John Taylor

It's good to see the tradition of making other team's Pitchers look like Cy Young continuing in the Ausmus era.

Is it too early to blame the Marine layer?

I think I've stayed home from work on Angels Opening Day for the past 10 years or so, I can't remember if any of them occurred on a Sunday, but if they are during the week I use a PTO day. It's honestly a holiday to me.

I was at work, not working, dinking around on Twitter when I saw Chuck (or AW, can't remember, they are one in the same) retweet the report about the extension. I then furiously started looking around for other reports. I probably worked harder in those few minutes than I have in my entire life. I'm sure my boss was proud as he looked over at me diligently typing away n my computer at work.

Finally an AW thread that has aged well. Well written @Dochalo I actually remember reading this thread and it gave me some hope at the time that trout would stay, as I was 50/50 on it.

I honestly had no idea this was a thing either, maybe Ichiro needs to do a better job of marketing himself because MLB can't do all the work on it's own.

Also can I say that this is such a Mike Trout thing to do and speaks to his character. He could have waited his contract out, tested FA, watched even more money offers (from PHI and NYY) come in, but in typical Mike Trout fashion, he wanted to get it done so he could focus on baseball. Generally when players say the line "I just focus on baseball" they tend to be full of crap, but Trout really does mean it Now lets win a few rings!

Next you're going to tell me Marge Schott doesn't own the Reds anymore

The best part about this deal is the fact that nobody can ever complain about the Angels again. it's all going to be positivity and optimism around Angelswin.com until 2030, I'm sure of it.......

I'm optimistic because baseball still makes me feel the way it always has, and I still get giddy like a little kid when Spring Training begins, and I still have that same feeling when I walk into Angel Stadium. Despite the fact I've grown up and out of a lot of the things I enjoyed as a kid, I still remember holding the baseball program that my grandpa bought me back in 1987. I'm a hopeless romantic when it comes to Angels Baseball no matter how terrible the team was in the early 90's, or how much outside chatter (See: East Coast reporters) keeps saying Trout deserves to be on a "better" (see East Coast) team.

I believe MLB is missing more players who are as bluntly honest about how they feel like Harper does. With that be said I think MLB should ban him for life for uttering the hallowed name of Mike Trout from his douchy face. DON'T YOU PUT THAT VOODOO ON HIM BRYCE HARPER!

Yeah to not want Mike Trout to stick around past 2020 is essentially equivalent to a Yankees fan saying they wouldn't have wanted Mickey Mantle on their team in the 50s and 60s. I would prefer the greatest player of my generation stay on my favorite team, jack up whatever prices needed to make this happen. $25 beer? Please and thank you! Plaster Keys on Van Nuys all over the Stadium? Sure! Sick Cal Worthington's dog spot on me for Mike Trout's personal amusement? If that keeps him here, bring it on!

Living in Montana and dealing with the brutal winters here, there's nothing that shows me the "light at the end of the tunnel" like Spring Training. I'm waiting for the game to start on MLB.tv while its about -2 and snowing outside. I think if I still lived in OC I would take Spring Training more for granted.

Finally someone in the Angels organization with the initials "MT" i can actually get behind.

I think he is the guy who owns the Lasagna place on Katella.

Given Harper's injury history at only 26, it's hard for me to imagine he will still be playing baseball at a high level at 36, let alone at 39. This is a good deal for Harper. I predict he will have more of a Josh Hamilton-esque injury based exit from baseball (minus the cocaine) around 35 or so.

The cure for cancer

This right here. Mike Trout is his own market. You can't compare Harper and Machado to him. They can however help set his market once they sign, but honestly give Trout 40 million a year.

I don't care if this is just a rumor and could be complete BS, I'm just going to enjoy the fantasy of locking up Trout until I have long since passed away

This is legit one of my favorite t-shirt designs I've seen in a long time

Yes, I really like the Chargers, it's a shame they moved to Los Angel....ohh........ Here's @Chuckster70 wearing a Padres hat, and Archie, who is aware of this treason by our beloved AW founder and is nowhere near him. I vote Archie for new AW.com founder. ??? In all seriousness I have a soft-spot for the Padres, and have always rooted for them in the NL.

I don't see much of a downside here. It's a 1 year deal, super cheap, so even if he is injured big deal, he can handle a staff, he is only 2 seasons removed from a .292/.355 /.500 /.855 line and he is 32 not 37, its not like we signed him to a 10 year contract or anything.

Ya know, it's 1 year, not a ton of money, I figure if Harvey is going to have "forearm tightness" might as well be in a Halos uniform.

10 years sounds like a lot of time, but if you think about it, 10 years ago we would be going into the 2009 season. So going off of that benchmark in the past 10 years the Astros moved to the AL, instant replay became a thing, the shift got popular, and the Rays decided to start their relievers. I think the most realistic possibility will be the use of the DH in both leagues, possible re-alignment, more attempts to "shorten" the game, and maybe the Rays or Oakland move? My completely non scientific predictions from most likely to least likely to happen by the off-season of 2018: Most likely: Tweaking of the rules to shorten a baseball game Kind-of likely: DH in both the AL and NL Maybe: Re-alignment or blurring between the AL/NL Maybe: Rays or Oakland move to Las Vegas

Bat flips at the Pearly Gates. Rest in Peace Luis and Jose. His smile was infectious.