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Trout could legally become free agent

Frank Victores / USA TODAY Sports

Imagine how much money Mike Trout would make as a free agent this offseason.

At the ripe age of 25, Trout is a two-time MVP and easily the best player in baseball. Considering some of the contracts that were handed out this year, Trout would've netted a record-breaking deal that would've easily surpassed the $300-million mark - and possibly eclipsed $400 million.

So in a particularly weak market this year, the Los Angeles Angels superstar could've legally become a free agent due to a California state law, as described by Nathaniel Grow of FanGraphs.

A relatively obscure provision under California law - specifically, Section 2855 of the California Labor Code - limits all personal services contracts (i.e., employment contracts) in the state to a maximum length of seven years. In other words, this means that if an individual were to sign an employment contract in California lasting eight or more years, then at the conclusion of the seventh year the employee would be free to choose to either continue to honor the agreement, or else opt out and seek employment elsewhere.

Trout was drafted by the Angels in June 2009, and has since signed a six-year extension worth $144.5-million in 2014. That means under the provision, Trout could realistically opt out of his deal without repercussion because 2017 will mark his ninth season employed by the organization.

Grow goes on to say the California legislature has considered eliminating the protection for certain professional athletes.

A player like Albert Pujols, who signed a fresh 10-year deal with the Angels in 2012, could walk away from his contract following the 2018 season.

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