Skip to content

Harper 'very happy' Trout will become highest-paid player in MLB

Jayne Kamin-Oncea / Getty Images Sport / Getty

Mike Trout won't be joining forces with Bryce Harper in Philadelphia, and Harper is just fine with that despite his best efforts to recruit the two-time AL MVP, who was scheduled to hit free agency in 2020.

The 26-year-old revealed Wednesday that he's thrilled Trout is reportedly set to own the largest contract in North American sports when his 12-year pact worth more than $430 million with the Los Angeles Angels becomes official.

"I texted him (Tuesday) when the news broke. Very excited for what's to come for him and his contract and his career and looking forward to it," Harper told Marly Rivera of ESPN. "He made the best decision for him and his family.

"The Angels made a great decision of making him the face of their franchise for a long period of time. Very happy for him."

Harper admitted he told Trout during the winter that he fully expected him to ultimately sign a bigger deal.

"When I talked to him this offseason, it was kind of, 'Man, I want to get as much as I can so that you can blow me out of the water, pretty much.' And he did," Harper said. "I was very excited for him. I'm excited for Mookie (Betts) to see what he gets when he goes about it. (Aaron) Judge as well."

He added: "Once I knew Trout was going to sign, it's inevitable that he was going to be the highest-paid player in the game and all of sports. I'm very happy for him."

Harper insisted his 13-year, $330-million deal that he signed with the Philadelphia Phillies at the beginning of March was his ideal scenario.

"For me, I got the contract I wanted," Harper said. "I got the length that I wanted and all the money and things like that. I got more money than I'll know what to do with. I got the team that I wanted and the ownership that trusted in me."

Daily Newsletter

Get the latest trending sports news daily in your inbox