We'll always remember those three whole weeks Bryce Harper had the biggest contract in baseball history.
Mike Trout and the Angels are finalizing a 12-year contract worth over $430 million, according to ESPN's Jeff Passan. That's nearly $10 million more per year than Harper received from the Phils. It rightfully shows just how much higher Trout is valued than his superstar peers, and it was always going to take a totally ludicrous number from the Angels to get Trout to forgo his eventual free agency.
Trout's deal, like Harper's, will not include any opt-outs, according to the Los Angeles Times. This extension adds 10 years and $363.5 to Trout's current deal, which was set to pay him $66.5 million over the next two seasons.
Harper made it abundantly clear upon signing in Philadelphia that he planned to recruit Trout if/when Trout became a free agent after the 2020 season. The Angels weren't thrilled with it and for good reason. If the same comments were made in another city about a current Philly athlete ... just imagine how this fanbase would have reacted.
This sets Trout up to play his entire career for the Angels, who have not won much of anything with him because they haven't found the right supporting cast. The Albert Pujols contract is a disaster. The Josh Hamilton contract was even worse. They haven't been able to keep any of their starting pitchers healthy, whether it's Shohei Ohtani, Andrew Heaney, Tyler Skaggs, Matt Shoemaker.
The Angels have made the playoffs once in Trout's career and were swept by the Royals in the first round. They have averaged a 83-79 record in Trout's seven full seasons. But it's $430 million. Who says no to that? Does even the world's most competitive person say nah, I'll take my chances with free agency?
Maybe Trout could have approached $500 million on the open market, but when you're talking about this much money, is there even a tangible difference between $430M and $500M? This deal protects Trout against the possibility of injury these next two seasons and makes generations upon generations of his family wealthy.
MLB
Trout's deal runs through his age-40 season. Harper's contract takes him to age 39.
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