Los Angeles Angels Extends Mike Trout’s Contract

The $430 million man plays for the ultimate .500 team and will do so, apparently, for the rest of his already-storied career.

Outfielder Mike Trout agreed on Tuesday to a contract extension with the Los Angeles Angels that covers 12 years and makes him baseball’s highest-paid player. But will that ever put him in the spotlight as a champion?

The Angels are the definition of a .500 team. Born in 1961 as an expansion team, the Angels own a lifetime record of 4,637-4,629. They had identical records of 80-82 each of the last two seasons – with Trout hitting 72 home runs over that period while posting batting averages of .306 and .312.

The Angels have made the playoffs once in the last nine years and won their only World Series in 2002, the only time they’ve played in it. They’ve had more names – Los Angeles Angels, California Angels, Anaheim Angels, Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim (!!!) and, once again, Los Angeles Angels – than titles.

Trout, 27, has been named to the All-Star team in each of his seven full seasons and twice has been chosen as MVP. He has led the majors in a number of categories – runs (three times), walks (once), on-base percentage (three times). He’s as good as there is – no, better. And the Angels have been to the postseason once in his career.

According to thespread.com, the Angels, who opened as a 25-1 pick to win the American League, are now 30-1. They opened at 50-1 to win the World Series and are now 60-1.

Trout is certainly the big fish who didn’t get away. Now what else do the Angels have that interests us?

 
 
Post By: Larry Weisman, a longtime sportswriter for USA TODAY, blogs for Twistity.com. Follow him on Twitter @MrLarryWeisman