Mike Trout, when he is in good health, remains one of the top players in Major League Baseball. Despite being only 32 years old, he is already guaranteed to be inducted into the Hall of Fame on his first attempt, as he has surpassed many current members in important statistical categories. He has had four seasons with a Wins Above Replacement (WAR) above nine, two of which were over 10. In comparison, Bryce Harper, who entered the league with even more hype, has only achieved this feat once. Juan Soto has never exceeded seven, while Aaron Judge has only had one season with a WAR above nine. In summary, Mike Trout is an extremely talented player.
However, due to being drafted by one of the most frustrating organizations in baseball, Trout has only made one postseason appearance in his 12-year career. Unfortunately, it resulted in a three-game series loss in 2014. The lack of success, combined with the departure of Shohei Ohtani to the rival Los Angeles Dodgers, has led to speculation that Trout may be tired of being stuck in Anaheim. Recently, he addressed these speculations during a media discussion, where he talked about the possibility of requesting a trade to a contending team this season.
Despite a disappointing 2023 season where he only played 82 games and the loss of Ohtani, Trout does not appear ready to move on from the Los Angeles Angels. He acknowledged that asking for a trade would be the easy way out, but he remains loyal to the organization and wants to win a championship with them. Trout emphasized that the overall satisfaction of winning a championship or reaching the playoffs in Anaheim is more important to him than taking the easy way out. While he hasn’t thought about it extensively, he admitted that things might change in the future.
Trout’s contract, a massive 12-year, $426.5 million deal, will not expire until 2030. Given the team’s recent lack of success, average farm system, limited investments, and Ohtani’s move to Los Angeles, it would be understandable if Trout wanted to leave as he enters the later stages of his career. While he certainly desires to win a championship with the Angels, it is difficult to envision a realistic path to achieving that in the near future.
If the Angels were to trade Trout, they may have to absorb a significant portion of his contract due to his high salary and injury history. However, in doing so, they could acquire better prospects and reshape the team for the future. Although Trout seems content for now, if the Angels find themselves well below a winning percentage of .500 in a few months, his stance could change rapidly. It will be interesting to see how this situation unfolds.
According to the Source outkick.com