Could a lifetime offer from the Angels be in the works for Michael Trout?
The club will reportedly engage in negotiations relating to a contract extension for Trout this offseason, according to MLB Network insider Jon Heyman, who noted that Trout and his agent, Craig Landis, will likely wait until the free-agent market settles, perhaps to assess market value. Bryce Harper, Manny Machado and many more blue-chip position players will be available.
The Angels reportedly attempted to sign Trout to a longer-term deal than the six-year, $144 million extension they agreed to in 2014, per Heyman. Trout is the highest-paid position player this year, with a salary of $34,083,000, and he is under contract through the 2020 season.
Last week, MLB Network insider Ken Rosenthal speculated that it would be in the Angels' best interest to gauge where they stand with Trout this offseason, perhaps by making an extension offer, and based on Trout's response, determine whether to trade him, which has long been a topic of conversation given the Halos' team-wide struggles despite Trout's widespread acclaim as the best player in baseball.
Trout, who is just 27 years old, has been outspokenly loyal to the Angels since he was drafted by the organization with the 25th overall pick in 2009. As Heyman noted, Trout signed almost immediately after he was drafted and agreed to the long-term extension four years ago.
However, the most glaring void on Trout's star-studded resume -- one that most baseball observers suggest isn't necessarily by fault of his own -- is that he has played in just three postseason games -- a 2014 American League Division Series sweep by the Royals. And given the Halos' tumble down the AL West standings after a promising start, with a middle-of-the-pack farm system, with Shohei Ohtani's health uncertainty and within a loaded division paced by an Astros club that has many of its stars locked up long-term, the competitive environment is glaring.
Trout is a two-time AL MVP Award winner and has been an All-Star in each of his seven full seasons. He's a career .307/.417/.572 hitter with an average of 33 homers per season, including a .318/.466./.619 batting line this year.
Trout is believed to want to play for a winner. The Angels' front office has reiterated that they won't trade Trout, but as many suggest, they could be seeking long-term clarity on Trout's future sooner rather than later.