LA Angels Alternate Reality: Imagining A World Where Mike Trout Didn’t Re-sign

Hello reader, welcome to an alternate reality where Mike Trout didn’t sign his 12-year, $430 million contract extension last year to be a Forever Angel. This is scary, scary post to write.

Well Halo fans, another week has gone by and it seems increasingly likely that Mike Trout won’t be re-signing with the LA Angels by anytime soon. As Thanksgiving has come and gone, the Billy Eppler and the Angels have made a statement saying they remain focused on improving the clubhouse in free agency and via trade.

Trout continues to talk about winning as his priority, which makes the idea of him walking away from The Big A more and more likely. Even with an improving farm system, Trout has had far too many losing seasons to have trust in the organization.

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At this point, it seems like Trout is heading home to Philadelphia to join Bryce Harper. The team over the disappointed ones 2019, but after hiring Mike Scioscia to replace Gabe Kapler, it seems more and more destined for Trout to wind up with his longtime manager. The Yankees could also be in contention considering Trout grew up nearby and idolized Derek Jeter as a kid.

As the offseason goes on, rumors have already started to swirl that another slow start by the Angels could result in the team trading away Trout, hoping to recoup some prospects in return for game’s best player. Eppler has always said he’s against trading Trout, but with his seat getting hotter and hotter, his hand may be forced to explore deals.

A year from now, Trout will be a free agent. For the first time in his professional career, Trout won’t be apart of the Angels organization. He’ll likely walk away the highest paid baseball player of all-time. And honestly, I can’t blame him for wanting to leave. Even if the Angels offered him something ridiculous like a 12-year, $430 million contract (haha), Trout could easily turn that down and maybe even make more in free agency.

Going into his final season as an Angel, I personally hope he isn’t traded. I know it’d be better for the future of the team, but I want to be able to watch the greatest baseball player of my lifetime play for my team one more year.

Thank god we don’t have to deal with that, right Halo fans? I know Thanksgiving has passed, but words can’t even express how thankful I am for an offseason devoid of “Trade Mike Trout” articles and constant speculation of his future. Instead, we’re on Gerrit Cole Watch until further notice.