Philadelphia Phillies: Mike Trout is a fake Philly fan

After signing a record-breaking deal to remain an Angel until he’s 40, one has to wonder if Mike Trout is a fake Philly fan after all.

Though he’s only been a member of the Philadelphia Phillies for about a month, you’d be forgiven if you forgot Bryce Harper was from Las Vegas.

Sure, he spent the first nine years of his professional career in DC as one of the City of Brotherly Love’s favorite foes, but now Harper bleeds red white and blue (and maybe green white and orange as well).

From honoring a late great Hall of Famer with a new number, to eliciting food advice from fans, or even literally recruiting other superstars to join the club, Harper appears to be the kind of player you can confidently name a puppy after and know you won’t grow to resent them in a decade.

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But deep down there’s one player Philadelphia fans wanted to see in the red and white pinstripes more than any other: Mike Trout.

Yes, Mike Trout, the South Jersey-born all-world slugger who just happens to be an Eagles season ticket holder, and frequently appears at Sixers games during the off-season.

Whether it’s his bromance with Carson Wentz, his own campaigning for free agents, or his odd fascination with weather, Mike Trout might be the most popular non-Philadelphia athlete in the city of all time; and honor that Philly’s blue-collar fans don’t bestow lightly.

With one year left to play on his current contract, things had fallen almost perfectly into place; with Harper, J.T. Realmuto, and Andrew McCutchen now in the fold, Trout could finally return home a triumphant prodigal son, joining his hometown team as the highest paid player in baseball, finishing out his career where it should have begun in the first place.

But in real life, we don’t always get happy endings.

No, fans instead woke up to the ugly news that Trout has agreed to a 13-year $426.5 million contract to remain in Anaheim as the highest paid player in baseball history.

Ugh.

Now I for one fully support anyone trying to do right by themselves and their family, which is effectively what Trout just did, but at the same time, one can’t help but feel hurt just a little bit that the local prospect will never play a meaningful game in a Phillies uniform.

Sure, maybe Matt Klentak could trade for Trout at some point (way) down the line, as the 27-year-old would likely be willing to waive his no-trade clause to return home once his prime has run out, but that’s just not the same.

Trout had his chance, a chance so seldom offered in professional sports, to close out his career not only competing for championships as a sport’s best player, but to do so in his hometown, and he bypassed that for Disneyland and a more temperate climate.

What about Rocky? What about Dorney Park and Six Flags? What about the Liberty Bell, cheesesteaks, or the Declaration of Independence? Don’t these hold cultural significance?

I guess not.

Really, it’s not like Trout is choosing to stay in Anaheim because the team is better set up for success, as they are pretty much the same as they were last year on paper, and they couldn’t even finish out the 2018 season with a winning record.

The Phillies, on the other hand, have changed out half of their players, and cashed in a number of high upside chips to procure championship-contending pieces right now, and look primed to make a run the likes of which hasn’t been seen in City of Brotherly Love since 2008.

Next. Mike Trout’s extension proves Phillies wise to sign Bryce Harper when they did. dark

Ultimately, good for Mike Trout getting a brand-new record-breaking deal, and it’s always nice to see a local man make good, but when the Phillies are triumphantly riding down broad Street holding world series trophy, will the New Jersey native be standing in the crowd cheering on his so-called City and wondering what could have been?

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