Kuzul

The largest contract in MLB history stands at $275 million. What we’re here to discuss is the prospect of Mike Trout one day putting that to shame with a $400 million contract.

“Ridiculous” might be the first word that comes to mind. Or maybe one of those weird hybrid words like “absurdulous.”

But the possibility is neither ridiculous nor absurdulous, my friends. Considering what he has working for him, $400 million for Trout would actually be quite reasonable if the stars align just right.

We’ll get to that. But first, a bit of background.

To my knowledge, Jeff Passan of Yahoo! Sports was the first to take a serious stab at forecasting a potential mega-contract for Trout. On the heels of the Los Angeles Angels superstar’s remarkable 2012 season, Passan wrote that Trout could one day have a “reasonable case” to be baseball’s first $300 million player.

But that was then. This is now, and what we know now that we didn’t know then is that Trout’s 2012 season was no tease.

Maybe you don’t need the numbers. But since they’re fun numbers to look at, we’ll look at them anyway. Here’s the good stuff from FanGraphs:

Trout’s not the best at everything. He’s just among the best at everything like nobody else in the league. He is baseball’s most dominant all-around player, and it’s scary how not close it is. Nobody else has compiled more than 15.0 WAR over the last two seasons.

Also scary is the fact that Trout’s only through his age-21 season. WAR-wise, nobody so young has ever been so good. FanGraphs has Trout’s 21.1 career WAR (2011 included, mind you) as the best ever for a player through the age of 21. So does Baseball-Reference.com.

In Trout, we’re witnessing a legit once-in-a-generation talent. Further, it’s OK to acknowledge that we’re witnessing a player who has a head start at becoming the greatest the game has ever known.

As such, it’s hardly surprising that ESPN’s Buster Olney has recently spoken to some people in the know who have been willing to get much more bold than Passan.

“Twelve years, $400 million,” one agent suggested shortly after the winter meetings. 

Olney subsequently spoke to a talent evaluator who scoffed at the notion at first. And then…

“But then you think about it,” he said. “Robinson Cano is a decade older than Trout and he just got $240 million. Trout is 22 years old and he’s a better player than Cano right now.”

Trout is so good right now that he’s worth more than the $33.3 million per year he would make in a 12-year, $400 million contract. Heck, he’s even worth more than the $40 million per year he would make in a $400 million deal over just 10 years.

We know this because FanGraphs has a handy way of converting WAR into dollar value. In the last two years, Trout has been worth:

• 2012: $44.9 million
• 2013: $52.1 million

Such is life when you’re a 10-WAR player. And right now, Trout’s the only player in MLB who would know.

Now, there’s no way we can know for certain that Trout’s going to keep it up. Maybe somebody will come up with a genius and easily copycatted solution for keeping him contained. If not that, maybe injuries will do the trick.

But since we’re being optimistic here, let’s take Oliver’s word for it.

Oliver is a projection system that, in the words of The Hardball Times, “uses a simple weighted mean of the previous three seasons, with aging factors and regression to the mean.” Via FanGraphs, here’s what the system sees for Trout over the next five seasons:

In other words, Trout is projected to be himself. And that makes sense, because we know he’s superbly talented and far from the highway to the danger zone that is the age of 30. Trout just needs to stay healthy.

The catch, if you’ll pardon the pun, is that Trout will very likely have to stay healthy to land a $400 million contract. If he’s going to get a deal like that, it will probably be a free-agent contract rather than an extension.

The Angels already have enough big-money players on their books. Per Cot’s Baseball Contracts, Albert Pujols, Josh Hamilton, C.J. Wilson and Jered Weaver are all owed escalating salaries over the next several years. If the Angels are determined to stay under the luxury tax threshold, they need Trout to be as cheap as possible.

One thing the Angels could do is sign Trout to a deal that’s backloaded like crazy. But they already have a guy with a deal like that, as Pujols is owed $114 million over the final four years of his 10-year, $240 million contract. 

Besides which, Trout’s interests have to be considered. He might prefer a shorter extension that would allow him to hit free agency in his prime rather than a long extension that would cover his best free-agent years.

My guess is that something in the $200 million range is the most reasonable possibility for an extension for Trout, with $300 million probably being the Angels’ max. Trout could settle for something like that, or he could just wait until free agency.

