3 most expensive players on the IL right now ft. Mike Trout
Injuries to top players like Mike Trout in MLB are detrimental. They take up a large amount of their team's salary cap, handicapping them in terms of being flexible and having resources.
Some big-market teams are always mindful of that. In modern-day baseball, where contracts like $40–50 million per year are no big deal, those players, if they get injured is disastrous for their teams, as they don't get the necessary production from their investment.
Let's take a look at the three most expensive players who are on the injured list:
#3 Mike Trout, Los Angeles Angels
The Angels outfielder was upbeat about his recovery from the torn meniscus surgery in his left knee underwent earlier in the season. Mike Trout was almost there until he wasn't. Following a rehab assignment where he was destined to play seven innings, he exited the game in two due to knee soreness.
On Thursday, it was revealed that Mike Trout had torn the same meniscus he had repaired in May. He will need a second surgery for a torn meniscus in his left knee, ruling him out of the season.
Mike Trout will be earning $35.5 million this season as part of his 12-year, $426.5 million contract.
#2 Jacob deGrom, Texas Rangers
In the latest update, the two-time Cy Young winner threw a 45-pitched session on Tuesday. DeGrom, who's on a five-year, $185 million contract ($37 million annually), is recovering from Tommy John surgery underwent last year.
Injuries have plagued DeGrom's stay on the mound. He hasn't pitched this season in the majors and could only make six starts with the Rangers, posting a 2.67 ERA across 30.1 innings pitched.
It remains to be seen if his rehab goes well and he starts a few games this season.
#1 Justin Verlander, Houston Astros
The Houston Astros ace is suffering from neck stiffness and hasn't pitched since the middle of June. He threw 30 pitches on Tuesday and is striving to return to the major league mound, even at the age of 41.
Verlander is slated to earn $43.33 million for this season, a large part of which will be paid by the New York Mets, who signed him to a two-year, $86.66 million contract before trading him away to the Astros.
This is his second stint on the injured list. Verlander had started the season in Illinois due to a shoulder issue. Before his latest injury, he went 3-2 with a 3.95 ERA in 10 starts.