Mandatory Credit: Reggie Hildred-Imagn Images

‘Only Losers Complain’: Bryce Harper Defends Dodgers Amid Near Perfect Start and Big Payroll

"I think they're a great team. They're a great organization"

Mandatory Credit: Reggie Hildred-Imagn Images

So finally, the Dodgers aren’t perfect. At least we know they’re human. Mortal. Thank you, Phillies for that.

The Los Angeles Dodgers boast enormous financial power as MLB’s second-wealthiest franchise operating in LA’s massive market. They’ve landed themselves a global superstar who’s basically a walking revenue stream, developed a system that consistently produces homegrown talent, and have built access to cutting-edge technology and analytics. Moreover, they have proved multiple times over the last two offseasons that players want to be in LA, and want to be with the Dodgers by bagging multiple, in-demand free agents.

Some people think this setup is unfair, but Bryce Harper isn’t among them.

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Is it unfair? That would require a longer conversation about salary caps, floors, and owner spending powers – all topics that might contribute to another MLB lockout which is not quite far away. But honestly, it seems strange when teams complain about the Dodgers. Most owners have plenty of money. Maybe the questions should be directed at those owners who aren’t building competitive teams rather than letting the league revolve around self-defined “big market” teams.

Back to Harper’s perspective – before facing the defending World Series champions, the Philadelphia Phillies star praised the Dodgers organization while dismissing their critics, via On Pattison:

“I don’t know if people will like this, but I feel like only losers complain about what they’re doing. I think they’re a great team. They’re a great organization. That’s why guys want to go over there and play. L.A. is a great city to play in, obviously. They’re the Mecca of the world of everything, from food to nightlife to sports, the Dodgers to the Lakers to anybody.”

Bryce Harper on the Dodgers:

“I feel like only losers complain about what they’re doing.”

(Via: @OnPattison, @TimKellySports)pic.twitter.com/26EGw1Apb0
— Foul Territory (@FoulTerritoryTV) April 4, 2025

“They’re going to continue to get guys. They’re going to continue to pull guys from the sport. Bullpen, starting pitching, international players, anything like that.”

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It’s worth noting that Harper is a longtime Lakers fan, and the Dodgers actually pursued him during his free agency, offering a shorter contract with higher annual value than the 13 years and $330 million he ultimately got from the Phillies.

Perhaps what Harper’s really saying is that success breeds success. The Dodgers have built something special – not just with money, but with vision. And instead of complaining about it, maybe other teams should be taking notes.

Bryce Harper

Dodgers

Phillies

Mohsin Baldiwala

mlb

Mohsin Baldiwala is a Master’s student in Journalism and freelance content producer who got hooked on baseball through Seinfeld’s hapless George Costanza. The same reason why he’s a Yankees fan. He writes about sports because he believes it can offer a brief escape from the world’s chaos. Even if that means enduring the heartbreak of the 2024 World Series.