Don Mattingly not thrilled with Bryce Harper’s trade deadline comments - New York Post

What the report says

The New York Post reported that Phillies manager Don Mattingly publicly pushed back on Bryce Harper’s trade-deadline comments after Harper said Philadelphia could use “help” following a 1-0 road loss to the Marlins. Speaking Wednesday before another game in Miami, Mattingly said he disliked the implication because, in his view, calling for outside additions can sound like criticism of current players on the roster.

Harper, according to the Post, did not demand that any teammate be replaced, but he made clear he believed reinforcements would benefit a struggling lineup. The article said Philadelphia entered Wednesday in the bottom half of Major League Baseball in several offensive categories, including batting average, on-base percentage and OPS, and had gone 3-8 since the All-Star break while scoring one run or fewer six times.

Mattingly suggested Harper may have been more focused on potential roster moves than other players and said he treated the remarks lightly because of Harper’s personality and stature. Harper’s view carries influence in Philadelphia because he is one of the club’s central players and is playing under a $330 million contract, the largest in franchise history, the Post noted.

The broader issue is the Phillies’ approach before the trade deadline. The Post reported that president of baseball operations Dave Dombrowski faces the task of improving a club with a strong rotation led by Zack Wheeler, Cristopher Sanchez and Jesus Luzardo, but a lineup heavily reliant on Harper and Kyle Schwarber. Mattingly said Dombrowski has a history of seeking upgrades and indicated the team would try to improve before the deadline.