Chicago Cubs: Plenty of big free agents still to come

Chicago Cubs: Would Trout ever feasibly leave the Angels?

Los Angeles center fielder Mike Trout will be a free agent after the 2020 season. The Angels were able to delay his free agency when they signed him to a six-year contract extension worth 144 million in 2014. So Trout will be a free agent before his age-29 season. The two-time MVP would certainly appear to be in the prime of his career at that point.

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The generational talent has led the league in on-base percentage in each of the previous three seasons, finishing either first or second in American League MVP voting in all but one of the last seven seasons.

His ability to play center field also needs to be carefully considered. It is of a great benefit to the team offensively when one of the most important defensive positions is also a great bat.

Consider how much of an offensive upgrade Trout would be over having Albert Almora or Ian Happ in the lineup on a daily basis.

In 2012 and 2013 Trout used to play left field a significant amount of the time. As he gets older that will start to happen again. At some point, Trout will move over to left field full time. That’s not really a major factor in a team pursuing him, given his talent level, but it’s something to bear in mind as he nears free agency.