Don’t be surprised if that’s what he chooses to do. His free agency isn’t that far off, and it promises to be worth the wait.

Trout is due for free agency after 2017. He’ll only be through his age-25 season if he gets there. Since most players hit the market in their late-20s or early-30s, Trout hitting the market in his mid-20s would make him the most attractive free agent since a guy named Alex Rodriguez in 2000.

If the Oliver projections for Trout come true, here’s how his free-agent resume would stack up against A-Rod’s when he went to free agency:

Trout would go to free agency a year older than Rodriguez was. If his Oliver projections come to fruition, he would also head to free agency with fewer career home runs under his belt.

But A-Rod’s advantages end there. It’s conceivable that Trout will head into free agency both more experienced and more accomplished than A-Rod was in 2000-01, which is saying a lot.

And if this is how it plays out, then a 10- or 12-year deal worth $400 million wouldn’t be nearly as absurd as the 10-year, $252 million contract A-Rod received from the Texas Rangers. Not relatively speaking, anyway.

While I couldn’t find data for the 2002 season, here’s how MLB’s average salary has progressed since the 2000 season, courtesy of data from the Associated Press:

The $252 million deal A-Rod signed was worth $25.2 million per year—or over 13 times what the average player was making the previous season. 

The $33.3 million per year Trout would earn in a 12-year, $400 million contract would be less than 10 times what the average player is making now. A 10-year deal worth $40 million per year would be worth just under 12 times what the average player is making now.

And again, this is now we’re talking about. The average MLB salary is going nowhere but up, and there’s more than enough money in the game now to make sure it keeps going up. The average salary could be $4 million come 2017, in which case a $40 million-per-year deal for Trout would be only 10 times as much as the average player’s salary.

Considering this, the following notion deserves to be thrown out there: Rather than $400 million, how about $500 million?

That’s the number we might be kicking around as a fair deal for Trout a couple years from now when his free agency is looming. If not, here’s guessing nobody will be hesitating to say $400 million. If it sounds fair now, it will certainly sound fair later.

Trout will be rolling the dice if he chooses the patient path that leads toward him striking it rich in free agency after 2017. There’s certainly a possible scenario out there that involves him rejecting a mega-extension and then watching his career tragically unravel.

But if Trout gets to free agency unscathed, he’ll find it worth his while. He would enter as the most attractive free agent to ever hit the open market and would very likely leave as baseball’s first $400 million man.

If you want to talk baseball, hit me up on Twitter.

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At first glance the numbers seem preposterous; $400 million for a single player? 

Not even Alex Rodriguez‘s gaudy $275 million figure comes close. Not a single player in Major League Baseball history has ever even cracked the $300 million mark.

In fact, Rodriguez ranks both first and second when it comes to all-time record salaries. His previous 10-year, $250 million contract comes in second.

Albert Pujols couldn’t crack $300 million when he reached free agency. He wound up signing for 10 years and $240 million with the Los Angeles Angels.

Robinson Cano attempted to become the first player to reach $300 million when his agent, Jay-Z, asked the Yankees for such a figure during the regular season, but he fell short and also landed at 10 years and $240 million this offseason (still the third-largest contract in history by the way, not too shabby for falling short).

Then there’s Mike Trout.

ESPN’s Buster Olney posed the question, could Trout become baseball’s first $400 million man? (Insider access needed).

The 22-year-old is already entering his third full season in 2014, fourth overall if you count the 40 games he played in 2011 as a 19-year-old, and will reach arbitration for the first time following this coming season. 

There’s no doubt that Trout will shatter every arbitration salary record if the Angels do not come to terms with him on a contract extension between now and next offseason. At 22 years old, he already boasts a Rookie of the Year award, a pair of All-Star appearances, a pair of Silver Slugger Awards and two runner-up finishes in MVP balloting. 

In his piece for ESPN, Olney quotes an anonymous agent as recommending that Trout and his agent do the unprecedented and ask for a 12-year, $400 million contract. This would pay Trout an average of $33.33 million per season. 

I asked a long-time agent who does not represent Trout what he might ask for in a negotiation for a multiyear deal, and he paused for a few moments, like someone savoring a good piece of steak. 

“Why not do something that’s never been done before?” he asked rhetorically. 

What do you mean? 

“Twelve years, $400 million.” 

