Angels Star Mike Trout signs 6-year extension for $144.5M

by Cesar Tordesillas

Los Angeles, CA

The Los Angeles Angels locked up superstar center fielder Mike Trout through 2020 with a six-year contract extension, reportedly worth $144.5 million.

The deal is a record for a player of Trout's age and service time.

The contract comes before Trout, 22, is eligible for arbitration and buys out three arbitration years and three free-agent years.

It also includes a full no-trade clause, but no additional option years.

He could become a free agent again at 29, after the 2020 season.

The Angels were believed to have been insisting on a seven-year deal, but Trout preferred to save another year of his prime for a new - and likely richer - marketplace.

In each of his first two full seasons, Trout was runner-up to Miguel Cabrera for American League MVP. He was twice an All-Star.

The 6-foot-2, 230-pounds Trout establsihed himself as the best all-around player in baseball the last two seasons for batting .324 with 57 home runs, 180 RBI and 82 steals in 296 games.

He is also a two-time All-Star and the unanimous choice for the AL's Rookie of the Year Award in 2012.

Trout also became the sixth qualified batter since 1900 to hit at least .320 in both his age-20 and -21 season.

He is also just one of four players all time to bat .320 with 50 homers and 200 runs in his first two full seasons. He joins Willie Mays as the only player to have two seasons with a .320 average, 25 homers and 30 steals at any point in their career.

 

 

Article:
"Angels Star Mike Trout signs 6-year extension for $144.5M"