Dave Dombrowski shares his honest take on Bryce Harper claiming Phillies needed help

Philadelphia Phillies president Dave Dombrowski understands where Bryce Harper’s plea for help came from.

The Phillies’ superstar slugger spoke to reporters in late July, just days before the Aug. 3 trade deadline, and asserted that his team “needs some help.” Harper made the statement after a 1-0 loss to the Miami Marlins on July 28 dropped the Phillies to 3-8 over their last 11 games.

Phillies manager Don Mattingly later expressed disapproval of Harper’s statement. He told the media that he didn’t like the message, which to him sounded like Harper claiming he didn’t like the Phillies’ players “that are here.” Mattingly chalked it up to players like Harper misunderstanding what it means to be a GM making decisions.

The New York Post’s Jon Heyman interviewed Dombrowski this week and asked the Phillies executive about the public comments from both Harper and Mattingly.

“First of all, he was speaking from the heart and how he felt,” Dombrowski said of Harper’s message.

“From Don, I think it was really a situation here where it’s always sensitivity to teammates. I don’t think Bryce was saying it along those lines. But I know from my own perspective, I did not take it as personal.

“And the reality of it is, I’ve been through trading deadlines a long time. That’s what we were trying to do anyway. We were trying to get our club better, trying to get it happening. And sometimes when you lose, you get frustrations, you say different things. Sometimes, you say things publicly. I’ve done it myself.”

The Phillies made a move for an All-Star at the trade deadline, but it wasn’t the one many fans were hoping for. The team added 3-time batting champ Luis Arraez plus relievers Brooks Raley and Caleb Kilian.

The acquisition pushed Harper back into the outfield for the first time since 2022.