Philadelphia Phillies first baseman Bryce Harper has responded firmly to rumors suggesting he could be traded this offseason.
The speculation began after team president Dave Dombrowski publicly questioned whether the eight-time All-Star could still perform at an elite level. For Harper, those remarks — and the chatter that followed — have been both frustrating and painful.
“I’ve given everything to Philly since the beginning,” Harper told The Athletic’s Matt Gelb on Saturday. “Now there’s trade talk? I did everything I could to avoid this. I went through the same thing in D.C. with the Nationals, and I hated it. It makes me uncomfortable.”
Harper said he was hurt by Dombrowski’s comments and frustrated that, despite his dedication to the team, his commitment was being questioned.
“From switching positions to coming back early from injury, I’ve shown total commitment to my team,” Harper said. “And yet, there’s still trade talk.”
While it’s clear Harper doesn’t want to leave Philadelphia, the situation may require some repair work between him and the front office. Dombrowski’s remarks likely weren’t meant to spark debate over Harper’s future, but the discussion quickly gained momentum.
Harper, 33, was limited to 132 games in 2025 due to a lingering wrist injury. Though he still hit 27 home runs, his .261 batting average was his lowest since 2019, his first season with the Phillies.
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