Considering his age and that he is already arguably the best player in the game, and he hasn’t even reached his peak yet, it’s very hard to argue that he won’t become the first player to crack the $30 million per season mark anyway, making the suggestion, actually, somewhat considerable from the Angels’ standpoint.

If the Angels were to bypass the arbitration process and give him the record-shattering 12-year contract now, the pact would take them to his age-34 season, still young enough that they shouldn’t see the type of decline that has come along with other 10-year contracts—something the Angels could be wary of following their current deals with Pujols and Josh Hamilton (5 years, $133 million).

At 26 years old when he reaches free agency, there’s no doubt that Trout will still command a 10-year deal and could push beyond that if he hasn’t suffered any injuries and proves durable. How much more will his stock rise if the Angels choose to save a little now by going the arbitration route and limiting him to salaries in the $15-20 million range rather than ponying up and making him the highest-paid player in the game?

Really, by the age of 22, only Pujols and Rodriguez compare to Trout in terms of modern day salary negotiations. Rodriguez was 25 when he reached his then-record-setting deal of 10 years, $250 million with the Texas Rangers back in 2001. Add 16 years worth of inflation to that number and the presumption that Trout is beyond reproach in performance-enhancing drug (PED) discussions and you have the makings for a figure well above $300 million at the 10-year mark.

Pujols didn’t sign his deal until his age-32 season to begin 2012, exemplifying the type of inflation that came over the 11-year gap between his deal and the original A-Rod deal. A-Rod’s second 10-year pact, signed in 2008, was also in his age-32 season. 

Even Cano’s deal this offseason came in his age-31 season and will take him through the age of 41. 

Subtract the 10-year age difference, all those years of peak productivity, and you are left with Trout’s impending mega payday. Twelve years and $400 million just isn’t that shocking at that point, especially with him only at age 34 by the end of the deal, instead of into his 40’s.

In general, these 10-year mega deals handcuff the teams and have not proven to be worth it long term. In the case of Trout, though, someone is definitely going to hand him the largest payday in the history of the sport soon, so it might as well be the Angels. 

The risk with Trout is not a decline in production due to age as has been the case with A-Rod, Pujols and even Hamilton (and likely will be the case with Cano). Sure, he could wind up regressing, but history does not suggest that would be the case. The risk in such a deal with Trout would be injury, and teams take out insurance policies on such deals that would help cushion that risk and not cost the Angels should he become injured and not able to play out his contract. 

Having jumped in on both Pujols and Hamilton on mega deals the past couple of seasons, it would be a PR nightmare to not take the gamble on Trout and watch another team give it to him instead. 

Spend the money now and lock him up. Forget the short-term savings, give him 12 years and $400 million and hope he returns the favor in his age-34 season and signs a more team-friendly deal as he acknowledges that he is entering the twilight of his career. 

Trout can become the Derek Jeter of the West Coast and spend his entire career in one uniform. He is already set to become the new face of baseball when Jeter hangs up his cleats. 

As eye-popping as the number may be, it would be more costly to risk allowing a bidding war start when he reaches free agency. 

The Angels will profit from making Trout an Angel for life and the $400 million will come out looking like a wise investment.

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An interesting tidbit of news came from New York Yankees team president Randy Levine on Friday, December 13, as he claimed that Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim outfielder Mike Trout would be a player he would be willing to give a 10-year contract to.

Levine told Wallace Matthews of ESPNNewYork.com that he was unwilling to give Robinson Cano a 10-year contract because he is over 30 years old, though Trout would be worthy of such a contract when he hits free agency in 2018.

“Now, if it was Mike Trout, I’d offer him a 10-year contract,” Levine said. “But for people over 30, I don’t believe it makes sense.”

Trout, 22, would be 27 years old by the time he hits the open market, and it’s interesting that Levine used him as a comparison to Cano.

Using him could have simply been an example to prove a point, but there’s always the chance that Levine and the Yankees brass have big plans for him should he hit the open market.

Trout has already established himself as one of the premier players in the sport after just two full seasons in the league. In his career of two-plus years, Trout has hit 62 home runs, stolen 86 bases, hit 17 triples, driven in 196 runs and slashed .314/.404/.544.

He has finished second in the American League MVP voting twice already and won the AL Rookie of the Year award in 2012. Combine that with his stellar defensive work, and you’ve got yourself the total package.

