'Wild,' Bryce Harper Sounds Off on Diss from Phillies' Dave Dombrowski in Trending Video

Bryce Harper apparently still isn't happy with the way Philadelphia Phillies president of baseball operations Dave Dombrowski described his 2025 season back in October.

"I don't get motivated by that kind of stuff. For me, it was kind of wild, the whole situation of that happening," Harper told reporters Sunday about Dombrowski's comments. "I think the big thing, for me, was when we first met with this organization it was, 'Hey, we're always going to keep things in-house, and we expect you to do the same thing.' And so, when that didn't happen, kind of took me for a run a little bit."

Dombrowski said in October that Harper was still a "quality" and "All-Star caliber" player, but noted he hadn't reach the heights he'd achieved in the past.

"He didn't have an elite season like he's had in the past, and I guess we only find out if he becomes elite or he continues to be good," Dombrowski said (h/t Philadelphia Phillies on SI's Corey Seidman).

Dombrowski continued, "I don't think he's content with the year he had, and again it wasn't a bad year. But when I think of Bryce Harper, you're thinking elite and one of the top 10 players in baseball, and I don't think it fit into that category."

Harper recorded a .261 batting average, his lowest since 2019, and a .844 OPS, his lowest since 2016, while playing 132 games for the Phillies in 2025.

That dipped to a .200 batting average and .600 OPS through four postseason games before the Phillies were eliminated from the NLDS by the eventual World Series champion Los Angeles Dodgers.

Harper said when speaking with reporters Sunday that he had been aware before Dombrowski's comments that he wanted to improve his production going forward.

"Obviously, I didn't have the year that I wanted. Obviously, I didn't have the postseason I wanted. My numbers weren't where they needed to be. I know that," Harper said. "I don't need to be motivated to be great in my career, or anything else. That's just not a motivating factor for me.

"For Dave to come out and say those things, it's kind of wild to me, still."

This isn't the first time Harper has expressed unhappiness with Dombrowski's comments.

Harper originally told The Athletic's Matt Gelb in October: "I have given my all to Philly from the start. Now there is trade talk? I made every effort to avoid this. It's all I heard in D.C.. I hated it. It makes me feel uncomfortable."

Dombrowski responded later that month by saying rumors the Phillies were considering trading Harper "couldn't be further from the truth."

Harper seemingly made it clear he was still bothered by Dombrowski's comments, however, when he posted a video to his TikTok in December featuring himself wearing a shirt printed with the words "Not Elite."

Harper is heading into the eighth season of the 13-year, $330 million deal that has him signed in Philadelphia through 2031.

The Phillies will hope a resurgent season from Harper, combined with Philadelphia re-signing Kyle Schwarber and J.T. Realmuto, will once more help drive the club's offense this season.