Angels Would Reportedly Be Open to Trading Mike Trout This Offseason
Things have gone from bad to worse for the Los Angeles Angels this season. Not only will they be missing the postseason once again, but they now face the possibility that both of their star players could be gone next season.
Two-way superstar Shohei Ohtani will be a free agent and is widely expected to depart from the Halos this winter. But star outfielder Mike Trout still remains on a seven-year deal with the team, however, there is more talk than ever that he could ask out after the season.
It’s now being reported by MLB insider Bob Nightengale of USA Today that the team will honor his request to be traded if he comes to them this winter.
“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 has been one of the best players in baseball since he joined the league. But the Halos have only reached the playoffs once time in his career. It has been a frustrating time for the organization, and if his running mate in Ohtani were to leave, Trout may want out.
Nobody could blame Trout if he were to ask out. He deserves to play for a winning organization, something the Angels have failed to provide him with.
But his injury history is something to keep an eye on. He has dealt with numerous injuries over this career, so any team trading for him could need to keep that in mind.
“However, 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 still has $248.15 million owed to him the next seven years.”
This is the first time that any talk of Trout even possibly being dealt has come up. Things have gotten that bad for the Angels, and this offseason is going to tell us a lot about the direction of this franchise going forward.
