The Athenaeum Forum

LOS ANGELES -- Mike Trout and the Los Angeles Angels agreed Friday night to a $144.5 million, six-year contract, keeping baseballs brightest young star under club control through 2020. The Angels said the 22-year-old outfielder and his family will be at a news conference Saturday in Anaheim to formally announce the contract along with owner Arte Moreno, manager Mike Scioscia and general manager Jerry Dipoto. Few players in major league history have approached Trouts accomplishments in his first two full major league seasons. The speedy centre fielder is both a spectacular five-tool player and the darling of baseballs sabermetrics crowd, putting up old-fashioned highlights and statistical superlatives on a weekly basis. "I think everybody is obviously thrilled that it got done," Scioscia said at Dodger Stadium after the Angels exhibition game, which Trout missed with a stomach virus. "Hes a special player and a special person." The Millville, N.J., product was a unanimous choice for AL Rookie of the Year in 2012, and he finished second in AL MVP voting to Miguel Cabrera the past two years. He gets a $5 million signing bonus, of which $2 million is due within 30 days of the contracts approval and $3 million by Oct. 15. Trouts salaries are $5.25 million in 2015, $15.25 million in 2016, $19.25 million in 2017 and $33.25 million in each of the final three seasons. He receives a full-no trade provision and the right to a luxury suite at the ballpark for 20 games per year starting in 2015. Trouts deal came on the same day Cabrera finalized a $292 million, 10-year deal with the Detroit Tigers, the richest contract in American sports. The free-spending Angels were determined to reward Trout while locking up their prized possession beyond his first few years of eligibility for arbitration and free agency. Los Angeles has been quietly negotiating with Trouts representatives throughout spring training, and the club closed the deal three days before opening day at Angel Stadium. Trout agreed on Feb. 26 to a $1 million, one-year contract for 2014, much more than the Angels were required to offer him. His new deal runs from 2015-20. The outfielder would have been eligible for arbitration for the first time after this season, and for free agency following the 2017 World Series. Now, he cant become a free agent until at least age 29. Its the latest big-money deal for the Angels, who are entering the third season of a $240 million, 10-year contract with first baseman Albert Pujols, the second season of a $125 million, five-year agreement with outfielder Josh Hamilton and the third season of an $85 million, five-year contract with pitcher Jered Weaver. But while the Angels deals for Pujols and Hamilton have been criticized for their lavish nature and the thirty-something sluggers ensuing lack of production, Los Angeles is locking up Trout early in an uncommonly promising career. Trouts contract isnt worth as much as Cabreras lavish deal in Detroit, but it still would allow Trout to hit free agency at an age when he could still be in the prime of his career. And when his new deal ends, Trout will still be younger than the 30-year-old Cabrera is now. Trouts average salary of $24,083,333 under the new deal is ninth in the majors, trailing only those of Clayton Kershaw, Cabrera, Alex Rodriguez, Justin Verlander, Ryan Howard, Hamilton, Felix Hernandez and Zack Greinke. Trout is batting .314 with 62 homers and 196 RBIs in just 336 career games, including 40 games in 2011. The speedy centre fielder also has stolen 86 bases while playing stellar defence and making two All-Star teams, starting for the AL last summer. He is one of four players in baseball history to bat .320 with 50 homers and 200 runs in his first two full seasons, joining Joe DiMaggio, Ted Williams and Pujols. Trout has accomplished just about everything except team success during his short major league career. The Angels have missed the playoffs in four consecutive seasons, and they finished 78-84 last year, their worst record in a decade. The deal provides huge security for Trout. He received a bonus of $1,215,000 when he signed after the Angels selected him with the 25th overall pick in the 2009 amateur draft. He made $482,500 two years ago and earned a $10,000 bonus for winning the rookie award, then was unilaterally renewed by the Angels last year at $510,000 -- $20,000 above the big league minimum at the time. That deal sparked criticism from many Angels fans who thought Trout deserved more compensation for his outstanding play. They also worried the relatively meagre deal -- and the Angels decision to move Trout from his preferred centre field to left last season -- might sour the budding superstar on the team. Trout is back in centre field this season, and Moreno made sure Trout couldnt doubt the Angels financial commitment to him. Ra Shede Hageman Jersey . Each day, TSN.ca provides the latest rumours, reports and speculation from around the NHL beat. The latest from Bob As tweeted by TSN Hockey Insider Bob McKenzie on Monday, the Columbus Blue Jackets need to resolve their offseason plans with forward R. Steve Bartkowski Jersey . Then he got back at the team that released him five days before the start of last season, hitting a tiebreaking double in the ninth inning of the first game at Fenway Park since Boston won the World Series last October. http://www.falconsapparelsshop.com/matt ... rsey-c-31/. 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Johnsons comments came after he was asked why he recently skipped a voluntary minicamp. Winnipeg Goldeyes manager Rick Forney announced today the signing of infielder Amos Ramon to a contract for the 2014 season. Ramon, 30, played in a career-high 97 games with the Goldeyes in 2013. He also matched a career-high eight home runs and posted 52 RBI. “With the addition of Amos, it certainly increases the overall depth of our infield and we are thrilled to have him back for the 2014 season,” Forney said. “Hopefully he can be an integral part to another championship for us.” Ramon started his professional career in Winnipeg late iin the 2006 season after completing his college career with Louisiana Tech.dddddddddddd He played in the Frontier League from 2007-2009 before returning to the Northern League with the Lake County Fielders in 2010. He was signed by the Goldeyes once again in 2011, but was injured on opening day and missed the rest of the season. 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