2007, leading the team to three World Series championships, and his departure was a major factor in Harper's decision.

  • Bryce Harper signed with the Philadelphia Phillies in the 2019 offseason.
  • Bruce Bochy retired as Giants manager after the 2019 season.
  • Bochy unretired in 2023 to join the Texas Rangers.

The players

Bryce Harper

A star outfielder who has played for the Philadelphia Phillies since 2019, winning an NL MVP award during his tenure.

Bruce Bochy

The legendary former manager of the San Francisco Giants, who led the team to three World Series championships before retiring after the 2019 season.

San Francisco Giants

A Major League Baseball team based in San Francisco, California.

Philadelphia Phillies

A Major League Baseball team based in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.

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What they’re saying

“They're probably thinking, man, he could have been here with the Giants, but he's not. It came down to the Phillies and the Giants. San Diego, a couple of other teams were in there, but at the end of the day, it really came down to Philly and San Francisco. It was close. The thing that killed me was Bochy was retiring.”

— Bryce Harper

What’s next

Harper will be playing for Team USA in this year's World Baseball Classic.

The takeaway

This story highlights how factors beyond just money and team performance can influence where a star free agent player signs, with the impending retirement of a respected manager like Bruce Bochy being a key factor in Bryce Harper's decision to join the Phillies over the Giants.