Phillies

Mike Trout Plays It Cool, But Jim Bowden Says He’s Eventually Coming to Philly

By Bob Wankel

Published: Mar 1st, 2019 · 2:05 PM EST

---

South Jersey product and noted Philly sports fan Mike Trout, who also happens to be the greatest baseball player on the planet, was asked about Bryce Harper’s free agency process and had this to say:

Here’s video of what Mike Trout had to say about Bryce Harper signing with the Phillies pic.twitter.com/t8gSHelPJm

— Rhett Bollinger (@RhettBollinger) March 1, 2019

The rundown:

Trout is happy for Harper, Philly will love him if he plays hard, and some “aw shucks” stuff about his own impending free agency after the 2020 season. 

Perhaps more of note is this:

Mike Trout said he does not want to negotiate an extension during spring training or the regular season over the next two seasons before his contract expires. That means that, if the Angels were to extend him before he hits free agency, that would come next offseason.

— Fabian Ardaya (@FabianArdaya) March 1, 2019

That, friends, is a guy that wants to leave his options open. A guy who could be easily sold, particularly by someone who is ready to sell:

The lack of an opt-out clause in Bryce Harper's deal was a surprise, and yes: He got a record $330M because of its exclusion. But Harper was clear: He wants to recruit players to join him in Philly, and saying he controls his ability to stay there for 13 years is quite powerful.

— Jeff Passan (@JeffPassan) March 1, 2019

While I swore to myself yesterday that I would take a break from obsessing over what could be for at least a day or two, that’s just not going to happen. Not after this spicy little buffalo nugget from Jim Bowden, which you can listen to after the jump.

I dare you not to soil yourself.

He did it. He's calling it. He boomed us.@JimBowdenGM on the phuture of the #Phillies: pic.twitter.com/Xvc8hSqmfs

— MLB Network Radio on SiriusXM (@MLBNetworkRadio) March 1, 2019

Harper. Trout. LeVeon Bell. Bring me all of them. What are these feelings that I feel? Is this…could it be…happiness?