When Shohei Ohtani left the Los Angeles Angels, there were immediate murmurs about the future of Mike Trout. While Ohtani’s exit sent tremors around Anaheim, losing their golden boy Trout would have been catastrophic. Despite not being at his absolute best for the past few years, Trout has remained steadfast in his commitment to the Halos. But what if a chance comes to leave the town?
The gross uncompetitiveness of the Halos is hidden from no one. The team has failed to enter the playoffs since 2014. Instead of strengthening the squad, the management has weakened it considerably through ‘bad’ recruitment and a lack of care for the Farm System. With so many issues plaguing the organization, just what is keeping Trout still in Anaheim?
Mike Trout – the loyal captain of a meandering ship
Trout has remained in the Angels through their highs and lows, especially the lows – which have been prevalent during his entire stay. Trout has played a measly 3 postseason games in his entire career. But amidst all of this, his loyalty to the Angels has been as consistent as the pain that the Halos fans feel every day. During an appearance on the Foul Territory Show journalist Sarah Isabel Vee referred to this loyalty.
"He just likes where he is"@Sarah_IsabelVee says that despite the @angels playoff drought, don't expect Mike Trout to demand a trade. He is committed "for better or worse"
▶️ https://t.co/VWxy97zcyy pic.twitter.com/pC5zrQ8UAa
— Foul Territory (@FoulTerritoryTV) January 26, 2024
“From what I gather about Trout is that he is both loyal and comfortable…He’s very loyal to seeing this team through to what he can do. And also, he also just likes where he is. He gets to a play somewhere where, yes there’s pressure but it’s not the same kind of pressure as say maybe playing for the Dodgers.” Sarah Isabel Vee said.
This loyalty is needed especially now as the Halos are about to enter a brand new era sans Shohei Ohtani. One where Trout needs to stay as healthy as possible
The importance of Millville Meteor in the new era of the Angels
The offseason of the Halos hasn’t been electrifying till now. They’ve not done much to fill the giant Ohtani-shaped hole in their squad. As a result, it becomes important for King Fish Mike Trout to help the Halos swim through this tough time. Unfortunately in the past three years, Trout has only played 237 out of 486 games.
So it becomes important for the Angels to ensure that Trout remains as far away from injuries as possible. This could become easier if Trout plays more as a DH but time will tell if the Angels are willing to make that bet.