Dave Dombrowski of the Philadelphia Phillies made some very strange comments about Bryce Harper after the season, something I've spoken about a lot and definitely didn’t agree with.
While I understand that Harper didn't have his best season for the Phillies, I also think it's important to remember that he's the face of this organization, and speaking poorly about the top player on the roster was never a good idea for a president of baseball operations.
From Dombrowski’s perspective, he also wants to see Harper be the player that he always is.
Harper was still very good last year, but when he isn't one of the top MVP candidates around Major League Baseball, it's often going to be viewed as a disappointment.
That isn’t pressure on Harper, but just the harsh reality of being one of the top five players in this game and one of the best players in this era.
According to The Athletic, Dombrowski spoke about the conversation he had with Harper, but wasn't willing to expand on what was said. Instead, he stated that they had a good conversation, and he's going to keep it in-house.
“We had a good conversation,” Dombrowski said. “Talked to him quite a while, and really, the conversation’s between Bryce and myself.”
After Dombrowski's comments, there had been some concerns that the Phillies could look to move on from him.
While Dombrowski and everybody else in the building understand that it’d likely never happen, it hasn't stopped many from speaking about it. According to Dombrowski, however, everybody can set those dreams aside.
“Now I’ve been reading that, ‘Oh, the Phillies may trade Bryce Harper.’ That couldn’t be further from the truth. We love him. We think he’s a great player. He’s a very important part of our team. I’ve seen him have better years. I look for him to have better years.”
If other teams around Major League Baseball want a chance to trade for Harper, it's not going to happen this offseason.
I'll never say never about a trade in a professional sport, but I’d truly be shocked if the Phillies move on from him anytime soon.