Mike Trout began the Cactus League season with a bang in Friday's 15-3 rout of the Cubs, blasting a grand slam home run and plating five runs. Trout singled home a run in the second inning, then deposited a James McDonald offering over the wall to clear the bases to highlight a nine-run uprising in the fourth. As great of a hitter as Miguel Cabrera is, Trout should be the first name called in fantasy drafts this spring.

A source tells USA Today's Bob Nightengale that the Angels and outfielder Mike Trout are negotiating a six-year contract extension worth around $140 million. The prospective deal would keep Trout with the Angels through the 2020 season. Talks of a long-term extension have been reported in recent days, and with Trout's new $1 million salary for 2014 out of the way the two sides can focus on hammering something out. Previous reports from Yahoo! Sports' Jeff Passan had the deal in the seven-year, $150-160 million range, but either way, it seems like only a matter of time before the two sides agree on a deal that will pay the 22-year-old a whole lot of money.

Angels signed OF Mike Trout to a one-year, $1 million contract.

FOX Sports' Ken Rosenthal reports that the Angels' "desire" is to sign Mike Trout to a seven-year extension in the $150-160 million range. Yahoo! Sports' Jeff Passan has reported that the two sides are discussing a six-year deal in the $150 million range, while Mike DiGiovanna of the Los Angeles Times says the club wants the extension to be for at least eight years. It appears they might meet in the middle. A seven-year deal would allow Trout to hit free agency at 29 years of age.

Yahoo! Sports' Jeff Passan reports that the Angels are discussing a six-year contract extension with Mike Trout that would pay him in the range of $150 million.

Mike Trout said Wednesday in Angels camp that he wants to steal more bases this season. "I thought my stolen bases were down last year," Trout said. "I have to take advantage of taking that extra base." Trout's stolen bases fell from 49 in 2012 to "just" 33 last season. Trying to find an area for improvement is nitpicking for the two-time MVP runner-up, but the 22-year-old says he's in the best shape he's ever been in and a return to center field on a full-time basis could lead to an improved comfort level.

Jeff Fletcher of the Orange County Register reports that Mike Trout is expected to begin the 2014 season hitting second in the Angels lineup. While many have been clamoring for the uber-talented outfielder to hit in the leadoff spot, Angels skipper Mike Scioscia likes the idea of having Albert Pujols hit behind Trout to protect him. He may add a few more runs scored, and lose a few RBI hitting in the second slot, but his overall value should remain the same. He's still the top option on most draft boards.

According to Mike DiGiovanna of the Los Angeles Times, the Angels are aiming to reach a multi-year deal with Mike Trout by the start of the 2014 regular season. Trout and his agent were disappointed last spring when the Angels committed just a $510,000 salary to the star outfielder for the 2013 season. Trout is still in the pre-arbitration stage and won't have a say over how much he makes in 2014, but it will be considerably more than the major league minimum if an extension can be worked out. DiGiovanna says the new contract "is expected to make Trout one of baseball's highest-paid players."

Angels manager Mike Scioscia "pretty much said" that Mike Trout isn't going to lead off, according to Jeff Fletcher of the Orange County Register. Fletcher guessed at Scioscia's preferred lineup, tweeting: "Calhoun 9, Trout 8, Pujols 3, Hamilton 7, Ibanez DH, Kendrick 4, Freese 5, Iann/Cong 2, Aybar 6." Calhoun surprised with a sparkling .282/.347/.462 slash line in 2013, but Rotoworld's Los Angeles lineup would feature Trout's own .323/.432/.557 line at the top each and every day.

Mike Trout won his second Silver Slugger Award Wednesday. Trout may get frozen out of the AL MVP award again this year, but he was a given to be named as one of the three best-hitting outfielders in the league after putting up a .323/.432/.557 slash line. Others winning the award in the American League were C Joe Mauer, 1B Chris Davis, 2B Robinson Cano, 3B Miguel Cabrera, SS J.J. Hardy, OF Torii Hunter, OF Adam Jones and DH David Ortiz.