Should the Angels allow him to test the free-agent market, Trout will undoubtedly command a hefty payday. Not many teams would be able to compete financially with the Yankees, and if they’re actually willing to go 10 years, the competition might just be blown out of the water.

Los Angeles Dodgers left-hander Clayton Kershaw may be the first $300 million player when he hits free agency after the 2015 season, but Trout could very well be the first position player to earn such a contract.

The Yankees appear willing to give that to him, and that will create for an interesting offseason in several years’ time.

For now he’s an Angel, and likely not at all thinking about his free agency. When it becomes the talk of baseball in a few seasons, though, look for the Yankees to gear up for a run at baseball’s youngest superstar.

Read more MLB news on BleacherReport.com

Los Angeles Angels outfielder Mike Trout is probably wondering why he got snubbed when Rawlings announced the finalists for the 2013 Gold Glove Awards.

For the most part, the experts that make up the panel to determine the finalists usually get it right.  Nearly every one of the finalists on the list is deserving in one way or another.  As always, though, mixing facts with opinions will leave players out of the conversation who should otherwise be there.

Trout, Matt Carpenter, Michael Brantley and Josh Donaldson will have an entire year to think about being snubbed.

Explaining and understanding the rating criteria used to determine finalists can be hazardous to your health, but if you want to know how Rawlings uses sabermetrics to make the determinations, read more at MLB.com. 

There always will be snubs, which is unfortunate.  These players should have at least been brought into the final conversation. Let us take a look at why.

Mike Trout—Center Field, Anaheim Angels

2013 Fielding Percentage: .994

Putouts: 359 (2nd in AL)

There are those who argued that Trout was snubbed for a Gold Glove nomination back in 2012.  That was a pretty good argument.

It is worth noting that last season, Trout posted a .988 fielding percentage, recording 340 putouts on 347 chances against three errors. 

He improved on that number in 2013, upping his fielding percentage to .994, with 359 putouts in 361 chances with only two errors.

What more could Trout have done?

Comparing Trout to a member of the competition—Lorenzo Cain, who was nominated—gives us further insight into the snub.

Make no mistake, Cain is a terrific outfielder and worthy of recognition.  Yet Cain played in fewer games than Trout—113 to 148, respectively—and had a lower fielding percentage (.990) and one more error in 2013.

Based on those numbers alone, Trout should have been in the discussion over Cain.

Bill Shaikin of The Los Angeles Times notes that Trout was not as good sabermetrically, which hurt his chances.

Did Rawlings get this call right?  Based on the sabermetrics, perhaps they did.  Based on more traditional statistics, they were wrong. 

As a result, Trout gets snubbed once more.

Matt Carpenter—Second Base, St. Louis Cardinals

2013 Fielding Percentage: .985

Assists: 429 (4th in NL)

Like Trout in the American League, it is hard to fathom leaving Carpenter off the list of Gold Glove nominees.

All he did was record a .985 fielding percentage while committing only nine errors over the course of 2013.

Carpenter also led the league in double plays turned at second base with 97. 

It is hard to argue that Darwin Barney of the Chicago Cubs or Brandon Phillips of the Cincinnati Reds do not deserve nominations, but Carpenter should at least get the nod over Dodgers’ second baseman Mark Ellis.

Ellis was solid with the glove and committed three fewer errors during the season.  But he also played in 13 fewer games.  His range factor per game (putouts plus assists over games played) was 4.43 compared to Carpenter’s 5.00 mark.

Carpenter got to more balls and had more chances.  Yes, those chances can lead to more errors, but they also have a bigger impact on the game’s outcome.  Here, Carpenter’s value should have increased considerably.

Sadly, it did not.

Michael Brantley—Left Field, Cleveland Indians

2013 Fielding Percentage: 1.000 (1st in AL)

Assists: 11

Brantley ranked second in the American League with 257 putouts and third with 11 assists.

Take his 257 putouts out of 268 chances with zero errors, and it is impossible to overlook Brantley in the AL Gold Glove discussion in left field.

That is exactly what happened, however.

Brantley should have gotten the nomination over Oakland Athletics left fielder Yoenis Cespedes due to a number of factors.

Cespedes played in only 94 games in left field and posted a .980 fielding percentage.  Compared to Brantley’s 151 games in left and perfect fielding record, the numbers state that Brantley should have received the nomination.

