Mike Trout and the Angels Are Close to Historic Deal: Report

The Angels' Mike Trout is close to signing the largest contract in North American sports history, according to reports.

The ESPN report, citing sources familiar with the negotiations, said the 12-year deal is worth more than $430 million. The same figure was reported by the Los Angeles Times, which also cited sources familiar with the deal. The Associated Press reported that it would be the largest deal in North American sports history.

NBC4 has not confirmed details of the deal.

The 27-year-old center fielder, who has won two AL MVP awards, would pass up the previous record average of $34.4 million signed by former Dodger Zack Greinke when he joined Arizona. It also passes the $330 million deal reached earlier this year by the Phillies and Bryce Harper.

As for whether it's the most lucrative contract in the world, that's difficult to determine. Barcelona superstar Lionel Messi earned $84 million from the Spanish club in 2017-2018, according to Forbes, but specifics of his deal are not known. Cristiano Ronaldo, now with Juventus, earned $61 million last season with his former club, Real Madrid, according to Forbes.

Trout's reported deal means the Angels' star will remain in Anaheim through 2030. Trout would set a baseball record for career earnings at about $513 million, surpassing the roughly $448 million Alex Rodriguez took in with Seattle, Texas and the New York Yankees from 1994-2017.

There was speculation during the off-season that Trout, a New Jersey native, would be heading to an East Coast team, likely the Phillies. 

Trout was a first-round draft pick by the Angels in 2009. He made his big league debut in 2011. In his only post-season appearance with the team, the Angels were swept by the Kansas City Royals in the 2014 AL Division Series.

The team won 98 games that season, but went 80-82 last year and fell well short of the playoffs.

Trout has a .307 average with 240 home runs, 648 RBIs, 189 steals and 693 walks in eight big league seasons. He won AL Rookie of the Year in 2012, followed by the AL MVP award in 2014 and 2016. He finished second in MVP voting four times.

The Angel last big money splash was Albert Pujols, who joined the club in 2012 on a 10-year, $240 million contract. Josh Hamilton signed with the Angels for five years and $125 million in 2013. Both players fell short of their production with previous teams.

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