Angels extend Mike Trout

[EmpireWF]

Three years from now that could be $16 million a year lost because he settled for $24M a year, maybe more. He never should have signed for more than three years. If he told the Angels he was good for 3-years and $72M, they do the deal in a second. Instead, he gives them three years of his free agency too. Insane. I get that this is great money for you or I, but in market terms Trout just lost at least $50 million, maybe more.

LA only does this to get some of his early FA years. Why does Trout agree now? Because otherwise, he won't be making $20+ mil for a few more years and who knows what may happen health wise. So, he gets big money earlier than normal AND if all goes well for him, he can get another big deal before he's even 30.

[NAHSTE]

Great deal for both sides, this seems to be the new way of operating for clubs. The Angels lock up the prime years and get a slight bargain on a short-term FA deal which they had no prayer of getting Trout to sign once he hit the open market, and Trout still sets himself up for another huge deal down the road.

If Trout hits the FA market at 26, he is commanding an 8-10 year commitment at some ungodly AAV. Getting him signed for his age 26-29 season is a coup for the Angels no matter the dollars. Meanwhile, Trout gets paid upfront now and doesn't have to navigate the arbitration process year to year. He is assured security for life should his career (god forbid) go the way of Sizemore or Griffey, and this won't prevent him from still getting a record setting deal once this one expires.

Nice compromise for both sides and great for the game of baseball. Fail to see a downside.

[Guest]

Great deal for both sides, this seems to be the new way of operating for clubs. The Angels lock up the prime years and get a slight bargain on a short-term FA deal which they had no prayer of getting Trout to sign once he hit the open market, and Trout still sets himself up for another huge deal down the road.

If Trout hits the FA market at 26, he is commanding an 8-10 year commitment at some ungodly AAV. Getting him signed for his age 26-29 season is a coup for the Angels no matter the dollars. Meanwhile, Trout gets paid upfront now and doesn't have to navigate the arbitration process year to year. He is assured security for life should his career (god forbid) go the way of Sizemore or Griffey, and this won't prevent him from still getting a record setting deal once this one expires.

Nice compromise for both sides and great for the game of baseball. Fail to see a downside.

Just to inject it, Trout hits FA at 29 years old unless the Angels extend him. He's likely getting an enormous extension that is greater than the one Miguel Cabrera just got, if salaries continue to go up. Great for Trout to set himself up like that again, but it's certainly a downside for the Angels, where they have to decide if they let him walk at peak production, or pay through the nose on his decline.

It's not an easy answer, and it will be talked about the same way people are talking about the Cabrera deal now.