Trout’s monster new contract is official
TEMPE, Ariz. — More than 24 hours after news broke of his recordbreaking extension, Mike Trout was officially made an Angels player for life Wednesday night.
The Angels announced that Trout, a two-time MVP and the club’s star center fielder, agreed to the terms of a 12-year, $426.5-million contract. The 27-year-old will remain in Anaheim through the 2030 season.
“This is where I wanted to be all along,” Trout said in a team news release.
Trout returned to Tempe Diablo Stadium on Wednesday, played in a minor league game and hit a home run in one of his seven plate appearances. But as he wandered the Angels’ spring training complex, Trout did not address his extension with reporters. He will not publicly do so until Sunday at Angel Stadium, where the team will hold a news conference at 3 p.m. ahead of its Freeway Series opener against the Dodgers.
“I have enjoyed my time as an Angel and look forward to representing the organization, my teammates and our fans for years to come,” Trout’s statement said. “I want to thank [owner] Arte and Carole Moreno for their efforts. Their leadership and commitment to winning played a key role in my decision. Thanks also to my teammates, coaches, [president] John Carpino, [general manager] Billy Eppler and his baseball operations staff, the entire front office and Angels fans for all their support. It has made a tremendous difference not only for me, but for my family as well!”
Trout’s contract, which absorbs the final two years of his previous sixyear deal, has an average annual value of $35.54 million. His annual salary will change beginning this year, according to a source who was not authorized to speak publicly on the matter.
Under his previous contract, Trout was due to earn $33.25 million each of the next two seasons.
By the end of the new contract, Trout will have played in an Angels uniform for 20 seasons. He would be the longest-tenured Angels player in franchise history, a mark currently held by Garret Anderson (1994 to 2008) and Tim Salmon (1992 to 2006), who each played 15 seasons.
“This is an exciting day for Angels fans and every player who has ever worn an Angels uniform,” Arte Moreno said in a statement. “Mike Trout, an athlete whose accomplishments have placed him among the greatest baseball players in the history of the game, has agreed to wear an Angels uniform for his entire career.”
Ohtani update
After another session of indoor batting practice, Angels two-way player Shohei Ohtani pronounced himself close to taking swings outdoors, one of the final hurdles he must clear during his rehabilitation from elbow ligament reconstruction.
“That’s my next step in the hitting,” Ohtani said through his interpreter, Ippei Mizuhara. “As long as the people around me, the medical staff, say it’s OK.”
Ohtani is not expected to join the active roster until May, and he is not expected to pitch in 2019. But his presence in the lineup will be crucial for the Angels. As a rookie last season, while splitting time on the mound, Ohtani hit 22 home runs with a .925 on-base plus slugging percentage.
Manager Brad Ausmus indicated Ohtani is “on target” in his recovery. Ohtani played catch Wednesday, making 70 throws at a maximum distance of 50 feet. He also took 10 swings off a tee, 10 off an underhand toss and 10 from an overhand toss. Ohtani began taking swings indoors last weekend.
“Body-wise, I feel well,” Ohtani said. “There are still some parts of the hitting that I need to polish.”
As Ohtani worked out at Tempe Diablo Stadium, a group of Angels regulars appeared in a minor league setting across the complex. One of those players was Trout.
“I’m really happy and excited to be able to play with such a great player for such a long time,” Ohtani said. “If anyone was to deserve such a big contract, it’s Mike. I think he surely deserves it.”
Pujols likely DH
With Ohtani on the mend for the season’s first month, the Angels often will have a vacancy at designated hitter. That spot is likely to be filled by Albert Pujols, who played the majority of his games at first base last season. He underwent seasonending knee surgery last August.
“To keep him healthy the entire year, I think DH-ing is one way of doing it,” Ausmus said. “DH-ing, and some rest time, quite frankly.”
Pujols played designated hitter only 47 times in 2018. He played that role in 143 games in 2017 and 123 in 2016.
Pujols turned 39 in January. He has hit .375 with a 1.038 on-base plus slugging percentage in 12 games this spring. Ausmus described Pujols’ performance as “workmanlike.”
“He’s had two decades doing this,” Ausmus said. “He’s had some good at-bats, and he’s had some spring-training at-bats. Overall, I thought he’s been good.” He added, “He hasn’t had any physical issues, which is a huge plus.”
Short hops
Kaleb Cowart, a two-way player who doubles as a utility player and a pitcher, cleared waivers and was outrighted to triple-A Salt Lake City .... Torii Hunter, who played for the Angels from 2008 to 2012, was at the complex on Wednesday to watch his son, Torii, Jr., who played in class-A for the Angels last season. Hunter caught up with Trout in between Trout’s at-bats in the minor league games.