PHILADELPHIA -- Maybe the Phillies need to see how a souped-up Bryce Harper drives.

Harper became a surprising topic of conversation last week, when Phillies president of baseball operations Dave Dombrowski wondered if Harper can return to “elite” status or not . Some wondered if those comments were a challenge. Others wondered if they upset Harper, who is entering the eighth year of a 13-year, $330 million contract .

“You put gas in the tank and the Harperi – meaning the Ferrari – works,” Harper’s agent Scott Boras said. “Bryce shares in the frustration of the Phillies not being a world champion. Dave has to do the catharsis every year when they don’t win it, and I’m sure it’s difficult to do.

“However, give Bryce Harper more pitches to hit and the metrics speak that all that the

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