This makes Alexis Sanchez look like Albert Steptoe
Los Angeles Angels are set to award baseball star Mike Trout the most lucrative contract in the history of professional sports, amounting to over $35 million a year.
The centre-fielder has been described as a once-in-a-generation talent with the American League naming him their MVP in two of the last seven seasons, placing him second in the other five.
And with Trout’s current contract up at the end 2020, the bidding war that was expected to break out prompted the Angels, according to ESPN, to secure his future on a 12-year, $430 million deal. That’s £325 million. That’s a lot to spank a spherical piece of leather over a crowd of whooping hot dog munchers.
In fairness, Major League Baseball seasons are among the most intense of any major team sport. A total of 162 fixtures are scheduled over six months in between a lengthy pre-season and the drama of the post-season play-offs.
Given all the travelling involved, that puts football’s 45-60 games a season into perspective, where the top earners take home up to £20m per year. It certainly makes American football’s 16-game season look like a walk in the park – but for all the concussion.
The NFL’s best and brightest are certainly less well-paid by their teams, Green Bay Packers quarterback Aaron Rogers leading the way on $19.8m per year. Baseball’s biggest stars trump that considerably with Manny Machado (San Diego Padres), Giancarlo Stanton (Miami Marlins), and Bryce Harper (Philadelphia Phillies) all joining Trout on contracts worth upwards of $25m.
