When Mike Trout was drafted by the Angels franchise in 2009 and quickly established himself as a once-in-a-generation talent, he seemed destined to spend the rest of his career with only one team. After all, why would the Angels ever want to let him go?
But after signing a 12-year extension worth $430 million through 2030 in 2019, the losing has continued, and so, too, has injuries to Trout and disarray in the organization. It has made Trout’s future a question, “perhaps for the first time.”
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According to USA TODAY Sports’ Bob Nightengale:
The Los Angeles Angels, perhaps for the first time, are open to trading All-Star outfielder Mike Trout if he indicates to them that he wants out. Trout has exclusive no-trade rights and said recently that he wants to have a private conversation with the front office and ownership about their direction.
Trout, when he’s on the field, remains a highly productive player. In 82 games (362 plate appearances) this season, Trout has a .263/.367/.490 line with 18 home runs and 44 RBI, good for a 130 OPS+. Of course, the Angels season is 144 games old at this point, accentuating the part that has left Trout’s recent résumé incomplete: he has played once since July 3 because of a broken hamate bone that needed surgery.
As Nightengale states: Trout, 32, would not generate the same trade return as in the past. He has not played more than 140 games since 2016, and will have missed 249 games the past three years if he doesn’t return this season.
He has seven years and $248.15 million left on his contract.
Trout, an 11-time All-Star and three-time MVP, has put together a Hall of Fame career even at 32. Despite a career .301 average, .994 OPS, 173 OPS+ and 368 home runs, the Angels have reached the playoffs once (2014) in his career, an ALDS shutout against the Royals, and posted their last winning season in 2015.
This has come while rostering two-way superstar Shohei Ohtani, who recently suffered a torn UCL, since 2018. He will become a free agent this offseason.
Owner Arte Moreno has come under increasing fire for wasting the primes of two of the game’s greats … as he’s contemplated selling the franchise.
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Jimmy Hascup may be reached at jhascup@njadvancemedia.com.
