Since Los Angeles Angels outfielder Mike Trout played his first full season in 2012, he has spent his entire career with the same team.
But with the departure of former teammate Shohei Ohtani, who signed with the Los Angeles Dodgers in December 2023, Trout must answer questions about trade rumors that creep up.
“I think the biggest thing right now is the easy way out is to ask for a trade,” Trout told reporters on February 19 upon arriving at the Angels’ spring training camp in Tempe, Arizona.
Trout stated his desire to win as an Angel.
“I’m loyal and want to win a championship here,” he said. “I think the overall picture of winning a championship or getting to the playoffs here is a bigger satisfaction than bailing and taking the easy way out.”
Trout is a three-time American League Most Valuable Player, American League Rookie of the Year, 9-time Silver Slugger and 11-time All-Star, but all of that personal success, he has played in a total of only three postseason games. In that three-game series, they were swept by the Kansas City Royals back in 2014.
Despite the Angels’ failure to reach the postseason since then, Trout would rather emulate his idol, according to MLB.com’s Rhett Bollinger.
“Trout, 32, believes winning with the Angels would be more satisfying than jumping ship and finding success elsewhere,” Bollinger wrote on February 19, after Trout’s media session. “He’s long embraced the idea of playing his entire career with one team just like his idol, Derek Jeter.”
CF Mike Trout on his talks with owner Arte Moreno, the Angels, pushing for free agents, wanting to win WITH the Angels and being loyal
Mike Trout Left Open the Door for Requesting Trade
Trout, though, did not shut the door on all potential trade talks in the future. The outfielder said, “There might be a time. Maybe. I haven’t really thought about this.”
Trout has not been on baseball’s biggest stage since 2014 and that has always been a talking point when discussing who the “face” of the league is. Trout has unfortunately dealt with injuries over his last four seasons.
Bollinger wrote, “Trout acknowledged that his injuries haven’t helped the club in recent years, as he was limited to 36 games in 2021, 119 in ’22 and 82 last year.”
Trout’s last season of at least 140 games was in 2018.
Mike Trout mashes a homer in Milwaukee.
“Maybe down the road if some things changed,” Trout continued telling the media while discussing requesting a trade. The Angels lost fellow superstar Shohei Ohtani to the Los Angeles Dodgers this offseason, so fans wondered if the Angels may decide to rebuild.
Trout still has six more years in his 12-year, $426.5 million contract with a full no-trade clause, so he would need to approve any move the Angels asked him to make.
Trout Has Given Input Into Free Agency
If the Angels hope to avoid the superstar asking for a trade one day, they will need to improve the club. Unfortunately, with the loss of Ohtani the Angels find themselves in a worse position than last season.
According to Bollinger, “He believes he got enough assurances from the front office that the goal is still to win, as he liked what they did in overhauling their bullpen.”
“Trout said he’s hoping the Angels will continue to add before the start of the start of the season, as there are still several quality free agents out there such as outfielder Cody Bellinger and starting pitchers Blake Snell and Jordan Montgomery,” Bollinger explained.
Trout told the media, “I’m going to keep pushing till the season starts or them guys sign.” He finished by saying, “It’s Arte’s [Moreno] decision, I’m going to put my two cents in there.”
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Angels’ Mike Trout Sends Message on Taking ‘Easy Way Out’