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 recognition, and rather more.
Fred asks:
With the ever rising 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 you, Dave Dombrowski) takes an opportunity on Mike Trout’s nonetheless super upside? His wage could possibly be offset with a foul contract or two (good day Taijuan Walker). He’s far cheaper than Juan Soto might be.
$36MM continues to be a really giant wage in MLB, presently tied for seventh all-time. The precise CBT hit for a brand new group on Trout’s remaining six years and $212.7MM could 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 mentioned earlier than the season that asking for a commerce could be the “simple means 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 yr, they have not been to the postseason since 2014, and there is little motive to anticipate the group to be good subsequent yr. Regardless of his longstanding loyalty, it is believable Trout might change his thoughts in some unspecified time in the future.
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