Whenever a season ends in disappointment, trade rumors are bound to surface — and the Philadelphia Phillies are no exception. Even franchise icon Bryce Harper hasn’t been immune to speculation this offseason.
However, president of baseball operations Dave Dombrowski shut down those rumors emphatically during his end-of-season press conference with local media, reaffirming Harper’s place in the organization.
“Bryce Harper’s not getting traded,” Dombrowski told the New York Post. “He’s a great player, a future Hall of Famer, and a cornerstone of our franchise. We plan to have him here for a long, long time.”
The two-time MVP is coming off another strong year, posting a .261 batting average, a .487 slugging percentage, and 27 home runs — ranking among the top 25 hitters in MLB by Weighted Runs Created Plus (wRC+).
“I’ve been reading that, ‘Oh, the Phillies may trade Bryce Harper,’” Dombrowski added. “That couldn’t be further from the truth. We love him. He’s a great player and a vital part of our team. I’ve seen him have better years, and I expect him to have better ones ahead.”
Harper, who turned 33 earlier this month, remains under contract as part of his 13-year, $330 million deal with Philadelphia. While that contract would be difficult to move even if the Phillies wanted to, Dombrowski made it clear that isn’t on the table.
The team may make some adjustments this winter — with Kyle Schwarber’s free agency looming large — but one thing is certain: Bryce Harper will be in the Phillies’ lineup come Opening Day 2026.