Things are getting ugly fast in Philadelphia.
According to The Athletic, Phillies star Bryce Harper and team president Dave Dombrowski’s fractured relationship hasn’t been repaired, especially after Harper’s recent comments on the team’s future outlook.
Per the outlet, “neither Harper nor Dombrowski, two powerful men with huge egos, particularly cares for the other.”
After the Phillies’ 1-0 loss to the Marlins Tuesday night, Harper was brutally honest in his assessment of the team.
“I think we need some help,” Harper told reporters after being asked about the offense’s struggles.
“I think we’ve proved pretty much all year we’ve done a pretty good job, but anytime you can get some help in here and some reinforcements, it helps.”
Asked about what the Phillies need specifically, Harper said both hitting and pitching.
His comments didn’t sit well with the Phillies brass nor interim manager Don Mattingly.
“I sense Bryce is thinking about it [the roster],” Mattingly said. “I don’t really sense anybody else thinking about it, honestly. And you’ve been through this; guys want to be GMs without a real understanding of where the organization is, exactly where this thing goes. Not only this year, but moving forward.”
“Players like being GMs and making calls and spending other people’s money. So, I just let it go at that. I mean, Dave’s been doing this while. He’s never really backed away from trying to get guys. We’re trying to get better. We’re going to try to get better at the deadline.”
Harper and Dombrowski’s relationship began to deteriorate after the GM called the star out following the Phillies’ NLDS loss to the Dodgers last season.
“He’s still a quality player. He’s still an All-Star-caliber player. He didn’t have an elite season like he has had in the past. And I guess we only find out if becomes elite or he continues to be good,” Dombrowski said at his 2025 end-of-year press conference.
Harper fired back in February.
“I don’t get motivated by that kind of stuff,” Harper told reporters. “For me, it was kind of wild the whole situation of that happening. I think the big thing for me was, when we first met with this organization, it was, ‘Hey, you know, we’re always going to keep things in-house, and we expect you to do the same.’ And so, you know, when that didn’t happen, it kind of took me for a run a little bit.”
Harper is in the eighth season of a 13-year, $330 million contract that runs through 2031, and although Dombrowski is signed just through 2027, an extension could be in the cards.
The Phillies have had a rollercoaster season, but are just 3-9 since the All-Star break and are seven games back of the Braves for first place in the NL East entering Friday.