Sorry Rawlings, you got this one wrong.

It is hard to fathom why Brantley got snubbed in this year’s nominations.  He could easily be a top vote-getter, let alone a nominee.

Josh Donaldson—Third Base, Oakland Athletics

2013 Fielding Percentage: .961

Putouts: 143 (1st in AL)

Perhaps playing in Oakland prevents Donaldson from receiving some of the love he deserves. 

Statistics, being what they are, do not care about location or fanbases, and they should have been enough to warrant a nomination for the A’s third baseman.

Donaldson owned a .961 fielding percentage at the hot corner in 2013.  He committed 16 errors in 414 chances, yet led the league in putouts and played in the third-most games (155) at the position.

Compare those numbers to those of Texas Rangers third baseman Adrian Beltre.

Beltre played in 146 games this season, had a .959 fielding percentage and committed 14 errors in 339 chances.

Beltre already has the accolades of being a Gold Glove third baseman—he received back-to-back awards in 2007 and 2008—yet his 2013 nomination is a complete snub to Donaldson.

It is clear that Beltre no longer possesses the range he once enjoyed.  Donaldson still has that ability, and the numbers prove so.

As John Shea of The San Francisco Chronicle notes, 2013 has turned into a disappointing year for Donaldson regarding accolades.  Still, Donaldson has to be pleased with how he performed.

Too bad it was not enough to get him a much-deserved Gold Glove nomination.

With all selection processes, there is the possibility that snubs will happen.  The 2013 Gold Glove selection process has lived up to that statement.

All four of these players deserve recognition for this award.  Sadly, they will not receive it. 

However the selections are made and the nominees chosen, these snubs will have to sit back and watch as others receive an award that possibly could have been theirs.  It raises the argument as to what exactly is important in determining finalists.

That argument is best suited, perhaps, for another time. 

Meanwhile, all those who were snubbed can hope for is that 2014 provides a better opportunity to cash in on the accolade of being a Gold Glove recipient.

All statistics, records and accolades courtesy of Baseball-Reference.com unless otherwise stated.

Peter Panacy is a featured columnist for Bleacher Report.  Follow him @PeterMcShots on Twitter.

Read more MLB news on BleacherReport.com

More than any other time in recent memory, Major League Baseball is inundated with young budding superstars. Mike Trout has established himself as the best of these young studs, but Manny Machado and Bryce Harper aren’t far behind.

I use 22 as the cutoff since that is the age the majority of college seniors graduate and enter the workforce on a full-time basis. It’s quite amazing that several players in baseball have already established themselves as big-time players when many others their age are just graduating college. (Note: To make this list, players cannot have celebrated their 23rd birthday yet.)

To compile this list, I took into account not only what each player has done to date, but also the potential they offer in the future.

Potential is measured by each player’s performance in the major and minor leagues and their overall package of tools or stuff.

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After a while it must get kind of old hat for Los Angeles Angels outfielder Mike Trout.

You know, another great defensive play, he trends on Twitter.

Big deal, right?

On Friday night, in the top of the fifth inning in the game between the Los Angeles Angels and Pittsburgh Pirates, Trout indeed found himself once again trending on Twitter after robbing Pirates first baseman Gaby Sanchez with a fully extended dive to take away extra bases.

For Trout, it doesn’t matter whether he’s playing center or left field—he’s already making a living in legal highway robbery.

His Twitter faithful still continue to be amazed by what they see from the 21-year-old superstar.

It’s certainly not the first time Trout has given reason to trend on Twitter.

Check out this sick play he made on Jeff Keppinger back in April.

Quite frankly, no other player can close on a ball the way Trout did on that night.

And then, the play last year—robbing J.J. Hardy of a certain home run—a play that’s still highlighted on MLB Network a year later.

Trout’s defensive abilities are, of course, just one of the five tools he shows off on a regular basis. But it’s already a finely honed skill for sure.

Doug Mead is a featured columnist with Bleacher Report. His work has been featured in the Seattle Post-Intelligencer, SF Gate, CBS Sports, the Los Angeles Times and the Houston Chronicle.

Feel free to talk baseball with Doug anytime on Twitter.

Read more MLB news on BleacherReport.com

For anyone who was concerned that Mike Trout of the Los Angeles Angels would not be able to match his incredible rookie season following a slow first month of the season, his recent performances should put an end to any doubt.

