Michael Nelson Trout, better known as Mike Trout, agreed to a 12-year contract extension with the Los Angeles Angels for 430 million dollars that run all the way until 2030.
Trout was set to become a free agent in 2020, but this new deal, which is actually a 10-year extension on his current deal, could keep him with the Angels until he is 39 years old. The extension kicks in entering the 2021 season after Trout will have made 66.5 million over the last two years of the six-year 144.5 million dollar extension he agreed upon back in 2014 with the Angels.
This contract makes Trout the highest paid player in MLB raking in just about 36 million dollars per season.
Trout’s new contract extension is also the largest in professional sports history beating out newly signed Philadelphia Phillies, Bryce Harper’s 13 years 330 million dollar contract.
The Angels made sure retain Trout by adding a no opt-out in his contract, meaning he does not have the opportunity to choose to leave the Angels and become a free agent at any point of the 12-year deal.
However, Trout does have a Full No Trade Clause in his contract which allows him the option to deny or accept future trades in which he is involved in.
Regarded as the best player in baseball, Mike Trout’s impending free agency two years from now was already a hot topic and rightfully so.
Trout, an east coast guy, was born and grew up in Millville, New Jersey, about 50 miles south of Philadelphia, home of the Phillies.
Trout’s contract extension shuts down any possibility of him “returning home” and signing with the Phillies in 2020 like many predicted would be a very intriguing situation for Trout. The Phillies were not content with waiting for Trout’s impending free agency and signed superstar, Bryce Harper to a mega-contract this offseason.
Harper and the Phillies agreed upon a 13-year deal worth 330 million dollars and the rumors soon began of Trout joining Harper in Philly. After signing with the Phillies, Harper was quick to recruit Trout to Philly.
“If you don’t think I’m gonna call Mike Trout in 2020 to have him come to Philly, you’re crazy,” Harper said days after signing with the Phillies on a Philadelphia radio station.
Harper’s recruitment fell short, to say the least. He didn’t even get the opportunity to persuade Trout to join him in Philly.
While many baseball fans believed Trout and the Angels would not reach an agreement on a contract extension before his contract would expire and that Trout would indeed consider joining the Phillies.
One of the main reasons is that the Phillies are so close to his hometown and that Trout is a family oriented man. He still lives in his hometown of Millville during the offseason. The Los Angeles Angels were still able to find a way to keep Trout an Angel for the foreseeable future.
With Trout being a very low profile, humble person, and player, the decision to stay with the Angels was something we should have seen coming. The decision to stay where you are comfortable at and somewhere you love to be is a decision you should not past up. For Trout, he did just that.
“This is where I wanted to be all along, I have enjoyed my time as an Angel and look forward to representing the organization, my teammates and our fans for years to come,” Trout said in a statement regarding his contract extension.
The Angel fans are not the only ones excited with the contract extension for Trout. “I couldn’t be happier for him. He’s the best player in the game and it’s well deserved,” longtime teammate Albert Pujols said after learning about the news.
Mike Trout is the face of baseball and will continue to be for years to come. He’s a two time MVP award winner and has finished in the top 4 for voting the past 7 seasons. He’s a 7 time all star as well and has won 7 silver sluggers on top of that. Mike Trout is the epitome of baseball and at only 27 years old he isn’t slowing down anytime soon.
