When's the right time to trade a franchise player?

[LightTheHalo]

http://www.usatoday.com/story/sports/mlb/2013/12/10/david-price-mike-trout-stephen-strasburg-bryce-harper-yasiel-puig-trade-chances/3974013/

 

Locking up Trout long-term could be just as challenging as fielding a championship-caliber club around him. Add in a farm system remarkably devoid of potential impact talent and the case builds for a trade.

The bigger challenge: finding a trade partner with the talent to make the deal palatable - for the team and a presumably irate fan base.

[gotbeer]

I think for the Angels, the writing is on the wall.  If they were even thinking of trading Trout, they wouldn't have traded Bourjos and Trumbo.  They are going all in with Trout, and I don't think they will consider trading him till it looks like he's determined to go to FA'cy.  

[ineedanap]

Sign him to an extension or two. Then trade him in his early to mid thirties.

[19HALO71]

Well, if you follow the Rays model. Then dealing Trout with about two years remaining before FA seems to be the right time. And they seem to be doing pretty well for themselves.

[Docwaukee]

Mike Trout stands to be the most important player in franchise history.  You lock him up for as long as you can and only trade him under completely dire circumstances.  Obviously if he's not amenable to an extention then you might as well get something for him, but not until the last possible second. 

[Chimi]

It would make sense for Mike Trout to sign a contract with the Angels now.  If he waits until he's a free agent, he'll be 27 years old.  While that is still very young and in the middle of his prime, it would also only give him an opportunity at one major contract in his career, since it'd probably be around a 10 year deal and take him until he's 37.  If he signs a 7 or 8 year deal now, he will get paid big dollars now (most likely $200+ Million) and still give him the chance again when he's 30/31 for another mega contract.

[Chuck]

Arte absolutely LOVES Mike Trout and will break the bank for him to remain on the Angels long term.

[mtangelsfan]

Mike Trout isn't some good player who''s going to get his at free agency.  He is a once in a generation talent.  He is nothing that the Angels franchise has ever had before.  To even consider not doing everything possible to keep him would be an insult to the fans and the sport in general.  In a few years we could get to watch history almost nightly with this player, all in an Angels uniform. 

 

As an Angel fan for over 40 years, the only player to even come close to Trout was Ryan, and he wasn't home grown.  Lock this kid up, it is the biggest no-brainer ever.

[HaloCory22]

375 Million over 15 years. Do it. 

[IEAngelsfan]

Mike Trout isn't some good player who''s going to get his at free agency.  He is a once in a generation talent.  He is nothing that the Angels franchise has ever had before.  To even consider not doing everything possible to keep him would be an insult to the fans and the sport in general.  In a few years we could get to watch history almost nightly with this player, all in an Angels uniform. 

 

As an Angel fan for over 40 years, the only player to even come close to Trout was Ryan, and he wasn't home grown.  Lock this kid up, it is the biggest no-brainer ever.

Exactly.

 

When you think of Musial, Williams and Mantle, you also think Cardinals, Bosox and Yankees respectively.  He would be our version of those players.

[mancini79]

Let Trout focus on playing his 3rd year of baseball. Then talk extension at the end of the season. He'll get his money. If Mike wants to play closer to home, there isn't anything Arte could offer to sway him to stay.

[mtangelsfan]

The Angels should be trying to communicate to him that he's earned his money already.  He has already made a couple of comments about wanting to get paid more.  Why not try to make him happy now?

[Capital_Dave]

The Angels should be trying to communicate to him that he's earned his money already.  He has already made a couple of comments about wanting to get paid more.  Why not try to make him happy now?

 

I think you could look at this offseason through the prism of making Trout happy.

 

Trade Bourjos, to free up CF for Trout full-time?  Check.

Re-acquire Skaggs, to reunite Trout with a familiar face he was drafted and came up through the farm system with?  Check.

[tdawg87]

I think you could look at this offseason through the prism of making Trout happy.

 

Trade Bourjos, to free up CF for Trout full-time?  Check.

Re-acquire Skaggs, to reunite Trout with a familiar face he was drafted and came up through the farm system with?  Check.

 

Now use the $700,000 the Angels saved with the Trumbo trade to give to Trout as a raise.

[LightTheHalo]

The Angels should be trying to communicate to him that he's earned his money already.  He has already made a couple of comments about wanting to get paid more.  Why not try to make him happy now?

 

Because you hurt the team short-term by paying him anything more than you have to. As others have said, when it's time for him to get paid, he's going to get paid, and whether or not he remains with the Angels is likely going to be far more dependent on how much they offer, how competitive the team has been and will be, how strong is his desire to "go home" than how much the Angels paid him during his third season of club control.

[Catwhoshatinthehat]

Well, if you follow the Rays model. Then dealing Trout with about two years remaining before FA seems to be the right time. And they seem to be doing pretty well for themselves.

 

The Rays signed Longoria to a 6 year contract worth up to 44M when he had played all of 6 games in the majors.  They then extended him in 2012 to a 10 year deal which added 6 more seasons and 100M guaranteed to the initial contract.  The Rays were willing to spend on a guy like Longoria but they appear more hesitant when it comes to pitchers and given their farm depth I don't blame them.

[VariousCrap]

I hope he gets a bigger raise this year than compared to last year.

Edited December 11, 2013 by Jim B

[mtangelsfan]

Short term is short term.  Long term is what matters more.  The team will be competitive if he is locked up.  If he is locked up now, chances are the contract will be cheaper.  If he wants to go home, you are right there is nothing we can do.  That should not stop us from doing everything possible to convince him to make Socal his new home for good.

 

I don't get this defeatest attitude about trading the best thing this team has ever had. 

Edited December 11, 2013 by mtangelsfan

[mancini79]

As long as the team feels it's competitive, you don't ever trade a franchise player. Cards did it right in keeping Pujols til the end.

[Mark68]

Arte absolutely LOVES Mike Trout and will break the bank for him to remain on the Angels long term.

I would tend to agree. I doubt Arte would care how much it takes.

 

After all, how could he market a Troutless club?

[mtangelsfan]

As long as the team feels it's competitive, you don't ever trade a franchise player. Cards did it right in keeping Pujols til the end.

 

after how many seasons and two world series wins.   You can have your way and trade Trout after we get that first.

 

(I see mod douchebag mode is still in effect0

Edited December 11, 2013 by mtangelsfan

[Ordos]

Lock this kid up, it is the biggest no-brainer ever.

I thought refinancing my mortgage was...

[mtangelsfan]

Ha!

[dimitrig]

Can Trout be our Herschel Walker? Should he be? I would consider it if I was Dipoto.

[Brent Maguire]

You lock him up for however much Trout wants. That's how valuable this guy is to the organization. 

 

I would be disgusted if they traded him away. He has a legitimate shot to be one of the best 10-15 players to ever play the game. You have to at least lock him up until his age 30 season then go from there.