Just two games after the 21-year-old hit for the cycle, Trout continued with his outstanding month of May by blasting one of the longest home runs of the 2013 season against the Kansas City Royals.

After 226 career games, Trout already ranks among the league’s best players.  But where does his home run rank among the biggest blasts this season?

Let’s take a look at the 10 longest home run blasts of the 2013 season.

*All statistics and supporting information courtesy of ESPN.com, while information on each home run can be found at ESPN Home Run Tracker.

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Over the last year, baseball fans have celebrated the rise of Bryce Harper and Mike Trout as the seminal players of the next generation. Both are dynamic talents with the potential for superstardom and possibly future tickets to Cooperstown.

Quietly, another phenom is emerging in Baltimore. While Harper and Trout were called up early in the 2012 season, giving them an entire summer to dazzle and amaze the baseball world, Manny Machado didn’t arrive to the Orioles until August.

Amid much less fan fare, Machado stepped into a contending team’s lineup, played a new position and contributed to Baltimore’s first postseason berth in 15 years.

Now, in his first full year in the majors, the 20-year-old third baseman is more than a contributor. Machado is an emerging star in the AL East, garnering high praise and knocking on the door of the elusive Harper-Trout conversation.

Before we answer the question of Machado‘s future, let’s first take a quick look at how great, not good, Harper and Trout have been.

While Steve Melewski of MASN did his best to give Machado an edge in their early careers, more context is needed to describe what Harper and Trout have done thus far in the big leagues.

Mike Trout’s 2012 season wasn’t just great, it was historic. Despite spending the first few weeks of the season in Triple-A, Trout was prolific enough to post the 21st-most valuable season in major league history. At 10.9 WAR, Trout’s 2012 belongs in the conversation with the best years of Babe Ruth, Barry Bonds, Lou Gehrig, Ty Cobb and Willie Mays.

To put his value in perspective, the 10.9 single-season WAR was never reached by Alex Rodriguez, Rickey Henderson or Albert Pujols in any year of their respective careers.

Amazingly, Bryce Harper might be even better than that.

While Trout completed his age-20 season with all-time great value, if not a valid claim at being deserving of the AL MVP, Bryce Harper burst on the scene as a 19-year-old.

Last month, Dave Cameron of FanGraphs looked into Harper’s first 162 games in the majors. The results of his study were astonishing.

With a skill set and swing like Harper’s, it’s foolish to compare him to his young peers. His production is up there with former MVPs, current All-Stars and the best players in the sport. The fact that he played his first 162 games mostly at the age of 19 is astonishing, but even more so when you consider the numbers he compiled.

As Bill Baer points out at Hardball Talk, Machado is a tremendous young player but not quite as even as MASN‘s Steve Melewski makes it seem.

However, Machado‘s plays seems to have grown leaps and bounds from his short stint as a 19-year-old last season.

With a declining strikeout rate, increasing walk rate and stronger isolated slugging numbers, Machado is well on his way to exceeding expectations and projections placed upon him entering the season.

Of course, Machado, much like Harper and Trout, excelled off the bat. While that’s rare for very young players, phenoms and future stars tend to find a way to play well, regardless of age.

Machado‘s .445 slugging percentage in 2012 may not look outstanding on the surface, but it is when put in context. That mark was the fourth highest by a 19-year-old third baseman since 1920. Two of the three names ahead of him: Eddie Matthews and Jimmie Foxx. Considering those two combined for 3,375 RBI, it’s not bad company to start a career in.

Over the last calender year, despite not playing a single game above the minors prior to last August, Manny Machado has been the 10th-most valuable third baseman in the sport. Some names below him on that list: Pablo Sandoval, Brett Lawrie and Hanley Ramirez.

This much is clear: Harper and Trout look to be all-time great players. Machado is phenomenal, on the path to superstardom and deserving of accolades.

But he’s not quite in their class yet.

On the other hand, 2015 is more than enough time for Machado to catch up in the race for best young star in the sport.

In terms of value, a move back to his natural position of shortstop, coupled with Harper’s and Trout’s respective switches from center to left field, would enhance Machado‘s standing.

The comparisons to A-Rod weren’t for naught. If Machado takes over for J.J. Hardy at shortstop in Baltimore, hits like a corner infielder and fields as well at an up-the-middle position as he has at third base, his WAR could exceed Trout’s and Harper’s by 2015.

