When LA Angels' Mike Trout pushed for higher paychecks for MLB stars
In a 2019 interview with Business Insider, Mike Trout revealed his opinion on why he thinks MLB players avoid becoming free agents.
The Los Angeles Angels center fielder signed a $426 million contract with the franchise that will be active for 12 years. It is the second most expensive contract to be signed by an MLB player and the 4th most expensive contract to be signed by an athlete in general.
Even after signing such an expensive contract, Trout saw a problem with how MLB franchises handle the contract signings of their players. The issue came to light when he saw his fellow MLB players, Manny Machado and Bryce Harper, contract dealings.
Both players are known for their incredible skills and talent, and yet they weren't signed by a franchise until late February of 2019 after becoming free agents. This made him think that franchises may deliberately delay signing players for their own benefit.
Mike Trout said the following on the issue:
"I think you see it nowadays with all these extensions. People want to stay away from free agency."
He added:
"I don't wanna say a 'problem' ... I just think it's not right. Like I said, with Harper and Machado ... [teams] should wanna bid on a guy like that."
What a feeling! 🫡🇺🇲 https://t.co/VJRUuY6ggJ
The center fielder is currently playing in the 2023 World Baseball Classic tournament for the United States.
When Mike Trout brought light to payment issues of free agents in the MLB
In the interview, Mike Trout talked about how he too considered free agency but ultimately ended up extending his time with the Angels.
The Angels player revealed how he thinks most players don't want to go the free-agent route nowadays. He felt that franchises would sometimes wait until late in signing incredible players and he gave the example of Bryce and Machado.
Mike Trout said the following in the case of Bryce Harper and Manny Machado:
"They missed a little bit of spring training. I just think it was a tough few months for them. I don't think anybody wanted to go through what they were going through,"
He added:
"It's good for baseball. I think guys are getting what they deserve, and that's how it should be,"
Closest thing we might ever get to Mike Trout in the playoffs, unfortunately. https://t.co/xhKhF3LAD6
Mike Trout indirectly stated that waiting till the last moment to sign the players is not a sign of good practice for the franchises. Although many players were signed way before, the issue of some of the players being signed so late still exists.