Bryce Harper Unhappy with 2025 Dombrowski Evaluation

Phillies star says it's "still a bit crazy" to be considered no longer elite

Published on Feb. 16, 2026

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Philadelphia Phillies first baseman Bryce Harper said on Sunday that it 'still seems a bit crazy' that Phillies president of baseball operations Dave Dombrowski evaluated him as no longer being an elite player in 2025.

Why it matters

Harper is one of the biggest stars in baseball, and his perceived decline could have major implications for the Phillies' future plans and payroll. Dombrowski's evaluation of Harper's skills is a significant data point in assessing the long-term outlook for one of the game's most prominent players.

The details

In his comments, Harper expressed surprise and disagreement with Dombrowski's assessment, indicating he still believes he is performing at an elite level despite his advancing age. The Phillies have a major financial commitment to Harper, who signed a 13-year, $330 million contract in 2019.

  • Harper made the comments on Sunday, February 16, 2026.

The players

Bryce Harper

A star first baseman for the Philadelphia Phillies who signed a 13-year, $330 million contract with the team in 2019.

Dave Dombrowski

The president of baseball operations for the Philadelphia Phillies, who evaluated Harper as no longer being an elite player in 2025.

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What they’re saying

“It still seems a bit crazy that he said that, but I respect him and I respect his opinion.”

— Bryce Harper (Houston Chronicle)

The takeaway

Harper's comments highlight the delicate balance teams must strike when evaluating aging superstars, as their perceptions of a player's decline can have major financial and roster implications. The Phillies will need to carefully manage Harper's contract and playing time in the coming years as he approaches the latter stages of his career.