Los Angeles Angels: Free agent freeze is great for the Halos

For the second year in a row, the MLB hot stove has been ice cold, which ironically is going to help the Los Angeles Angels in the long run.

Last offseason was not great for MLB free agency as some of the biggest names on the market took months to sign. Heck, Jake Arrieta didn’t even sign until March 12. As of writing this, both Bryce Harper and Manny Machado are unsigned, which ironically, helps the Los Angeles Angels.

This is not to say that the Angels are in on Harper and Machado and could sign either of them, which would come out of left field if it were to happen.

In fact, even if Harper and Machado sign by the time you are reading this the precedent still remains: this free agent freeze out helps the Los Angeles Angels more than any team in baseball.

Why? Mike Trout.

While I could be wrong I would be willing to bet that the contracts that Harper and Machado get are less than they had hoped for. Machado might not even get a $300 million contract as he had hoped for and Harper might barely hit that number but not get the annual value that he had wanted.

It has become clear: MLB teams do not want to commit 15-20 percent of their payroll and pay a player a third of a billion dollars to play baseball. Whether or not you agree with the logic and side with the players, that is how owners are looking at the situation.

And I am usually one to side on the players’ side but I understand why MLB teams wouldn’t want to pay that much. You can sign three above average players for that much money who, combined, would have a bigger impact on the overall team than one player in Harper or Machado.

The reason this helps the Angels with Mike Trout is that outside teams might not be willing to pay Trout the contract he deserves. You can make the case that Harper and Machado don’t deserve $300 million, Trout undoubtedly does. I would give Trout a 15-year contract for $500 million if that is what it took.

But now the Angels have more leverage. Trout is a free agent after the 2020 season and may be inclined to pursue a team like the Phillies that can actually contend, something the Angels have failed in providing Trout.

And you can make the case that the Phillies might be saving for Trout but every offseason we make that case about the biggest free agents. Teams simply do not want to commit to these long term contracts.

And while it might burn the Angels in 13 years, they should be willing to pay Trout the kind of money he wants and give themselves a chance at contending. Trout seems to love being an Angel so the Angels might not even have to pay as much as we are all thinking.

Perhaps the best deal Trout gets outside of the Angels is 10 years for $350 million. The Halos can offer him 12 years for $444 million; that is two extra years and $2 million more per year.

Not only is that a better contract but Trout gets the comfort of spending his entire career in one place. That is why this holdout is great for the Los Angeles Angels.