Furthermore, health and attrition will play a major role in value, counting stats and perception moving forward.

If Harper continues to run into walls and Trout gains more weight next offseason, Machado could be looked at as the safest bet to stay healthy and productive for the long haul.

Last fall, Machado‘s name didn’t belong in this conversation. Today, it does. For right now, it belongs third, behind Harper and Trout.

By 2015, expect Harper to be a notch above both Trout and Machado, but don’t count out Manny in the race for the AL MVP in a few seasons.

Does Manny Machado deserve to be in the Harper-Trout conversation?

Comment below, follow me on Twitter or “Like” my Facebook page to talk all things baseball!

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As the 2013 Major League Baseball season race reaches the quarter pole, it becomes time to take stock of where teams and players are in terms of production. 

In the American League West, the Texas Rangers have taken their customary position of being the front runner, largely due to tremendous pitching and consistent power in the lineup. The A’s and Mariners have both been largely inconsistent, with the A’s scuffling back to .500 since starting the year 12-4. 

However, the biggest story has been the lack of success in Anaheim as the Los Angeles Angels are not fighting for an expected spot at the top, but trying to keep clear of division newcomers the Houston Astros. In the basement.

There have been solid performances from individuals on all five teams. But sometimes, overlapping positions keep deserving players from receiving deserved accolades. This will likely be no exception. 

So instead of lamenting who is not, we shall spotlight who is. Starting with catcher and ending a pitching rotation (relievers included), here is the AL West’s Quarter-Pole All-Star Team.

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After a dominant 10-0 victory on Saturday, for the first time this season, the Los Angeles Angels bats and pitching came together for their most complete win of the season, bringing them to 6-10. 

Not that their bats haven’t been hitting well (with the exception of a horrifically slow start for newly acquired Josh Hamilton), but it’s been the Angels pitching that has faltered in this early part of the season.  

Saturday, however, they looked great as a team.  And two players, Mike Trout and Albert Pujols, hit the ball like the players everyone expects them to be.

So who will have the better season of the two this year?  

Reigning National League Rookie of the Year Mike Trout went 2-for-5 with a home run, four RBI and two runs scored.  Though he got off to a relatively slow start this season, he now has a slash line of .304/.347/.522 with two home runs, a triple, seven doubles, 11 RBI, 11 runs scored and a stolen base.  Starting to look pretty good, isn’t he?

Pujols, on the other hand, went 2-for-4 with a double, one RBI and one run scored.  Though he’s been notorious for getting off to slow starts in his career, he currently has a slash line of .322/.431/.508 with two home runs, five doubles, 11 RBI and seven runs scored.

Both players are dominant forces in any lineup and are arguably already considered candidates for the American League’s Most Valuable Player award.  And while he may not put up the power numbers that Pujols will, Trout will surely see plenty more triples and is always a huge threat on the basepaths.

I’ve always thought that after Pujols’ first year in Los Angeles, he would settle down and regain his power stroke after hitting only .285 last season with 30 home runs.  Weird thinking that those numbers would be underachieving for most players, but let’s be honest now, this is Prince Albert we’re talking about here.  

Trout, on the other hand, had a season for the history books last year, but unfortunately, I don’t think there’s anyway he can replicate the numbers that he put up in 2012, especially after missing almost the first whole month of the season.  

Sure, there’s always the argument that many players suffer from the “sophomore slump,” but I don’t think that will be the case for Trout in his second full season with the Angels.   

Whatever happens, both players should put up monster numbers in 2013.  Especially with this lineup surrounding them and with Josh Hamilton’s bat inevitably coming back to life in the near future.  

So who will it be: Pujols or Trout?

My guess is Pujols will have the more impressive numbers this season, especially hitting behind Trout and in front of Hamilton and Mark Trumbo.  He’s just too good of a player and will not have a third season in a row hitting under .300.  

Will he have 40 or 50 home runs this season?  My guess is he’ll be somewhere in the high 30s, but his batting average should be around his lifetime average of .324, if not higher.

Now I’m not saying that Trout will have an off-year by any means, but I just don’t think he’ll achieve the same numbers he put up last season, though he should certainly have a tremendous season as well.

What do you think?  Am I wrong?  Who’s going to have the better season of the two: Pujols or Trout?

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