On the first day of full-squad training, one filled with uncertainty and a Shohei Ohtani-sized void, Mike Trout did something he historically doesn't do.
Mike Trout, 32, typically enters a season with hope, little criticism of his front office, and ready to play to the best of his ability. Trout will be 33 in August and has had minimal success playing in Anaheim in his 13 seasons with the organization. Usually, this is a time of year when fans and people in the industry begin to question why Mike is still playing there. Trade speculations are at their peak right now, even after Angels general manager Perry Minasian doubled down on building a winner around their future Hall of Famer. Mike Trout followed suit earlier this offseason, insisting he does not want to be traded.
The Angel's first Spring Training game is on Saturday, and Mike is still all-in on his Angels; this time, however, he says it differently. "The overall picture of winning a championship or getting to the playoffs here is bigger satisfaction than bailing out and just taking the easy way out," Trout said to Orange County Register's Jeff Fletcher today.
He added, "There might be a time. Maybe. I really haven't thought about this. But when I signed that contract, I'm loyal. I want to win a championship here."
The vibe starts to change as he begins discussing acquiring top free agents. "I'm going to keep pushing as long as I can. Until the season starts or until those guys sign. I'm doing everything possible. It's obviously Arte's (Angels' owner) decision," The Athletic's Sam Blum reports. The quiet, compliant Mike has clearly had enough. Frustration could be building after losing the best teammate he's ever had. With slight upgrades to a roster with numerous holes to fill and Mike playing in the second half of his career now, the window is closing.
Photo by Ashley Landis of AP
Trading Mike Trout was always complicated. The Angels extended Trout just before Opening Day in 2019, touting his "loyalty," funny enough. With six years, $213MM left on what was the most lucrative deal in Major League history at signing, a full no-trade clause, and recent injury history, the list of teams that are even an option becomes extremely limited. Mike Trout hasn't played more than 150 games in a season since 2016. Still, when he is on the field, he shows he is still one of the premier players in this league. He put everyone on notice in 2022 when he hit 40 home runs in only 119 games played.
Yet, the lifelong Angel's legacy proves to be a confusing and underwhelming one. A player of Trout's magnitude and stature will always be linked to team success, whether fair or unfair. Again, the Angels have only made the postseason once in Trout's tenure, routinely finishing below .500 and well below playoff teams in their division. Continuously losing shouldn't impact his Hall of Fame candidacy, but when we discuss what he will be remembered for, it tarnishes the impact of the greatest player of a decade. You have to wonder how much that affects him, if at all.
This upcoming season provides little hope for change for the Angels superstar and franchise icon. Angels general manager Perry Minasian brought in mild upgrades to a roster with many holes before becoming a true contender in the American League. And if you're looking forward to 2025 and beyond, it appears bleak for Anaheim. "There are a few guys out there that want to play here too. I talked to a couple of them that want to be here," says Trout. But, as always, will it be enough?
Fangraphs projects the Angels to win 78 games this season, which is enough for a 4th place in the American League West again. The club insists they will "surprise" some people with new manager Ron Washington at the helm. We have an entire summer to see what the Angels bring this season.
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