Phillies' Harper Surprised by Dombrowski's 2025 Comments

Bryce Harper says Dombrowski's suggestion he may no longer be elite is "kind of wild"

Published on Feb. 15, 2026

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Philadelphia Phillies first baseman Bryce Harper said he was surprised by comments made by team president of baseball operations Dave Dombrowski in October, where Dombrowski suggested Harper may no longer be an elite player. Harper said he wasn't motivated by Dombrowski's comments, but found them "kind of wild" to hear.

Why it matters

As a two-time NL MVP, Harper is one of the biggest stars in baseball. Any suggestion that he may be on the decline would be seen as controversial and could impact the team's plans and Harper's future with the organization.

The details

In October, Dombrowski had suggested that Harper, who is under contract with the Phillies through 2031, may no longer be considered an elite player by the 2025 season. Harper said he was surprised to hear those comments from his team's top baseball executive.

  • Dombrowski made the comments in October 2025.
  • Harper spoke about the comments on Sunday, February 15, 2026.

The players

Bryce Harper

A two-time NL MVP and first baseman for the Philadelphia Phillies.

Dave Dombrowski

The president of baseball operations for the Philadelphia Phillies.

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What they’re saying

“it's kind of wild to me still”

— Bryce Harper (TSN Canada)

The takeaway

Harper's surprise at Dombrowski's comments suggests there may be some tension or disconnect between the star player and the team's front office leadership, which could be an important storyline to follow as the 2026 season approaches.