Don Mattingly not thrilled with Bryce Harper’s trade deadline comments

Don Mattingly would prefer if Bryce Harper leaves the general managing to Dave Dombrowski.

The Phillies manager offered a mild chiding of his star slugger the day after Harper said the team could use some help to boost an underwhelming lineup.

“I don’t like it from the fact of what I’ve been saying, you’re saying we don’t like our players that are here,” Mattingly said Wednesday before the Phillies faced the Marlins. “I think you’re always trying to get better, you should always incrementally try to get better not matter who you are … when you say something about our team, then you’re saying something about one of our players that you don’t like them.”

Bryce Harper believes the Phillies need “help” at the deadline. Rhona Wise-Imagn Images

Harper did not outright say that the team needed to jettison any players, but he made it clear he believes the Phillies’ lineup isn’t good enough.

Philadelphia entered Wednesday ranked in the bottom half in average (24th), on-base percentage (30th), slugging percentage (18th) and OPS (23rd).

The offense has already scored one or no runs six times en route to a 3-8 mark since the All-Star break, including Tuesday’s 1-0 road loss in Miami.

“I think we need some help,” Harper said Tuesday after the loss.

“I think we’ve proved pretty much all year we’ve done a pretty good job, but anytime you can get some help in here and some reinforcements, it helps.”

Mattingly said he sensed that Harper may be the only Phillies player pondering potential moves, adding that “Bryce is Bryce” and noting that he takes these comments “with kind of a grain of salt.”

Don Mattingly did not love Harper’s comments. IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect

Harper’s voice carries weight since he owns the biggest contract in Phillies history with his $330 million pact, and he’s never been shy about speaking his mind.

“Guys want to be GMs, what you need without a real understanding of where the organization is, exactly where this thing goes not only this year, but moving forward,” Mattingly said. “Players like being GMs and making calls and spending other people’s money. So, let it go at that.”

Despite Mattingly wishing Harper had not voiced his call for help, the Phillies likely do need some help if they are going to truly compete for a World Series title.

The team’s rotation is stout with Zack Wheeler, Cristopher Sanchez and Jesus Luzardo, but the lineup is essentially a two-man unit carried by Harper and slugger Kyle Schwarber.

The challenge for Dombrowski, the team’s president of baseball operations, is there appears to be a lack of potent bats available, with perhaps the Giants’ Luis Arraez and the Nationals’ CJ Abrams as headliners.

“Dave’s been doing this a while. He’s never really backed away from trying to get guys,” Mattingly said. “We’re trying to get better. You know, we’re going to try to get better at the deadline.”