Phillies' Harper Disputes Dombrowski's Review of 2025 Season

Slugger says it's "kind of wild" that team president questioned if he's still an elite player

Feb. 15, 2026 at 7:47pm

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Philadelphia Phillies star Bryce Harper says he doesn't understand why team president of baseball operations Dave Dombrowski publicly questioned whether Harper is still an elite player after the 2025 season. Harper, a two-time NL MVP, says his numbers were down due to a wrist injury but he doesn't need to be motivated to be great, calling Dombrowski's comments "kind of wild."

Why it matters

Harper is one of the biggest stars in baseball and a key part of the Phillies' lineup. Any questions about his elite status could impact contract negotiations and the team's plans moving forward. The public nature of Dombrowski's comments also raises questions about the team's internal communication and transparency.

The details

Harper's .844 OPS in 2025 was his lowest since 2016, and his .261 batting average was his worst since 2019. He missed a month with a wrist injury, but still hit 27 homers and drove in 75 runs in the regular season. In the playoffs, he was just 3-for-15 with no RBIs as the Phillies were eliminated in the NLDS. Dombrowski said Harper's season was "good but below his MVP levels" and questioned if he could "rise to the next level again."

  • In October 2025, Dombrowski made his comments about Harper's season and elite status.
  • On February 15, 2026, Harper responded to Dombrowski's comments at Phillies spring training.

The players

Bryce Harper

A two-time NL MVP and star slugger for the Philadelphia Phillies, currently in the 6th year of a 13-year, $330 million contract.

Dave Dombrowski

The president of baseball operations for the Philadelphia Phillies, who questioned whether Harper is still an elite player after the 2025 season.

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What they’re saying

“It's kind of wild to me still that president of baseball operations Dave Dombrowski suggested in October the two-time NL MVP may no longer be an elite player.”

— Bryce Harper, Philadelphia Phillies First Baseman

“Can he rise to the next level again? I don't really know that answer. He's the one that will dictate that more than anything else. I don't think he's content with the year that he had. Again, it wasn't a bad year. But when I think of Bryce Harper, you think elite, you think of one of the top-10 players in baseball and I don't think it fit into that category.”

— Dave Dombrowski, President of Baseball Operations, Philadelphia Phillies

What’s next

The Phillies and Harper will likely need to address the public comments made by Dombrowski, either through further clarification or a resolution, as the team looks to bounce back in 2026 with their star player.

The takeaway

This incident highlights the delicate balance between team management and star players, and the need for open and transparent communication, especially when it comes to evaluating a player's performance and future potential.