Philadelphia Phillies president Dave Dombrowski may have just aggravated Bryce Harper yet again.
Earlier this offseason, Philadelphia Phillies president Dave Dombrowski raised some hairs when he declared that Bryce Harper was no longer elite.
It was certainly an incendiary comment for an executive to make regarding his most expensive player, and Harper did not exactly take it lightly.
Not only did Harper say he was hurt by Dombrowski's remarks, but he was then seen working out in a t-shirt with "Not Elite" plastered on the front. He then circled back around to the comments — when prompted — during a recent appearance on the Bussin' Wit the Boys podcast.
Clearly, Harper is not exactly simpatico with Dombrowski, and now, Dombrowski has given the two-time NL MVP another reason to be at odds with him.
Harper was pushing for the Phillies to reunite with first baseman Rhys Hoskins, who was still available in free agency even though Spring Training had already begun.
Hoskins also seemed very open to a return after spending the first seven seasons of his career in Philadelphia, managing an impressive .846 OPS with the squad.
Rhys Hoskins. Credit: Wendell Cruz-Imagn Images.However, Dombrowski decided not to sign Hoskins, allowing the veteran slugger to sign a minor-league contract with the Cleveland Guardians. Should Hoskins make the Guardians' roster, he will earn $1.5 million in 2026.
The Phillies have been monitoring their payroll closely throughout the winter and have been largely inactive as a result. They re-signed Kyle Schwarber and J.T. Realmuto, but allowed Ranger Suarez and Harrison Bader to walk.
Outside of adding outfielder Adolis Garcia (who was non-tendered by the Texas Rangers) and relief pitcher Brad Keller, Philadelphia mostly stood pat this offseason, which has certainly irritated the fanbase.
It surely has rubbed Harper the wrong way, as well, considering the 33-year-old is still searching for his first World Series title.
Missing out on Hoskins over $1.5 million is definitely a kick in the teeth, especially considering the Phillies could definitely use more pop in their lineup.
Hoskins played in just 90 games with the Milwaukee Brewers due to injury last season, but he is two seasons removed from smashing 26 home runs. He hit over 30 homers twice in Philly and also led the National League with 116 walks in 2019.
Phillies Roundtable also offers a fan community and message board. We’d love to have you join us to talk all things Phillies. Click the “Join” button at the top of the page to join our community for free.