Justin Upton signed a big contract extension with the Angels.
Less than 24 hours after the conclusion of the World Series, the first domino of the Hot Stove Season has fallen, as the Angels have re-signed left fielder Justin Upton to a five-year, $106 million extension that will keep the slugger in Anaheim through the 2022 season. Upton, 30, had the option of opting out of his contract this offseason with four years, and $88 million remaining; his new extension tacked on an extra year, and $18 million to his current contract.
Acquired by the Angels at the trade deadline for prospect Grayson Long and a player to be named later, Upton gave the Halos the lineup protection they desperately have needed behind Mike Trout, appearing in 27 games, and hitting 7 home runs with 15 RBI, and a .887 OPS. For the 2017 season, Upton made, who made his fourth all-star appearance, hit .273/.361/.540, with 35 HR, 109 RBI, 100 runs scored, 44 2B, and 14 SB. With 5.7 WAR, Upton had the second highest total of his career, and set career highs in home runs, doubles, runs batted in, and OPS.
For the Angels, who finally have their long-term three-hitter to hit behind Mike Trout, the contract gives a little bit of payroll flexibility, as Upton’s average annual salary decreases from $22.125 million per season under his old contract, to $21.2 million per season. Per an LA Times report, Upton will be paid $16 million in 2018, $18 million in 2019, $21 million in 2020, $23 million in 2021, and $28 million in 2022, with the most expensive season coming when Upton is only 35 years old, and after Albert Pujols’ ten-year, $240 million contract expires.
Although Upton did not keep up his torrid pace upon being traded, he should provide a major upgrade to the Angels in left field. Over the past five seasons, the Angels have had very little production out of their left fielders, with the following five players receiving the majority of the playing time at the position in a given year.
2016: Rafael Ortega, 1 HR, 16 RBI, .232/.283/.292, -0.2 WAR
2015: Matthew Joyce, 5 HR, 21 RBI, .174/.272/.291, -1.0 WAR
2014: Josh Hamilton, 10 HR, 44 RBI, .263/.331/.414, 1.4 WAR
2013: J.B. Shuck, 2 HR, 39 RBI, .293/.331/.366, 0.9 WAR
2012: Vernon Wells, 11 HR, 29 RBI, .230/.279/.403, 0.6 WAR
That comes out to a total of 1.7 WAR between the five players, which Upton put up nearly a third of (0.5 WAR) in his 27 games with the Angels. Since becoming a regular in 2008, Upton has averaged 3.3 WAR, 25 HR, 80 RBI, and has hit .270/.350/.482, all of which would provide a significant upgrade to the Angels lineup. At the age of 30, Upton is just now in the peak of his prime, and shouldn’t see significant drop-off over the life of his contract, which will expire when he is only 35. For a franchise that has been known to give out monster contracts to pay for players when they are over the hill (see Pujols, Albert, and Hamilton, Josh) the Angles seem to have hit a home run by bringing Justin Upton back into the fold.
