Overview
- Dave Dombrowski questioned whether Bryce Harper can be “elite” again at the end-of-season presser, citing a very good but not top‑10 caliber 2025.
- Dombrowski later told the Foul Territory podcast the Phillies will not trade Harper, a stance that followed online speculation about his future.
- Harper told The Athletic he felt hurt and uncomfortable by the trade talk that followed, emphasizing his commitment to Philadelphia.
- ESPN’s Buster Olney suggested the remarks were meant to quiet renewed extension chatter for a player midway through a 13-year deal that runs through 2031.
- Former Marlins president David Samson linked the messaging to Kyle Schwarber’s impending free agency and the club’s 2026 payroll calculus, with projections forecasting a nine‑figure contract for Schwarber.