Trout kept his eyes on Harper and Machado

LOS ANGELES - Superstar outfielder Mike Trout said watching Manny Machado and Bryce Harper plod through free agency this offseason helped him decide to sign a mega-extension with the Los Angeles Angels.

"I kind of saw what Bryce and Manny went through and it drew a red flag for me," Trout said in an interview with The Athletic on Tuesday.

"It was a tough couple months in the offseason. They put it in perspective in my mind. I obviously want to be an Angel for life. That was a big key."

Trout, the two-time Most Valuable Player and seven-time All-Star, would have become a free agent after the 2020 season. Instead, he signed a 12-year contract extension worth $426.5 million - the richest in the history of North American sports.

Machado signed a 10-year, $300 million deal with the San Diego Padres, but had to wait until mid-February to get the contract he felt he'd earned.

Harper had to wait even longer to ink a 13-year, $330 million deal with the Philadelphia Phillies.

Over his seven-plus seasons in the majors, Trout is a .307 hitter with 240 home runs and 648 RBIs. His wins above replacement (WAR) total of 64.2 is the highest ever for a player at his experience level.

Meanwhile, in other MLB news, the Baltimore Orioles have placed scheduled Opening Day starter Alex Cobb on the 10-day injured list with a strained right groin.

Cobb departed his final spring training outing after one inning on Saturday due to the injury.

Fellow right-hander Andrew Cashner likely will draw the season-opening assignment for Baltimore on Thursday night against the host New York Yankees.

The Cleveland Indians can breathe a sigh of relief after All-Star third baseman Jose Ramirez was confirmed to have only a knee contusion after fouling a pitch off his left knee on Sunday.

X-rays were negative for any fractures. Ramirez will stay in Goodyear, Arizona, for treatment while the Indians play their final exhibition games, then join the team in Minnesota for the season opener.

Indians manager Terry Francona said Ramirez is day-to-day.

In somewhat of a surprise move, the Miami Marlins released veteran starting pitcher Dan Straily just three days before the start of the regular season.

The 30-year-old right-hander was expected to be the most experienced member of the young Marlins' rotation this season, and he had settled for a $5 million contract this season to avoid arbitration.

But the team instead said it was impressed enough with the young arms this spring that it decided to go all-in with inexperienced but talented starters.

In seven big-league seasons, Straily is 42-36 with a 4.23 ERA in 142 appearances (132 starts), with a career-best season in 2016 with the Reds (14-8, 3.76 ERA).

Right-handed relief pitcher Daniel Hudson, who appeared in 40 games for the Los Angeles Dodgers last season, signed a one-year contract with the Toronto Blue Jays on Tuesday. Hudson, 32, was released by the Angels last Friday. He had a 6.75 ERA in 6 2/3 innings in spring training this season.

Associated Press