Angels' Mike Trout: 'There Might Be a Time' For Trade, But Not Now

The star center fielder wants to honor the contract that will keep him an Angel through 2030, but suggests his loyalty isn't infinite.

Give Mike Trout credit: he is honest about the Angels' current state of affairs.

The face of the franchise through at least the 2030 season, Trout is the team's last superstar standing after the departure of Shohei Ohtani via free agency. 

While the Angels have banked on star power lifting them into the playoffs to no avail for the last nine seasons (and counting), the 2024 season feels different. The team around Trout is much younger. The Angels' payroll is not pushing up against the luxury tax threshold. Free agents are available who could justify owner Arte Moreno's investment, given the points of weakness on the roster.

Trout addressed reporters at the Angels' spring training complex in Tempe, Arizona on Monday and said he's made his case to the front office to spend.

Mike Trout on signing more free agents:

Said he's been pushing Arte/Carpino to make additions. But is skeptical that they will.

He said he's spoken with free agents that have told Trout they want to play for the Angels. It's Arte's decision if he wants to sign.

More: pic.twitter.com/oT8jOSVt1X

— Sam Blum (@SamBlum3) February 19, 2024

Trout ostensibly didn't sign a 12-year, $426.5 million contract only for the Angels not to contend for postseason berths. Yet the immediate future isn't bright. 

The Angels have just a 15 percent chance of making the playoffs, according to FanGraphs' preseason projections. The reigning American League pennant winners, the Texas Rangers, reside in the same division. So does the team that's won the AL West six of the last seven years, the Houston Astros.

All of this has led some to question why Trout is not more vocal about his own future in Anaheim, and the future of the franchise. It was unprecedented, though not surprising, when Trout acknowledged the possibility of his being traded in the future:

Mike Trout... https://t.co/ekHwvKDQUr pic.twitter.com/tti0bz88kj

— Jeff Fletcher (@JeffFletcherOCR) February 19, 2024

Trout's contract includes full no-trade protection. As far as has been reported, the Angels have never asked him to waive that clause in order to accommodate a trade. 

But his comments Monday at least left open the possibility that, if the direction of the franchise doesn't change, so could Trout's sentiments about requesting or accommodating a trade.

It's not a dramatic about-face. Rather, it's a more realistic assessment from Trout about how the Angels' prospects stack up after eight consecutive losing seasons.