The Los Angeles Angels never had any intention of letting Mike Trout hit free agency following the 2020 season, and the massive contract extension they have agreed to with the star outfielder proves that.
The Angels and Mike Trout are finalizing a 12-year contract that is worth an eye-popping $430 million, according to ESPN’s Jeff Passan. The deal is the largest for any player in professional sports history. Trout will be paid an average annual salary of around $36 million, which tops Zack Greinke’s previous record average of $34.4 million with the Arizona Diamondbacks. The total dollar value is $100 million greater than the 13-year, $330 million deal Bryce Harper just signed with the Philadelphia Phillies.
Trout’s new deal will add 10 additional years to the two he has remaining on the six-year, $144.5 million deal he previously signed.
The Angels have made the playoffs just once during Trout’s eight major league seasons, and there was some concern that he might consider leaving the team because of that. Harper had been openly recruiting him to Philadelphia, which is located fairly close to Trout’s hometown in New Jersey.
Trout is perennial MVP candidate and arguably the best player in baseball. The 27-year-old has a career batting average of .307, 240 career home runs, and a career OPS of .989. While the Angeles should be applauded for doing whatever they needed to keep Trout, it’s shocking that they blew Harper’s deal out of the water by $100 million.
