MLB rumors: Bryce Harper AND Mike Trout to Phillies? 3 steps to the possible dream

Washington Nationals outfielder Bryce Harper, the 2015 National League MVP, headlines free agency this winter. In two years, Los Angeles Angels outfielder Mike Trout, a two-time American League MVP, could hit the market. Would the Philadelphia Phillies have what it takes to sign both sluggers?

Washington Nationals outfielder Bryce Harper and Los Angeles Dodgers shortstop Manny Machado are the headliners in free agency this winter.

But the millions and millions those two sluggers will receive in their next contracts couldn’t compare to what Mike Trout would make IF he reaches free agency in two years.

Trout, a two-time American League MVP, is, without a doubt, the best player of his generation.

Would the Phillies have what it takes to land the Millville, N.J. native? Would the Phillies dare to sign both Trout AND Harper? Those questions are tackled by The Athletic’s Jayson Stark:

“I think it’s possible,” said one big-league executive who has passed through both Philadelphia and L.A. of Anaheim. “That city would [go insane] if that happened.”

Step one for the Phillies? Sign Harper. Per Stark:

What are the chances of Harper landing in Philadelphia this winter? We’re all just guessing on that. It’s still more than two weeks until the winter meetings arrive in Harper’s hometown (Las Vegas). And by all accounts, his agent, Scott Boras, is taking his time on this one. So the Harper market has barely taken shape.

But it’s amazing how many people inside this sport almost assume that the Phillies will be the highest bidder in this auction. And if you’ve studied the history of “Scott Boras” and “highest bidder,” you’ll have a good feel for how this is likely to wind up if that’s the case.

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As purely a baseball fit, Harper and Citizens Bank Park have always made for a cute couple. 

Market for Sonny Gray is heating up

Step two for the Phillies? Hope Trout hits free agency. Per Stark:

If he does make it to free agency in two years, the line will be long and the price tag might make a MegaMillions jackpot look like your monthly savings-account interest. But the tug of playing for his hometown team, in front of his family and lifelong pals, could be a powerful magnetic force – assuming the dollars on the check are large enough.

“You know, Mike doesn’t consider himself to be from Philly,” one longtime friend reminded us. “Mike considers himself to be from Millville. He’s all about Millville. But he does love Philly.”

Step three for the Phillies? Open the checkbook. Per Stark:

The question is: If they sign Harper, for what is likely to be the largest free-agent contract in the history of professional sports, how much money would they have left? And by that, we mean: How could they possibly turn around and sign Trout, too, in a couple of years?

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We can only guess how this front office would answer that. But the guess would be that they’d say they can’t. They’ve discouraged the popular thinking that they can afford to sign both Harper and Machado this winter. So, they’d be just as likely to argue that, in reality, as they contemplate how to approach their present and future spending options, their choice comes down to Harper or Trout, not Harper and Trout.

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“They are so awash in money,” said one agent who represents neither Harper nor Trout, “they can do anything they want.”

They’ll feel intense pressure to stay under the luxury-tax threshold, naturally. But by the time Trout is eligible for free agency in two years, the threshold will be up to $210 million. And, as of today, the Phillies have exactly $15 million in guaranteed money committed to their entire roster for that season.

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What would be different in the Phillies’ case, obviously, is that they would be looking at potentially paying Harper and Trout $35 million-$40 million a year – for seven to 10 years. At the same time. And no team has ever done that. So, what are the chances the Phillies could be the first?

“No baseball person would ever advise any owner to do that,” said one executive we surveyed. “The owner has to decide that for himself.”

Mike Rosenstein may be reached at [email protected]. Follow him on Twitter @rosenstein73. Find NJ.com on Facebook.