The Los Angeles Angels continue to make small moves this offseason to try and compete in 2019, but their biggest priority should be extending Trout.
Their is no question that the Los Angeles Angels would love to keep Mike Trout in Anaheim, or wherever they might play in the future, for a long time.
They’ve made it pretty clear that their intentions this offseason where to begin contract extension talks with Trout.
Unfortunately for Angels fans, we’ve yet to hear anything about those discussions.
Trout is signed through the 2020 season, which means the Angels only control him for this season and the next.
He has the chance to hit the free agent market at 29-years-old with at least two AL MVP awards in his pocket.
One thing that could be holding up discussions this offseason are the Bryce Harper and Manny Machado sweepstakes. I think what those two sign for will go a long way in determining what kind of contract Mike Trout can get from the Angels.
While those two players are great, Trout is obviously better than both, and even though he’ll be a little older when he hits free agency, he still should get more money than Harper and Machado.
Another thing that might be holding Trout back is the conceived competitiveness of this Angels team. I really doubt that the moves they’ve made this offseason have convinced him the Angels are a World Series contender.
The front office is going to have to do a better job of proving to Mike Trout that they can build a serious contender.
But if the Angels are going to make Trout an Angel for life, they need to do it now.