When a franchise leader openly wonders if his marquee player can get back to his best self, something has changed behind the scenes. Dave Dombrowski, the president of baseball operations for the Philadelphia Phillies, did just that at the end-of-season press conference on Thursday. He made it seem like Bryce Harper might never be as good as he used to be. The 33-year-old slugger, who won two MVP awards and helped make the Phillies a regular contender, is now being looked down on by the team he signed with for 13 years.

David Samson, ex-Miami Marlins’ president, did not hold back on Dombrowski’s approach on his YouTube channel Nothing Personal with David Samson.

“I’ve never seen an end-of-season press conference like the one the Phillies had,” Samson stated. He asked what the strategic reason was for publicly calling out a player who still has six years left on his contract. “Does Dave Dumbrosski actually believe that it’s motivating to Bryce Harper to call him out the way he did?” Samson asked, emphasizing that such tactics rarely work with established veterans.

Dombrowski told reporters that Harper “didn’t have an elite season like he’s had in the past.” He also said he doesn’t know if Harper can “rise to the next level again.” The executive said that Harper is still “a quality player” and “All-Star caliber,” but his performance in 2025 didn’t make him one of the “top-10 players in baseball.” Harper posted a .261 average with 27 home runs and a .844 OPS—his lowest since 2016. Samson dissected these comments extensively, arguing that once a long-term commitment is made, public criticism serves no purpose. “You have what you have. You are what you are,” he said. “If you are Dave Dumbrosski and you’re doing a postseason press conference, the word Bryce Harper, even if someone asks about him, you simply say, ‘We love Bryce.'” 

The tension is high because the Philadelphia Phillies are at a crossroads with an aging roster that has made the playoffs three years in a row but hasn’t won the World Series. In 2024 and 2025, the Phillies won the NL East title two years in a row. However, Harper’s poor performance in the playoffs, where he hit just .200 with no RBIs, has made people even more worried that the team’s chances of winning a championship are running out. No teammates have publicly said anything about the situation, but Dombrowski’s strange comments suggest that frustration may be growing within the organization as it considers its next steps.

The front office is worried about Harper’s declining performance, which is directly related to bigger roster issues that will shape Philadelphia’s offseason. Dombrowski’s willingness to publicly challenge his star player suggests that he may soon have to make equally tough choices about other veterans.

Phillies face tough decisions about Schwarber and Harper’s future

These tensions within the team go beyond Harper and could affect bigger roster decisions that could change the future of Philadelphia’s competition. The front office has tough decisions to make about whether to stick with veterans like Kyle Schwarber or go in a completely different direction. Schwarber has consistently hit for power, but his age and lack of defensive skills make it hard to make a long-term commitment.

Matt Grazel of That Ball’s Outta Here captured the dilemma perfectly: “The Phillies should not re-sign Schwarber to a multi-year contract. Not signing him will hurt the club offensively and the front office would need to have a plan to replace the home run hitter. However, what if they bring him back for multiple years and he begins to decline? Either decision brings a certain amount of risk.” The organization must decide whether to accept short-term offensive losses for long-term flexibility or gamble on continued production from an aging slugger.

One potential solution involves targeting Pete Alonso from their division rivals. Bleacher Report’s Eric Beaston suggested this strategic move: “The Phillies could utilize Alonso at first base and Bryce Harper move back to the outfield, a position of need for the team depending on what the front office does this winter.” Getting Alonso would make the Mets weaker and help the Phillies’ outfield needs at the same time, especially if they can trade or release Nick Castellanos.

This way of building a team is what Philadelphia needs to do to get over the top. Putting Alonso at first base lets Harper go back to the outfield, where he made his name. This could improve his performance while keeping the lineup’s power production. Dombrowski’s willingness to publicly challenge Harper could mean that he will make similarly bold moves to the roster this offseason.