Skip to content

Harper on Trout comments: 'If I didn't mean it, I wouldn't have said it'

Mike Carlson / Major League Baseball / Getty

Bryce Harper is sticking to his guns.

Though he's being accused of tampering, the superstar outfielder doubled down on his remarks from Tuesday about recruiting Mike Trout to the Philadelphia Phillies - comments that drew the ire of Trout's current employer, the Los Angeles Angels.

"They talked to me a little bit, (but) not MLB or anything like that," Harper told reporters on Wednesday, according to Meghan Montemurro of The Athletic. "I guess when that time comes and guys are free agents, we'll see what happens."

When pressed on the issue, Harper added: "If I didn't mean it, I wouldn't have said it."

Harper made waves when he told a Philadelphia radio station of his plans to lure Trout to Philadelphia once the two-time AL MVP hits free agency in 2020.

"If you don't think I'm gonna call Mike Trout to come to Philly in 2020, you're crazy," he said.

The Angels contacted MLB about a potential tampering violation because Trout is under contract for another two years. The league spoke with both teams about the issue.

While it's possible he could be fined for using Trout's name, Harper isn't expected to face significant discipline, ESPN's Jeff Passan reported on Wednesday.

"Obviously I saw it," Trout told Jeff Fletcher of the Orange County Register when asked about Harper's remarks. "He's excited. He's excited about his team. I have no control (over) what he says."

Daily Newsletter

Get the latest trending sports news daily in your inbox