Phillies star Bryce Harper doesn’t expect to play baseball in 2027

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Philadelphia Phillies star Bryce Harper is bracing for a long offseason, as he does not sound optimistic that the looming MLB lockout will be resolved in time for the 2027 season.

The two-time NL MVP dropped the hint on TikTok, replying to a few comments on one of his posts. When one user joked that March through October seems to be the offseason for Harper, the Phillies slugger responded, “It will be this year.”

Another user pointed out that Harper appears to like the offseason more than the season, and he simply answered, “This is true.”

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His comments come at a tense time for the sport. The collective bargaining agreement between MLB and the players union expires at 11:59 p.m. on Dec. 1, and a lockout is widely expected.

At the center of the dispute is a salary cap. Owners are making their strongest push for one in decades, proposing a cap of $245.3 million along with a payroll floor of $171.2 million. The players have long opposed a cap, and MLBPA interim executive director Bruce Meyer has made the union’s stance clear.

“The fundamental nature of a salary cap is bad for players on multiple levels,” Meyer said in March.

Harper has been one of the most outspoken players on the issue. In July 2025, he reportedly told commissioner Rob Manfred to “get the f*** out of our clubhouse” when Manfred brought up a salary cap during a meeting with the Phillies, according to ESPN’s Jeff Passan. In May, Harper urged both sides to find common ground, saying, “We can’t lose that momentum as players. We can’t lose that momentum as owners.”

He is not the only one expecting a lengthy fight. USA Today’s Bob Nightingale reported in September that executives believe the 2027 season will not begin until around Memorial Day weekend.

Phillies star Bryce Harper doesn’t expect

For Harper, the time off comes after another early postseason exit. The Phillies were eliminated by the Atlanta Braves in the Wild Card Series, losing 6-2 in Game 3. Harper hit .269 with 29 home runs, 87 RBIs and an .865 OPS during the regular season.

The 34-year-old may be enjoying the offseason for now, but if his prediction is right, Phillies fans could be waiting a long time to see him back on the field.

Related: Phillies must consider signing these 4 players in MLB free agency