Bryce Harper’s agent Scott Boras responded to Dave Dombrowski wondering if Harper is no longer elite. (AP Photo/Nick Wass)
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Well, that didn’t take long: Bryce Harper’s super-agent has clapped back.
Scott Boras, who’s negotiated many of MLB’s biggest contracts, including Harper’s Phillies deal in 2019, responded to Dave Dombrowski’s stunning comments that Harper may no longer be elite. “I guess we only find out if (Harper) becomes elite or if he continues to be good,” Dombrowski said during Thursday’s end-of-season press conference.
Boras’ response came via an exclusive piece by sports writer Christian Red. “I agree that (Harper) missed time due to injury and that his volume was down, but other than that, Bryce Harper is performing at an elite level on a number of characteristics that we keep track of,” Boras told Red.
It should be noted that Dombrowski highlighted Harper’s not-so-elite year without mentioning a nagging wrist injury that put him on the IL for 23 days. Dombrowski’s comments also whipped around Philly sports-talk radio and social media, inciting unhinged theories that he’s trying to trade Harper, who has six years remaining on his 13-year, $330 million deal.
“I don’t think Dave (Dombrowski) or (Phillies majority owner) John (Middleton) or anybody is contemplating Bryce Harper not being a Philadelphia Phillie for the rest of his career,” Boras said.
Boras made sure to point out how elite Harper still is, saying that his WAR (3.2) in 2025 was better than it was in four other seasons (2016, 2018, 2020 and 2022).
Boras also pointed out that Harper was one of only ten qualified hitters who had at least a .355 OBP and .485 slug; the others are Shohei Ohtani, Kyle Schwarber, Juan Soto, Cal Raleigh, Aaron Judge, José Ramírez, Freddie Freeman, George Springer and Ketel Marte.
“Pretty nice group,” Boras added.
Bryce Harper’s agent Scott Boras says the Phillies’ superstar is still elite. (AP Photo/Lynne Sladky)
Copyright 2019 The Associated Press. All rights reserved.
But truth be told, Harper’s final metrics showed a downturn in several categories. His .844 OPS was his lowest since 2016 and his .261 average was his worst since 2019. He also only hit 27 home runs, but it was clear that his injured wrist sapped his production for a stretch.
“When you look into expected baseball stats – Harper is pretty much on par with his career averages,” Boras added. “He’s surrounded by (Kyle) Tucker, (Fernando) Tatis (Jr.), (Bobby) Witt (Jr.), and (Rafael) Devers. His barrel rate, hard hit rate, exit velocity, are all in the top of MLB. His barrel rate is the same as Vladdy (Guerrero) Jr. and Witt Jr. His exit velocity is the same as Cal Raleigh’s and Julio Rodriguez’s.”
Defensively, Harper has become a Gold-Glove-caliber first baseman after shifting from the outfield following a Tommy John surgery in November 2022.
His manager Rob Thomson, who also spoke at Thursday’s press conference, said Harper’s best years aren’t behind him. “I think he’s highly motivated to have the best season of his career next year,” Thomson said. “What I’d like to see is just him be himself, try not to do too much… Really focus on hitting the ball the other way. When he stays on the ball, he is such a great hitter. I think he just gets in the mindset that he tries to do a little too much because he knows that he’s Bryce Harper.”
Source: https://www.forbes.com/sites/anthonystitt/2025/10/21/bryce-harpers-agent-scott-boras-claps-back-at-dave-dombrowski/
