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The Philadelphia Phillies and superstar Bryce Harper have recently found themselves at the center of growing trade tension. Ever since president of baseball operations Dave Dombrowski wondered aloud if Harper might not get back to an elite level, there has been tension, to say the least. More news: Dodgers Superstar Cleaned Trash in Dugout After Historic World Series Game “Of course, he’s still a quality player,” Dombrowski said Oct. 16. “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 he becomes elite or if he continues to be good. I look around the league … Freddie Freeman. He’s a really good player, right? He still is a good player. Is he elite like he was before? Probably not to the same extent. Freddie’s a tremendous player. And, that to me, is Bryce. Can he rise to the next level again? I don’t really know that answer. “And, again, it wasn’t a bad year. But when I think of Bryce Harper, you’re thinking elite, right? You’re thinking of one of the top 10 players in baseball, and I don’t think it fit into that category. But, again, a very good player. I have no idea. I’ve seen guys at his age — again he’s not old — that level off. Or I’ve seen guys rise again. We’ll see what happens.” Harper, who notably played most of this past season through wrist pain, possesses a full no-trade clause, and the Phillies have shown no signs of their intent to trade him previously. However, Harper recently spoke to The Athletic’s Matt Gelb and appears to be frustrated and upset by Dombrowski’s comments. PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA – OCTOBER 06: Bryce Harper #3 of the Philadelphia Phillies acknowledges the crowd before game two of the National League Division Series against the Los Angeles Dodgers at Citizens Bank Park on October 06, 2025 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Emilee Chinn/Getty Images) “I have given my all to Philly from the start,” Harper said. “Now there is trade talk? I made every effort to avoid this. It’s all I heard in D.C. (with the Nationals). I hated it. It makes me feel uncomfortable.” Dombrowski, however, wanted to make things right, and told the New York Post’s Jon Heyman that perhaps his comments got taken out of context. More news: Dodgers’ Shohei Ohtani Responds to Blue Jays Manager’s Comments “Bryce Harper’s not getting traded,” Dombrowski said. “He’s a great player. He’s a future Hall of Famer. He’s a cornerstone of our franchise, and we look to have him be with us a long, long time.” Regardless of the original intent, the Phillies have a disgruntled superstar with a no-trade clause due to the president of baseball operations’ comments. To avoid a long and rumor-filled offseason, the two parties need to smooth things over. Harper inked a 13-year, $330 million deal with Philadelphia in 2019 and wanted to make his intentions known about his loyalty. “I wanted these fans to know Philly is my home, so from the start, I made the commitment to stay here for the rest of my career,” Harper said. “No opt-out, even though I was advised otherwise. I trust John.” “From changing positions to coming back early from injury, I show total commitment for my team,” Harper added. “And yet there is still trade talk.” More news: Dodgers’ Shohei Ohtani Has 6-Word Response to Drake vs Kendrick Lamar Debate For more MLB news, head to Newsweek Sports.
