After this season, He still has six years and $216 million remaining on the 12-year, $426 million extension he signed before the 2019 season. Some rival executives view this contract as problematic. It extends through his age-39 season, and when Trout signed it, the Los Angeles Angels were in a state of stagnation, which has since led to nine consecutive years of losing records. They haven’t made the playoffs in ten seasons and haven’t won a postseason game in fifteen years.
However, as reported by The Athletic’s Sam Blum and Andy McCullough, teams would overlook these challenges if they were to acquire Trout.
“Considering his age, injury history, and financial obligations, one executive stated that the Angels would need to cover more than half of the contract to entice a potential partner,” Blum and McCullough noted. “When asked about the difficulty of trading Trout, another rival executive replied, ‘Incredibly.’”
Angels Would Have to Eat Majority of Mike Trout’s Contract in Trade
Apart from the financial aspects, Trout’s contract includes a no-trade clause, reflecting his loyalty to the team. He remains optimistic about the Angels’ future, believing that improved performance is possible if ownership commits to investing in the roster.
“A few key additions in the offseason could really change things,” Trout shared with Blum and McCullough. “Ultimately, it depends on the owner. That’s the situation we’re in.”
The Los Angeles Angels started the season reeling from the loss of Shohei Ohtani, who signed a 10-year, $700 million deal with the Los Angeles Dodgers in free agency. With a disappointing record of 63-93, the Angels currently have the second-worst record in the American League and have not reached the postseason since being swept in the 2014 ALDS.
“It’s been 10 years since we last made the playoffs,” he noted. “I believe that weighs on the fans, who, like everyone else, want to see playoff baseball.”
Trout Willing to Make Changes for Next Year
In recent seasons, Trout’s performance has declined significantly. In 2021, he suffered a calf strain in mid-May and did not return for the rest of the season. In 2022, he missed a month due to a back injury, and last year, a broken hamate bone in early July sidelined him for the latter half of the season. This year, he took three months to recover from a torn meniscus, only to re-injure it before participating in another major league game. In the 29 games he played this season, Trout hit 10 home runs but posted a batting average of .220, which is nearly 80 points lower than his career average of .299. This string of injuries has led Trout to consider changes for next season.
After yet another challenging season, Trout is reevaluating his approach. He is open to the idea of leaving center field, expressing a willingness to shift to designated hitter more often. He believes this change could help him regain his form as a hitter, similar to before 2019.
“When things aren’t going well, you have to adapt,” Trout stated. “Ultimately, my goal is to be in the lineup every day, whether that’s in the outfield or as a DH. I’ll need to leave the planning up to the front office.”
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