MLB

When is Mike Trout a free agent? Breaking down Angels contract and when he can leave L.A.

Mike Trout has been in the spotlight more than ever during the World Baseball Classic, and the Team USA captain hasn’t disappointed.

Trout has posted a slash line of .318/.444/.591 in the global exhibition with one home run, seven RBI and a whopping five walks. He has served as a driving force behind Team USA’s success and will now look to help them earn a title win over Japan.

But Trout hasn’t just helped his team succeed on the field; he also is enjoying the World Baseball Classic as a whole.

“This is the [most fun] experience I’ve had in baseball, to represent your country,” Trout said after Team USA beat Colombia, per ESPN. “It’s been a blast. Being part of this atmosphere means a lot to me. I knew going in it was going to be a fun time. I never knew it was going to be this fun.”

As Trout has enjoyed playing in the tournament, fans have enjoyed watching him play. The slugger doesn’t get as much national exposure as the best player in his sport would normally be given, as the Angels have reached the playoffs only once in his 12 seasons.

But now, Trout’s fan club is growing, and many are wondering whether their favorite team could acquire Trout if he soon becomes a free agent.

So, what is Trout’s status with the Angels and when might he shake loose? Here’s what to know about the terms of his contract, which is the richest agreement ever signed by an MLB player.

MORE: Who is Captain America? Mike Trout leads Team USA’s unofficial rotating cast at WBC

When is Mike Trout a free agent?

Mike Trout will become a free agent following the 2030 MLB season. That means the first time that he will be able to sign with another MLB club will be ahead of the 2031 MLB season.

Trout will turn 39 during the 2030 campaign. If the MVP plays out the duration of his contract in Los Angeles, he will have played parts of 20 seasons with the Angels, as he first broke into the big leagues with them as a 19-year-old in 2011.

So, it will be a long time before Trout is able to hit the open market. And by the time his megadeal with the Angels expires, it is likely that he will be in the twilight of his career.

With that said, baseball fans pining after Trout will be wondering whether there’s a way for him to get out of his massive contract with the Angels and join another team. His contract dictates that won’t necessarily be the easiest thing to do.

MORE: How Kyle Schwarber started Team USA’s WBC salute celebration

Mike Trout contract

Trout signed a massive contract extension with the Angels on March 20, 2019. The deal was a 12-year, $426 million pact that was, at the time, the largest in the history of North American sports.

Since then, Patrick Mahomes’ $450 million contract with the Chiefs has surpassed Trout’s deal, but the Angels star remains the highest-paid player in baseball history in total contract value.

Below is a brief overview of the structure of Trout’s contract, per Spotrac.com:

  • Length: 12 years
  • Value: $426 million
  • Signing bonus: $20 million
  • Average annual value: $35,541,667

Trout’s contract also contains within it incentives that pay him $50,000 for winning the All-Star Game MVP, $100,000 for winning a Gold Glove, Silver Slugger or ALCS MVP and $500,000 for winning the AL MVP. The Angels also included a home game suite and Diamond Club seats as a part of the package.

But what’s the most important part of the contract? Trout has a full no-trade clause and there are no opt-outs contained within it. So, as long as Trout remains happy in Los Angeles, he will be able to stay there.

And if he grows unhappy and would like to play somewhere else, he will be able to control where he plays next.

MORE: When and where will the next World Baseball Classic be played?

Mike Trout stats

Of course, if Trout ever decided to leave Los Angeles, the Angels would get a massive haul for him. He has been one of the best players in baseball since he broke into the league, as he won the MVP three times, has been named Rookie of the Year and has nine Silver Sluggers to his name.

Trout also has led the league in on-base percentage four times, in slugging three times and in stolen bases once back in 2012. He has hit at least 30 home runs in seven of his 12 MLB seasons.

Just how good have Trout’s stats been? Here’s a breakdown of his career with the Angels to date.

Stat Total
Batting average .303
On-base percentage .415
Slugging .587
OPS 1.002
OPS+ 176
Home runs 350
Steals 204

As it stands, Trout is the career active leader in on-base percentage, slugging, OPS and OPS+, and he should only build upon those numbers if he can stay healthy.

And as far as fielding is concerned, Trout has a career fielding percentage of .994. He was named Wilson’s Defensive Player of the Year for the 2012 season but he has never won a Gold Glove while playing in center field, his primary position.

And overall, Trout is on pace to be one of the greatest players in MLB history. He has a WAR of 82.4 and ranked first in that category among position players from 2012-16. He currently sits at 37th all time in WAR, per Baseball Reference, just ahead of Rod Carew and just behind Ken Griffey Jr.

Every player ahead of Trout on the career WAR list except for Barry Bonds, Alex Rodriguez and Albert Pujols, who just retired, is in the Hall of Fame. Trout is on course for enshrinement in Cooperstown even with so much of his career still to be played.


Read the author’s full story here

Get Best News and Web Services here

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Back to top button