It started with a tweet.
A quiet Tuesday morning on the internet turned chaotic the second ESPN baseball insider Jeff Passan dropped a bombshell, reporting that Los Angeles Angels superstar outfielder Mike Trout agreed to a 12-year contract worth more than $430 million.
BREAKING: Star center fielder Mike Trout and the Los Angeles Angels are finalizing a record-breaking 12-year contract worth more than $430 million, sources familiar with the deal tell ESPN. Details: https://t.co/bROnnC11Uh
— Jeff Passan (@JeffPassan) March 19, 2019
Coming soon after Bryce Harper's record-setting contract, Trout's new deal is the largest in baseball history both in terms of annual average and overall volume.
Current and former pro athletes offered their congratulations.
TROUT! My dawg! Congrats my bro. Nobody more deserving! Let’s go! @MikeTrout
— Marcus Stroman (@MStrooo6) March 19, 2019
Reigning NL MVP Christian Yelich said Mike Trout’s extension is well worth it, adding: “There’s worse places to spend an entire career than in Anaheim and in Newport Beach.”
— Fabian Ardaya (@FabianArdaya) March 19, 2019
The amazing thing about @MikeTrout is $430mil still doesn’t measure up to who he is as a person and player. He’s literally a priceless commodity! Congrats man! #CanIBorrowADollar
— Vernon Wells (@VernonWells10) March 19, 2019
Trout looking at Harper’s contract pic.twitter.com/Zpradad85h
— Brett Anderson (@_BAnderson30_) March 19, 2019
Congrats to my guy @MikeTrout! Well deserved.. Angel fans get to watch the best player in baseball for another 12 years.. still think he should have gotten a billion though
— Jered Weaver (@Weave1036) March 19, 2019
Hey @HoustonTexans, Mike Trout and I kinda look alike... so how do you feel about 12 years, $430 million fully guaranteed for me too? 😂😂😂
— JJ Watt (@JJWatt) March 19, 2019
WWWWOOOWWWW!!! I know who the happiest man in the land is today!!! Agent fees are 4% pic.twitter.com/CEOSfr1YxV
— Nelson Figueroa Jr. (@FigSNY) March 19, 2019
Sources: Emmanuel Sanders signs 1-year, $500,billion,kazillion deal to become closer for the @Rockies.
— Emmanuel Sanders (@ESanders_10) March 19, 2019
This is the only evidence that he can actual pitch but apparently it was enough to sign the largest deal in pro-sports history. pic.twitter.com/krteMDtuyd
Much of the reaction focused on the sheer amount of money Trout is set to make over the life of the contract.
Mike Trout, approximately. pic.twitter.com/FP9anGZVIH
— Tao of Stieb (@TaoofStieb) March 19, 2019
Mike Trout's contract: $35.8 million AAV
— Sung Min Kim (@sung_minkim) March 19, 2019
The 2019 Tampa Bay Rays 25-man payroll: $39.7 million
So when is Mike Trout gonna buy the Eagles?
— D.J. Short (@djshort) March 19, 2019
Mike Trout’s reported $430 million extension is more than the combined career PGA Tour earnings of Tiger Woods, Phil Mickelson, Vijay Singh, Jim Furyk and Dustin Johnson — the top-five on the all-time money list.
— Jason Sobel (@JasonSobelTAN) March 19, 2019
The thing about Mike Trout is that he's incredible and that he's getting NEARLY HALF A BILLION DOLLARS is actually very deserved and cool.
— Mike Petriello (@mike_petriello) March 19, 2019
I'm happy Mike Trout got paid what he wanted to play where he wanted.
— Bill Barnwell (@billbarnwell) March 19, 2019
People recalled Harper's hopes of sharing outfield duties with Trout for the Philadelphia Phillies in two years.
I thought Bryce Harper was bringing Mike Trout to Philly????
— Kristie Ackert (@Ackert_Kristie) March 19, 2019
Bryce Harper: "Congratulations to me for signing the biggest contract in professional spo--"
— Pete Blackburn (@PeteBlackburn) March 19, 2019
Mike Trout: pic.twitter.com/4PvG4GyTrf
Well...I guess Bryce Harper won't have to worry about "recruiting" anymore. 12 years and 430M!!!??! https://t.co/ag016DMfl4
— Tim Micallef (@tim_micallef) March 19, 2019
When Bryce Harper gets that Mike Trout notification pic.twitter.com/haDdsxN2O5
— Andrew Joseph (@AndyJ0seph) March 19, 2019
Mike Trout and Bryce Harper could still unite with the Phillies. In 2031. https://t.co/FmPnodNyDw
— Anthony Castrovince (@castrovince) March 19, 2019
Unsurprisingly, jokes followed.
round it up to 450 and he might be able to afford to live in California https://t.co/Za7HPY8hno
— Brandon Stroud (@MrBrandonStroud) March 19, 2019
That’s all?! 🤑🤑🤑 https://t.co/tzqiTKd3f4
— Scott Braun (@scottbraun) March 19, 2019
So this is what it takes to get Mike Trout to trend on twitter, huh
— Lindsey Adler (@lindseyadler) March 19, 2019
Get used to this sight and breathe easy, Angels fans. Mike Trout isn't going anywhere.
— Cut4 (@Cut4) March 19, 2019
