Trout's record deal has no opt-outs and would keep him in Anaheim through the '30 seasonGETTY IMAGES
Angels CF Mike Trout is "finalizing the largest contract in professional sports history," a 12-year deal worth more than $430M that will "smash previous records," according to sources cited by Jeff Passan of ESPN.com. Trout will receive an average of nearly $36M a year, topping D-backs P Zack Greinke's previous record average of $34.4M. The Angels' "bustling farm system" and the ability for Owner Arte Moreno to parlay a $3B local TV deal into "higher payrolls gave Trout enough security to lock himself into a deal through his age-38 season" (ESPN.com, 3/19). In L.A., Torres & Digiovanna note Trout's deal, which has "no opt-outs," would keep him in Anaheim through '30. It would net Trout more money than Phillies RF Bryce Harper, who earlier in March signed a 13-year, $330M contract -- a deal that was then the "most lucrative in baseball history" (LATIMES.com, 3/19). The contract "does include a full no-trade clause" (DAILYNEWS.com, 3/19). Keeping Trout will cost Moreno "more than twice as much as the $184 million he paid for the entire franchise in 2003" (WASHINGTONPOST.com, 3/19).
WORTH THIS KIND OF MONEY? ESPN's Max Kellerman believes Trout deserves the record contract, saying, “We may be watching the greatest player in the history of baseball.” ESPN's Stephen A. Smith: "I challenge you to find anyone that says he's not worth it. He's that great" ("First Take," ESPN, 3/19).NBCSPORTS.com's Craig Calcaterra writes it is "hard to argue" that Trout is "not worth it." Calcaterra: "If Mickey Mantle or Willie Mays was around today, what would they make? That’s who Mike Trout is" (NBCSPORTS.com, 3/19). USA TODAY's Ted Berg writes the Angels actually are getting a "massive bargain," as it keep Trout with the team "for the remainder of a career that might well wind up among the greatest of all time" (USATODAY.com, 3/19). MLB Network's Dan Plesac: "If there’s an athlete that’s deserves this kind of compensation .... THIS IS THE GUY" (TWITTER.com, 3/19). However, ESPN’s Jon Weiner said, "That’s a lot of money to spend for a guy who's never won a playoff series and a guy that you wouldn't know if he was sitting on your lap in the studio right now." The Miami Herald’s Greg Cote said Trout "could win the Triple Crown and be overpaid." Cote: "The contract is so ridiculous. There's literally nothing he can do to live up to that contract" (“The Dan Le Batard Show,” ESPN Radio, 3/19).
TWITTER REAX: MLB.com's Mike Petriello wrote, "The thing about Mike Trout is that he's incredible and that he's getting NEARLY HALF A BILLION DOLLARS is actually very deserved and cool." Audience Network's Paul Pabst: "This is so Mike Trout. No build up. No drama. No tour. Sign a lifetime deal at 10am on a Tuesday." ESPN's Buster Olney: "The Angels are Millville West for Mike Trout. He knows the folks there, he knows they appreciate and care about him, and he's never been one to look for a better, bigger deal elsewhere." ESPN's Alden Gonzalez: "Trout truly likes playing for the Angels. He had no interest in all the hoopla that would have come with playing close to home on the Phillies." Philadelphia-based WIP-FM's Eliot Shorr-Parks: "This Mike Trout contract really highlights what a steal Bryce Harper’s contract was for Phillies." NBC Sports Washington's Grant Paulsen: "Trout's a better player with a better resume than Bryce Harper, so he deserves more money. But if he does sign for 12/430 ... it will make Bryce Harper's contract and offseason look way worse."
