The Los Angeles Angels are not pleased about Bryce Harper openly saying he is planning to recruit Mike Trout to join him in Philadelphia, and the newest member of the Phillies could face disciplinary action from Major League Baseball over the remarks.
During a radio interview on Tuesday, Harper boldly stated that people would be “crazy” to think he is not going to recruit Trout to Philly if the Angels star becomes a free agent following the 2020 season. The Angels have contacted MLB about a tampering grievance, and ESPN’s Jeff Passan reports that Harper could be fined.
Bryce Harper could be fined for using Mike Trout's name publicly. The lesson learned here: If you're going to recruit a player, it's safest not to use him name. Either way, the expectation is that there will be no significant discipline levied.
— Jeff Passan (@JeffPassan) March 6, 2019
MLB rules state that players cannot entice other players to join their team while they are still under contract, and you can understand why the Angels don’t want anyone trying to influence their biggest star. Harper also implied during his introductory press conference with the Phillies last weekend that he plans to recruit Trout.
Trout is under contract with the Angels for two more seasons, and they are hoping to re-sign him. However, they may need to build a contender to convince him to stick around, and it’s worth noting that Trout’s hometown of Millville, New Jersey, is located about an hour outside of Philadelphia.
