The Phillies Pipe Dream of Signing Mike Trout Is Over
Shocking news out of the MLB this morning.
BREAKING: Star center fielder Mike Trout and the Los Angeles Angels are finalizing a record-breaking 12-year contract worth more than $430 million, sources familiar with the deal tell ESPN. Details: https://t.co/bROnnC11Uh
— Jeff Passan (@JeffPassan) March 19, 2019
I know we are usually sarcastic on this blog, but this truly was shocking. All signs pointed to Mike Trout testing the waters of free agency for a multitude of reasons. Firstly, going to a bigger market (I know the Angels pretend to be LA which is big) would’ve built his brand. Secondly, who knew the Angels were capable of pulling off this type of offer, or even wanted to. Trout himself said he didn’t even want to discuss it with them until next summer at the earliest. And lastly, some family sources (Big J journalist stuff here) said Trout came home and told the family he wasn’t re-signing with LAA. Then this happened.
I think the Angels saw the writing on the wall and not to go all Godfather, but gave Trout an offer he couldn’t refuse. Someone will need to explain this reference to Lebron. The Phillies signing Harper pretty much bullied the Angels into giving Trout an asinine amount of money.
I know that it’s a Philly spin, but it’s somewhat true. The Angels saw Harper reject a $300 million deal from his current team and walk away to a rival. They then watched him openly recruit Trout and had the league look into tampering by the Philadelphia Phillies. This all after Trout had said he didn’t want to discuss an extension with them. It was either sign him to the biggest deal imaginable, one he couldn’t walk away from or have him leave you behind with nothing.
As for Trout, obviously I’m sad. More so, I’m disappointed he will never play in a place that matters. Even if it wasn’t Philly, he needed to come to the East Coast or actual LA. He’s too big a star to have no effect on the playoffs year in and year out and never play games that are nationally televised. The minute his popularity was equated to Kenneth Faried, that should have been the final straw. He should’ve wanted out there. He’s a generational talent who is as popular as a middling power forward in the NBA. That’s a bad look for Trout and the game of baseball.
No more footballs at Eagles games for you, Mike Trout! You’re only getting SRO tickets at Eagles games from now on like the rest of us.