Phillies: ‘Always Sunny’ Star Joins Bryce Harper In Recruitment of Trout

CLEARWATER, FL - MARCH 11: Bryce Harper #3 of the Philadelphia Phillies looks on while in the dugout in the fifth inning of a Grapefruit League spring training game against the Tampa Bay Rays at Spectrum Field on March 11, 2019 in Clearwater, Florida. (Photo by Joe Robbins/Getty Images)
CLEARWATER, FL - MARCH 11: Bryce Harper #3 of the Philadelphia Phillies looks on while in the dugout in the fifth inning of a Grapefruit League spring training game against the Tampa Bay Rays at Spectrum Field on March 11, 2019 in Clearwater, Florida. (Photo by Joe Robbins/Getty Images)

Philadelphia Phillies outfielder Bryce Harper has been very clear that he wants baseball’s best player on his team. So much so, that Rob McElhenny of “It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia” has joined forces with Harper to make it happen.

Newly acquired Phillies outfielder Bryce Harper really wants Mike Trout. So much so that Trout’s team, the Los Angeles Angels, have gotten fed up with the star’s comments.

Last week, it was reported that the Angels contacted MLB with concerns of tampering. Mike Trout, an unabashed Philadelphia sports enthusiast, is under contract until 2020.

When asked if anybody (MLB) has reached out to him with tampering concerns, Bryce shrugged it off. Asked if he meant all the things he said about Trout, Harper said, “If I didn’t mean it, I wouldn’t have said it.”

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Let’s be clear, there is an MLB rule against tampering in baseball. However, like many rules in baseball, instances of tampering have no negative consequences attached to them. So, a player or a team could advertise their interest in a given player, but at most what would happen is that that player or team will be issued a strong talking to.

Hardly a deterrent, wouldn’t you say?

So, here we are, one week later, and Bryce Harper is back in the thick of it. This time he’s apparently joining forces with the star of “It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia,” Rob McElhenny to bring Trout to Philly.

It all started when McElhenny, a Philadelphia native, reached out to Harper via Twitter with a simple request: “Wanna have a catch?”

Harper, who signed a 13-year, $330M deal with the Phillies, a deal with no opt-out clauses, a no-trade clause, and no deferrals, immediately responded: “Let’s have a catch sometime this summer at the Bank!”

Then, McElhenny extended an invitation for Mike Trout to join:

To be fair, Harper hasn’t responded to McElhenny’s latest request, but the offer sure is intriguing.

As Harper so eloquently concluded his Tweet to McElhenny: #PhillyLoaded.