The Angels will have some decisions to make down the line.
Star outfielder Mike Trout holds the most promise for the Halos’ future. With Shohei Ohtani heading to the Los Angeles Dodgers, Trout is again the team’s biggest and most talented star.
The main issue with Trout is his contract. He is owed $35.45 million each season through 2030. It’s a contract many around the league now view as a bad one.
Bleacher Report’s Kerry Miller put together a list of the 10 potential nightmare contracts around baseball by 2026. Within the list, Trout checked in at No. 5.
“Contract: $35.45 million annually from 2026-30 ($177.25 million total owed), 2023 Stats: .263/.367/.490, 18 HR, 44 RBI, 2.9 bWAR”
Per Kerry Miller of Bleacher Report
Entering the offseason, Trout drew attention as a potential trade candidate, but general manager Perry Minasian quickly shot that idea down. Trout will remain with the team for now, but the Angels have a large problem at hand.
In spite of Trout’s game-changing abilities when healthy, his recent track record of poor health means he might not be worth his contract any longer in the eyes of rival executives. He had a down-productive season in 2023 and was again injured at the end of the year.
“Because of how banged up Mike Trout has been over the past three seasons, his contract is already a top-10 nightmare heading into 2024.”
Per Kerry Miller of Bleacher Report
Trout will be given every opportunity to try to get back to his prior MVP form, and the team is banking on his health. If he can stay healthy, the Angels may be able to stay competitive.
“The Angels still owe $248.15 million to a guy who has missed more than 50 percent of team games since the beginning of 2021, who just posted his worst batting average, OBP and slugging marks in more than a decade and who has yet to partake in a postseason victory in his career.”
Per Kerry Miller of Bleacher Report
If Trout can get back to his MVP form, the Angels will be in great shape with his deal. But the likelihood of that happening is low, so the Halos may have to move him at some point.
MLB 2023
