The Angels Are Already Panicking Over Losing Mike Trout To The Phillies, Cry Tampering To The MLB
LA Times – The Angels have contacted Major League Baseball regarding Philadelphia Phillies outfielder Bryce Harper’s public recruitment of Angels star Mike Trout, a possible violation of tampering rules.
Harper, who signed a $330-million, 13-year contract with the Phillies late last week, told a Philadelphia radio station Tuesday that he plans to ask Trout to join him on the East Coast as soon as Trout becomes a free agent.
“If you don’t think I’m gonna call Mike Trout to come to Philly in 2020, you’re crazy,” he said on SportsRadio 94WIP.
Angels general manager Billy Eppler said in a text message to the L.A. Times that he is aware of the comments and, “We’ve been in touch with MLB and we have no further comment at this time.”
The Angels have had Mike Trout now for what? 7 or 8 years? And what have they done with the guy? Absolutely nothing. The best player in baseball. A 2x AL MVP. And he doesn’t have a single postseason win to his name. And on top of all that–he hates being out on the West Coast. Why else do you think he makes it back to the Philly area every single chance he possibly gets?
All I’m saying is that if the Angels think that there needs to be any tampering done in order to get Mike Trout to sign with the Phillies once his contract is up, they are seriously delusional. I know that by the word of the law, Bryce Harper saying that he’s going to call Mike Trout in 2020 could be considering “tampering”. But if that’s considered tampering, then so should saying that you plan on wiping your ass after you take a shit. Because Mike Trout coming to the Phillies in 2020 is just something that is going to happen regardless of whether there’s a phone call placed by Bryce Harper or not.
Mike Trout wants to come back home. The Phillies will have the money to pay him. They can put together the most lethal lineup that baseball has ever seen. He can go hunting with Carson Wentz all he wants. He’ll be able to walk right across the street after a postseason win in October from Citizens Bank Park and get right to his seats for a week 6 Eagles game. It’s not going to take any tampering to make it happen. If anything, maybe the Angels should be investigated for holding Mike Trout hostage. Maybe this is a kidnapping situation. If anything, maybe this investigation should conclude with the Angels being forced to trade Mike Trout to the Phillies now instead of having to wait a couple more years for him to sign with Philly in free agency. At least they’ll be able to get some pieces in return that way.
All I’m saying is that it’s going to happen with or without Bryce Harper continuously mentioning that the plan is to get Mike Trout back to Philly. So I just don’t understand how discussing something that is already a foregone conclusion could be considered tampering. The sun is going to go down at some point tonight. Is that tampering now, too?
P.S. – Mike Scioscia is a Philly guy as well. Pretty interesting how he just so happened to step down as the Angels’ manager after last season…makes you think.