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Dave Dombrowski and Bryce Harper Had a Nice Long Chat & Apparently Smoothed Things Over
By Kyle Pagan
Published:
Dave Dombrowski told reporters that he and Bryce Harper smoothed everything over via Scott Lauber at the Inky:
“I’ve spoken to him. We had a nice conversation, and everything went well,” Dombrowski said.
Dombrowski declined to get into further specifics about the conversation.
“We had a good conversation,” he said. “Talked for quite a while, and, really, conversations between Bryce and myself are between us.”
That’s nice! Wish it was before Harper gave an on-the-record interview to The Athletic (with ads) about how frustrated he was hearing himself in trade rumors though. That was a real “poopy diaper” moment for Harper. That interview rubbed me the wrong way more than Dombrowski’s comments because Harper seemed to only read and listen to what was online, but the thing is there were never mentions of a trade outside of WIP speculation and a Yankees writer. How about take a breath and make a call to the guy who said it before we flip out. I thought everything was fine once Scott Boras went on the record a week later where he pumped up his client’s stats instead of taking shots at the Phillies. Obviously that wasn’t the case.
Dombrowski also mentioned the Phillies won’t be moving Bryce Harper back to the outfield via Lauber:
Dombrowski also reiterated that the Phillies are not planning to move Harper back to the outfield. Harper, who was moved to first base from right field after undergoing Tommy John surgery in 2022, has expressed a willingness in the past to return there if needed to open first base for a top free-agent bat.
“He’s actually done that for a couple years now, and we really appreciate the aspect of it, but we really look at him as a first baseman at this time,” Dombrowski said. “I mean, I’m sure he could go out there, but he’s played first well. He’s a good first baseman and continues to get better. We really like our club with him there, so I think he is more of our first baseman.”
Dombrowski’s apparently also getting the moneys worth of his unlimited plan this month because he also had a conversation with Nick Castellanos as they’re actively shopping him and making Justin Crawford a part of the outfield this season
Here’s what he had to say via Matt Gelb at The Athletic (with ads):
The offseason is long. There are obvious priorities independent of Schwarber’s and Realmuto’s futures. It’s that time of year — the sun is setting earlier, the leaves are piling up, and the Phillies are searching for a competent outfield mix.
This much is clear: It will somehow involve Justin Crawford. Dombrowski has all but decided the prospect will be on the club’s Opening Day roster. It will not include Nick Castellanos, whom the Phillies are actively shopping at this week’s meetings, multiple major-league sources told The Athletic.
Dombrowski said he had a “lengthy conversation” with Castellanos. Without going into specifics, Dombrowski said the club is “open-minded” about Castellanos’ future.
“Sometimes a change of scenery can be beneficial for people,” Dombrowski said, “but we’ll wait and see what happens.”
Dombrowski’s got quite the offseason ahead of him. We need that magic little chin dimple more than ever. At least now we’ll know who will play centerfield in 2026.
Obligatory 2026 Phillies starting lineup (updated):
- SS Trea Turner
- RF Kyle Tucker
- DH Bryce Harper
- 1B Pete Alonso
- C JT Realmuto
- 2B Bryson Stott
- 3B Aidan Miller
- LF Dave Dombrowski’s Magical Chin Dimple Free Agent
- CF Justin Crawford
Kyle writes blog posts and does Man on the Street-style videos all around Philadelphia. He graduated from Temple University (a basketball school) in 2015. contact: k.pagan@sportradar.com