This week’s mailbag addresses a possible Mike Trout commerce, valuing Luis Arraez, how the White Sox and Cubs transfer ahead, what an Elly De La Cruz extension may appear to be, Brett Baty‘s future, MLB’s reputation, and rather more.
Fred asks:
With the ever growing annual salaries MLB stars are receiving, $36M simply is not what it was. Assuming he’s amenable to a commerce, is that this the offseason somebody (here is taking a look at you, Dave Dombrowski) takes an opportunity on Mike Trout’s nonetheless large upside? His wage might be offset with a foul contract or two (howdy Taijuan Walker). He’s far inexpensive than Juan Soto will probably be.
$36MM remains to be a really massive wage in MLB, at the moment tied for seventh all-time. The precise CBT hit for a brand new staff on Trout’s remaining six years and $212.7MM can be related at $35.45MM.
As an apart, 4 gamers signed contracts with $35-36MM AAVs in 2019: Trout, Gerrit Cole, Stephen Strasburg, and Anthony Rendon. 5 years later, solely 5 gamers have managed to push into the $40MM realm, shifting the needle modestly on this regard.
Trout stated earlier than the season that asking for a commerce can be the “straightforward approach out,” however he additionally did not rule out a future change of coronary heart. The Angels are on tempo to lose about 95 video games this 12 months, they have not been to the postseason since 2014, and there is little purpose to count on the staff to be good subsequent 12 months. Regardless of his longstanding loyalty, it is believable Trout might change his thoughts sooner or later.
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