Could a Mike Trout Extension Be On the Way?

Mike Trout is the best player in baseball, and deserves to be paid as such. With his 2020 free agency approaching faster than ever, perhaps an extension could be in line soon.

It is just another one of those Mike Trout seasons. You know, the kind where he is once again, somehow, having an even better year than before. He hit the 30 home run mark one again Tuesday night, joining Willie Mays as the only players with three 30HR/20SB seasons by their age-26 season.

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He is quite possibly the best player baseball has ever seen.

And the Angels need to do everything to keep him.

This offseason, some of the MLB’s top stars will be hitting free agency. Manny Machado, Bryce Harper, and Clayton Kershaw (player option) are the best of the bunch. After a cold winter last year, clubs will be ready to break the bank for these names amongst others in 2018.

Harper and Machado, 25 and 26, respectively, will be benchmarks for how much younger stars can demand on the open market. Harper has reportedly been estimating a $400 million deal over ten years. Machado is arguably the better player at this point, and less of a distraction in the clubhouse. However much they make in free agency, Trout would be worth much more.

However, maybe the Angels have no plans of letting Trout hit the open market.

Trout has expressed how much he loves playing and living in Anaheim. Obviously Billy Eppler and Co. want to keep him there for however long they possibly can. While Trout has voiced his desire for competing for World Series, Eppler and him have an open relationship. If Eppler has convinced Trout of the plan in place regarding the upcoming prospects in the Angels system is legit, perhaps they can lock up the future Hall of Famer this offseason.

Let’s say for some reason, Harper gets his $400 million. After Eppler and Trout see this, perhaps a $425 million, ten-year extension will be enough to convince Trout to ride out his career at The Big A, and avoid the stress of free agency all together.

It would be in the Angels best interest, and with the future of the Halos currently residing in the minors, Trout could lead a team full of young stars to the promised land as early as 2020.