Yankees president Randy Levine apologized to the Angels and contacted Major League Baseball after the commissioner’s office said it was investigating a comment he made about Mike Trout as possible tampering, according to the New York Daily News.
Levine, who earlier Friday said the Yankees would only give a 10-year deal to a young player such as Trout, said he called Angels president John Carpino to apologize Friday afternoon.
“When I was talking about Mike Trout, I was using it as an example of the type of player because of his age, we would consider giving a 10-year deal to,” Levine told the New York Daily News. “I realized it could be misconstrued, so I called John Carpino, the president of the Angels, and apologized to him for any inconvenience. I spoke to Major League Baseball and apologized to them and my understanding is the matter is over.”
Angels general manager Jerry Dipoto chose not to comment on the matter, before Levine’s apology came to light. Carpino declined to comment.
Levine sparked the short-lived controversy while speaking earlier in the day at a Yankees press conference to introduce Jacoby Ellsbury. When the subject turned to Robinson Cano leaving the Yankees for a 10-year deal from the Seattle Mariners, Levine invoked Trout’s name.
“We just don’t believe our policy is for players over 30 years old, we don’t believe in 10-year contracts,” Levine said. “They just have not worked out for us, they have not worked out – I believe – for the industry. When we signed Derek Jeter to a 10-year contract I believe he was 26. In that context it makes sense. If Mike Trout was here, I’d recommend the 10-year contract. But for people over 30, I don’t believe it makes sense.”
Trout, 22, is under control to the Angels for four more years. He is eligible for arbitration in 2015, and the Angels will presumably try to sign him to a multiyear deal before next season.
Tampering rules prohibit teams from making comments about the contracts of players on other teams.
Prior to Levine’s apology, MLB spokesman Pat Courtney said the commissioner’s office had been looking into whether Levine had violated tampering rules.
