After another disappointing postseason exit, rumors have been swirling around the future of the Philadelphia Phillies’ core and whether the franchise would consider trading Bryce Harper. Those rumors gained steam after president of baseball operations Dave Dombrowski questioned during his end-of-year press conference whether Harper can return to elite form.
“Can he rise to the next level again? I don’t really know that answer,” Dombrowski said. “He’s the one that will dictate that more than anything else is what it comes down to. I don’t think he’s content with the year that he had, and again, it wasn’t a bad year. But when I think of Bryce Harper, you’re thinking one of the top 10 players in baseball and I don’t think it fit into that category, but again, a very good player.”
Now, Dombrowski is walking back the speculation his comments created.
Harper missed 30 games in 2025 due to a wrist injury, and his numbers dipped across the board. His OPS fell 54 points to .844, while his OPS+ dropped 17 points to 129. His home run total decreased from 30 to 27, and his bWAR went from 4.8 to 3.2.
Those numbers remain strong by most standards, but they’re far from the MVP-caliber production Harper delivered in 2021 when he posted 35 home runs with a 1.044 OPS and 179 OPS+.
Dombrowski: Harper Trade Talk ‘Couldn’t Be Further From the Truth’
During an appearance on the “Foul Territory” podcast, Dombrowski clarified his comments about Harper and dismissed any notion of trading the franchise cornerstone.
“The reality is that he’s a great player, he’s a future Hall of Famer,” Dombrowski said. “This thing’s got a life of its own. Now I’ve been reading that the Phillies may trade Bryce Harper. That couldn’t be further from the truth. We love him. We think he’s a great player. He’s a very important part of our team. I’ve seen him have better years, I look forward to him having better years.”
"I've been reading that the Phillies may trade Bryce Harper. That couldn't be further from the truth."
— Foul Territory (@FoulTerritoryTV) October 23, 2025
Dave Dombrowski says Bryce Harper is an elite talent, and his comments weren't meant to be criticism. pic.twitter.com/HMJY6TjPsv
Any trade speculation was unrealistic from the start. Harper still has six years remaining on the 13-year, $330 million deal he signed with the Phillies ahead of the 2019 season. He also has a full no-trade clause, giving him complete control over his future.
Even at 33, with his prime years likely behind him, Harper remains one of the top players in the game. While he may never reach his MVP form again, he’ll continue to be a cornerstone of the Phillies’ lineup as they continue to pursue their first World Series championship since 2008.
