The Philadelphia Phillies are gearing up to start their season this week, but offseason headlines have been dominated by President of Baseball Operations Dave Dombrowski’s comments that first baseman Bryce Harper didn’t have an elite season last year.
“He didn’t perform at the elite level he has in the past. We’ll only know if he can return to that level or simply remain very good…Can he elevate his game again? I don’t really know,” Dombrowski told reporters.
The team also made key roster moves, including extending two pitchers—Jesús Luzardo earlier in the offseason and, most recently, Christopher Sánchez, who signed a six-year deal worth $107 million through 2032 with a 2033 club option that could reach $44.5 million, according to MLB.com’s Todd Zolecki.
Sánchez’s contract complicates the Phillies’ long-term finances and could limit future opportunities for Harper. As FanSided’s Christopher Kline notes, Harper is already being paid more than Sánchez and remains under team control through 2031, meaning there’s little incentive for a further extension.
If Harper cannot return to elite form this season, it casts uncertainty over his later years, and any second contract with the Phillies would be more difficult to negotiate.
Despite this, the Phillies continue to rely on Harper to lead the team toward another World Series run, but Dombrowski’s offseason remarks have introduced a new layer of doubt for both the star player and Philadelphia fans who have embraced him throughout his tenure.
