Michael Wilbon is known for delivering opinions and analysis that often spark controversy and sometimes border on the improbable. This time, he said he would not be surprised if Bryce Harper does not begin the 2026 season with the Philadelphia Phillies, a take that is unlikely to sit well with fans.
The report was shared by Phillies Tailgate on X: “Even though Dave Dombrowski said he isn’t going to trade Bryce Harper, Michael Wilbon stirs the pot and says that he “wouldn’t be shocked if Bryce Harper is traded before Opening Day.” What are we doing here? ESPN cannot continue to let Wilbon put out horrible takes like this.”
It’s obvious that Harper remains a central figure in the current culture of the Phillies. While a trade is always theoretically possible in baseball, there has been no concrete discussion suggesting that scenario, leading many to believe that Wilbon’s remarks were simply designed to spark debate. Harper remains under contract through 2031.
Could Dombrowski’s comments create an issue?
It’s worth revisiting the remarks made by Dave Dombrowski about Harper’s “not elite” season, comments that generated widespread reaction, particularly from Harper himself. The star slugger responded calmly at first, but weeks later appeared in a TikTok video wearing a jersey that read “not elite” while taking batting practice.
“It was kind of wild, the whole situation of that happening… I don’t need to be motivated to be great in my career… For Dave to come out and say those things, it’s kind of wild to me still,” Harper said recently about the Phillies executive’s remarks.
Statistically, last season was not Harper’s best, but it was far from his worst. Despite being limited to 132 games, he still hit 27 home runs, his fourth-highest total with Philadelphia. He also drove in 75 runs, also ranking fourth in his Phillies tenure, and recorded 131 hits, his fifth-best mark with the club.