Dave Dombrowski Claims Having “Nice” Conversation with Bryce Harper After 1B Was Left Disappointed Following Earlier Comments

Following their NLDS elimination, Dave Dombrowski expressed that Bryce Harper did not have an "elite" year in the 2025 season.

Dave Dombrowski Claims Having “Nice” Conversation with Bryce Harper After 1B Was Left Disappointed Following Earlier Comments

Dave Dombrowski and Bryce Harper (Image via MLB/Imago)

🔍 Explore this post with:

ChatGPTPerplexityGrok AIGoogle AI

During the GM Meetings in Las Vegas on Tuesday, Philadelphia Phillies president of baseball operations, Dave Dombrowski, cleared the air between him and team superstar Bryce Harper. He expressed that the two of them have had a “nice” conversation with each other since his earlier comments left the 1st baseman disappointed.

Harper and the Phillies suffered a crushing National League Division Series (NLDS) loss against the Los Angeles Dodgers. The team that finished the year as the second-best team in the NL with a 96-66 record, lost 3-1 in the best-of-five series.

The 2-time National League MVP did not have the best of times in this series against the Dodgers. He, Trea Turner and Kyle Schwarber combined to go 10-for-48.

Following their playoff exit, Dombrowski was asked to assess Harper’s 2025 season and whether he has a chance of being an MVP in the future once again. The Phillies executive went on to claim that Harper did not have an “elite” year.

He didn’t have an elite season like he has had in the past. And I guess we only find out if he becomes elite or he continues to be good. … Can he rise to the next level again? I don’t really know that answer. He’s the one that will dictate that more than anything else.

Dave Dombrowski told the reporters during the end-of-year press conference regarding Bryce Harper

Harper was not impressed with these comments from one of his top bosses. It would spark some trade talks regarding him. Dombrowski would later clarify his comments about the 33-year-old and claimed that the trade speculation couldn’t be further than the truth.

During the GM Meetings in Las Vegas, reporters would ask Dombrowski whether he had a word with Harper. The 69-year-old claimed that he had a nice conversation with him and that everything went smoothly between the two.

We had a nice conversation. Everything went well.

Dave Dombrowski on Bryce Harper

Harper batted with a .261 average in the 2025 season while playing in 132 games. He missed a month of action due to inflammation in his right wrist. He hit 27 home runs and had 75 RBI with a .844 OPS. This is the lowest OPS of his career since 2016.

Bryce Harper was allegedly threatened by an MLB official following his confrontation with Commissioner Rob Manfred

Toward the end of July, Bryce Harper found himself in the spotlight following his huge confrontation with MLB Commissioner Rob Manfred. Sports agent Allan Walsh spoke about this incident recently and claimed that an MLB official threatened Harper.

Bryce Harper and Rob Manfred
Bryce Harper and Rob Manfred (Image via Imago)

Manfred would have his regular meetings with clubs in July in order to improve his relationship with the players and other stuff. When he entered the Phillies clubhouse, there were some talks about a salary cap.

While reports claim that Manfred did not utter this word, there was a huge confrontation between him and Harper. The Phillies star would curse out at the top boss and told him to get the “f*** out” of the clubhouse.

Before things escalated any further, Nick Castellanos would interrupt and diffuse the situation. At the end of the meeting, Harper and Manfred were reported to have shaken hands.

Agent Allan Walsh recently appeared on the “Agent Provocateur” podcast and shed some light on this verbal confrontation between the two. He expressed that a top “deputy” official threatened Harper and dropped some bold comments.

Don’t ever say that again to the commissioner. Don’t ever disrespect him again publicly like that. That’s how people end up in a ditch.

Allan Walsh said regarding the Bryce Harper-Rob Manfred situation

Further reports suggested that Manfred tried to call Harper on the phone next day. However, the 1st baseman did not pick up the call.

The salary cap has been a massive discussion in baseball. The MLB is the only Big-4 league in North America that does not have a salary cap.

It is expected that upon the expiration of the Collective Bargaining Agreement (CBA) between the MLB and the MLB Players Association (MLBPA) on 1st December 2026, several owners will urge the league to implement a salary cap.

Also Read: