Tampering or not, Bryce Harper isn’t backing down from his pitch to Mike Trout.
The Anaheim Angels clearly weren’t happy with Harper’s remarks and contacted Major League Baseball about the potential tampering violation.
Asked about it Wednesday, Harper stood his ground.
"They talked to me a little bit, not MLB or anything like that," Harper said, via The Athletic. "When that time comes, when guys are free agents, we'll see what happens.
Harper began his public recruitment of Trout during his introductory press conference and went a step further Tuesday on 94-WIP.
Trout, scheduled to become a free agent in 2020, didn’t miss Harper’s comments.
"Obviously I saw it,” Trout said, per Jeff Fletcher of the Orange County Register. “He’s excited. He’s excited about his team. I have no control what he says."
But MLB Commissioner Rob Manfred does.
"Given our rules, players recruiting other players who are still under contract or under reserve to another club is a rule violation," Manfred told The Associated Press at the Boston College Chief Executives Club. "So, obviously not anxious to see that.
"We're in the process of gathering information about the comments and the context in which they were made. We're talking to both clubs and when we're ready to decide whether it did or it didn't we'll let you know."
According to MLB Rule 3(k), "negotiations or dealings respecting employment, either present or prospective, between any player, coach or manager and any Major or Minor League Club other than the Club with which the player is under contract” is prohibited.
On the field, Harper participated in a simulated game Wednesday and, after a walk and strikeout, homered off Jerad Eickhoff (video below courtesy of NBC Sports Philadelphia).
"It felt good, just getting out there and seeing pitches, seeing spin," Harper told NBC Sports Philadelphia. "Glad Eickhoff was out there. If he's healthy, we're going to be pretty damn good, he's going to be able to help our staff a lot."