LA Angels Have Basis for Mike Trout Extension After Nolan Arenado’s Historic Deal

The biggest storyline of the offseason for the LA Angels was how they would build a team that could help Mike Trout return to the postseason. As the focus shifts to an extension for Trout, another MLB team just laid down the perfect basis for the Halos and Trout.

While the LA Angels may have been trying to use Manny Machado’s record-breaking deal as a possible landscape for a deal with Mike Trout, they now have a much more accurate example.

The Colorado Rockies and Nolan Arenado agreed to an eight-year, $260 million deal on Tuesday. This deal replaces Arenado’s current contract, which had one year left, and has the highest average annual value (AAV) of all-time at $32.5 million.

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Arenado and Trout are both 27, with Trout a few months younger. Since the players, outside of their play on the field, are similar, this gives the Angels a vision of what they might need to offer Trout to make him a Halo for life.

For comparison’s sake, since Arenado entered the league in 2013, he has amassed 33.1 WAR in 876 games. Trout, meanwhile, played in just ten more games and piled up 53.3 WAR. While Trout won’t get a deal worth almost twice as much as Arenado’s (whether he deserves it or not), there is reason to believe he could see a very similar deal.

An eight-year, $300 million deal would give Trout the highest AAV ever at $37.5 million. However, if Trout and his agent wanted the most money total of all-time, a 10-year $330 million dollar deal could also be worked out, even if Trout will be nearing 40 by the time the deal ends.

Another parallel between the two is that neither of their teams are known for paying their superstars into their 30’s. The Rockies are killing that narrative as they have extended both Arenado and All Star Charlie Blackmon for big money. However, the Angels are more known for overpaying free agents and handing out contracts that are immediately filled with regret.

With Trout, they have a chance to lockup the best player the franchise has ever had. Now that they have seen Arenado and the Rockies make history, they have the potential to set another historic mark (or two) as they begin negotiating with Trout in the coming weeks, months, years, who knows?