After a relatively poor season at the plate last year, Phillies president of baseball operations Dave Dombrowski openly questioned whether or not Harper could return to his \u201celite\u201d status during an end-of-season press conference.<\/p>\n \u201cHe didn\u2019t have an elite season like he’s had in the past,\u201d Dombrowski said, per ESPN News Services<\/a>. \u201cI guess we only find out if he becomes elite or he continues to be good.”<\/p>\n And with that challenge hovering over him, Harper has responded with some early season struggles.<\/p>\n He slashed just .139\/.205\/.333 with five hits and seven strikeouts in his first 36 at-bats. And even though the season is still early, fans would have hoped to see a better version of the team\u2019s highest-paid player.<\/p>\n Philadelphia Phillies Hold \u2018Discussions\u2019 About Bryce Harper Contract Extension<\/p>\n Harper is in the eighth season of a 13-year, $330 million contract<\/a> with the team that is set to take through his age-38 season in 2031. And as his elite status is openly questioned by the team\u2019s highest-ranking executive, his agent, Scott Boras, is asking the Phillies for an extension beyond that.<\/p>\n \u201cIn my discussions with (Phillies owner) John (Middleton) and Dave (Dombrowski), they\u2019re fully aware that Bryce has a legacy that he wants to fulfill in Philadelphia beyond the current contract,\u201d Boras told The Philadelphia Inquirer\u2019s Scott Lauber<\/a>. \u201cAnd we\u2019ve already had discussions about that as we go forward.\u201d<\/p>\n Though the team might not be in a rush to extend Harper beyond his ongoing deal, it is something the player has lobbied for directly in the past. However, it would surely help his case if he can produce some better results at the plate as the season goes on.<\/p>\n Boras added that he is optimistic that Dombrowski\u2019s doubt about Harper\u2019s \u201celite\u201d status will be resolved this year.<\/p>\n \u201c I don\u2019t think there\u2019s any question in his mind (that) he\u2019s in the best shape of his life,\u201d Boras said of Harper, per Lauber. \u201cHe is a true two-way player at his position, one of the best players in the league, and he has all that skill, and there\u2019s nothing that I can see \u2014 and we have so many metrics to look to \u2014 there\u2019s nothing that I could see that in any way suggests that he\u2019s not anything but ready for another premium season from what we expect from Bryce Harper.\u201d<\/p>\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/mlb\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/6fd6c82747c46c05bb01b5fe627aede0.jpeg\"\/)
<\/a>Philadelphia Phillies\u2019 Bryce Harper Slumping At The Plate After Dave Dombrowski Call Out<\/p>\n