LOS ANGELES -- Mike Trout and the Los Angeles Angels agreed Friday night to a $144.5 million, six-year contract, keeping baseballs brightest young star under club control through 2020. More from ESPN Its hard to find fault with Mike Trouts new deal with the Angels, which makes sense for him and the club, writes Keith Law. Story Insider The Angels said the 22-year-old, two-time All-Star and his family will be at a news conference Saturday in Anaheim to formally announce the contract along with owner Arte Moreno, manager Mike Scioscia and general manager Jerry Dipoto. Few players in major league history have approached Trouts accomplishments in his first two full major league seasons. The speedy outfielder is a five-tool player and one of the darlings of baseballs sabermetrics crowd, known for putting up old-fashioned highlights and statistical superlatives on a regular basis. I think everybody is obviously thrilled that it got done, Scioscia said Friday night at Dodger Stadium after the Angels exhibition game, which Trout missed with a stomach virus. Hes a special player and a special person. The Millville, N.J., product was a unanimous choice for AL Rookie of the Year in 2012, and he finished second in AL MVP voting to Miguel Cabrera the past two years. [+] EnlargeMike Trout Jason O. Watson/Getty Images The Angels agreed with star slugger Mike Trout on a $144.5 million, six-year contract extension. Trouts deal came on the same day Cabrera finalized a $292 million, 10-year deal with the Detroit Tigers, the richest contract in American sports. The free-spending Angels were determined to reward Trout while locking up their prized possession beyond his first few years of eligibility for arbitration and free agency. Los Angeles has been quietly negotiating with Trouts representatives throughout spring training, and the club closed the deal three days before Opening Day at Angel Stadium. Trout agreed on Feb. 26 to a $1 million, one-year contract for 2014, much more than the Angels were required to offer him. His new deal runs from 2015-20. The outfielder would have been eligible for arbitration for the first time after this season, and for free agency following the 2017 World Series. Now, he cant become a free agent until at least age 29. Speed, Power, Class Opponents fear Mike Trout because of his rarely-before seen combination of speed and power, skills that have made him the only player in MLB history with at least 60 homers and 60 stolen bases through his age-21 season. A look at the numbers: SB HR Rickey Henderson 133 10 Ty Cobb 117 11 Sherry Magee 114 14 Cesar Cedeno 92 39 Edgar Renteria 89 12 Mike Trout 86 62 -- ESPN Stats & Information Its the latest big-money deal for the Angels, who are entering the third season of a $240 million, 10-year contract with first baseman Albert Pujols, the second season of a $125 million, five-year agreement with outfielder Josh Hamilton and the third season of an $85 million, five-year contract with pitcher Jered Weaver. But while the Angels deals for Pujols and Hamilton have been criticized for their lavish nature and the 30-something sluggers ensuing lack of production, Los Angeles is locking up Trout early in an uncommonly promising career. Trouts contract isnt worth as much as Cabreras deal in Detroit, but it still would allow Trout to hit free agency at an age when he could be in the prime of his career. And when his new deal ends, Trout will still be younger than the 30-year-old Cabrera is now. Trouts average salary of $24,083,333 under the new deal is ninth in the majors, trailing only those of Clayton Kershaw, Cabrera, Alex Rodriguez, Justin Verlander, Ryan Howard, Hamilton, Felix Hernandez and Zack Greinke.
Posted on: Sun, 30 Mar 2014 04:33:36 +0000
Trending Topics
Recently Viewed Topics
© 2015