Angels give top rookie Trout puniest of raises

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Mike Trout didn't receive the big raise he (and his agent) were expecting. (MEL EVANS / THE ASSOCIATED PRESS ARCHIVES)

TEMPE, Ariz. -- The Los Angeles Angels renewed the contract of AL Rookie of the Year Mike Trout for $510,000, prompting an angry response from the outfielder's agent.

Craig Landis said his client was disappointed with the decision announced Saturday. The salary is $20,000 above the major league minimum.

"During the process, on behalf of Mike, I asked only that the Angels compensate Mike fairly for his historic 2012 season, given his service time," Landis said in a statement. "In my opinion, this contract falls well short of a 'fair' contract and I have voiced this to the Angels throughout the process. Nonetheless, the renewal of Mike's contract will put an end (to) this discussion."

Trout has 1 year, 70 days of major league service and is likely to be eligible for arbitration after the 2014 season and for free agency after the 2017 World Series. Teams can renew the contracts of unsigned players on their 40-man rosters from March 2-11

Speedy Peter Bourjos is set to be the Angels' primary centre fielder, flanked by Trout in left and 2010 AL MVP Josh Hamilton in right.

Trout had a $482,500 salary last year, when he finished second to Detroit's Miguel Cabrera in AL MVP voting. Trout hit .326 with 30 homers and 83 RBIs, and led the majors with 129 runs and 49 steals.

He also earned a $10,000 bonus for winning Rookie of the Year.

Santana taking it slow

PORT ST. LUCIE, Fla. -- New York Mets general manager Sandy Alderson says Johan Santana is becoming "less and less likely" to be ready for the team's opener against San Diego on April 1.

Santana was scheduled to throw batting practice Tuesday, but pitching coach Dan Warthen said Saturday that the session had been cancelled. Santana remains on a long-toss program and likely will throw from 150 feet today.

Alderson said it will be 10 more days before Santana builds up enough arm strength to pitch in an exhibition game. He also said Santana has no structural issues in his shoulder and that an MRI hasn't taken place or been planned.

"We haven't ruled out opening day, although given when he might get on the mound, it becomes less and less likely," Alderson said. "But we haven't given up on that notion yet and we'll see where that takes us."

The two-time Cy Young Award winner didn't pitch in the major leagues in 2011 following shoulder surgery, then went 6-9 with a 4.85 ERA in 21 starts last year, when he pitched the first no-hitter in Mets history on June 1 against St. Louis. Santana didn't pitch after Aug. 17 because of lower back inflammation.

Royals chop Crow's pay

SURPRISE, Ariz. -- Pitcher Aaron Crow, a 2011 all-star for the Kansas City Royals, has agreed to a $1.28 million, one-year contract that represents the maximum 20 per cent cut.

Crow, who went to Washburn Rural High School in Topeka, was the 12th overall pick in the 2009 amateur draft. He agreed that September to a $3 million, three-year contract that included a $1.5 million signing bonus and a major league salary of $1.1 million in 2012.

He was 3-1 with a 3.48 ERA in 72 relief appearances last season, a year after he made the AL All-Star team as a rookie.

-- The Associated Press

Republished from the Winnipeg Free Press print edition March 3, 2013 B12