News

Mr. Angel? Mike Trout’s chance of ever escaping the franchise now seems even less likely

 

No player is untradeable, not even an aging, broken-down, signed-through-2030 Mike Trout. But with Trout’s latest injury, the horrifying thought of him spending the rest of his career with the Los Angeles Angels is moving closer to becoming reality.

Trout, who turns 33 on Aug. 7, is expected to be out at least 8 to 12 weeks while recovering from surgery to repair a meniscus tear in his left knee. He is guaranteed $35.45 million this season and in each of the next six. Even if he returned by say, Aug. 1, and finished on a roll, what team would trust him enough this offseason to take on most or all of his remaining $212.7 million? From 2021 to 2023, Trout missed more games than he played. And given that he is historically a slow healer, he isn’t exactly on track to reverse that trend in 2024.

“We’ll get through it” 😢 @EricaLWeston @Angels l #RepTheHalo pic.twitter.com/2pxLf8JJfn

— Bally Sports West (@BallySportWest) May 1, 2024

A trade of Trout, of course, was a long way from ever happening. To the dismay of many opposing fans, the three-time MVP and 11-time All-Star has steadfastly refused to ask out of Anaheim, maintaining he wants to spend his entire career with one team, like his boyhood idol, Derek Jeter, and win with the Angels.

At the start of spring training, Trout said he was “pushing, pushing, pushing” upper management to add free agents, an indication, perhaps, of his growing impatience. Well, his fuse needed to be shorter. He waited too long.

For a trade scenario to become realistic, the following was necessary:

• The Angels to stink again, which was all but a given.

• Trout to A) return to near-MVP form, which at least stood a chance of happening before he hurt his knee; and B) request a trade, which even Angels fans would have understood considering he has never won a postseason game and not even appeared in the playoffs since 2014.

• Angels owner Arte Moreno to demonstrate a willingness not only to grant Trout’s wish but also to include significant cash in a trade, which … was never happening.

Moreno, remember, repeatedly declined to authorize a trade of Shohei Ohtani, even though it would have brought a monster return that could have kick-started his sorry franchise. He then declined to match the Los Angeles Dodgers’ $700 million offer to Ohtani with $680 million deferred, a deal that could very well pay for itself. Ohtani might not have taken the Angels’ money, mind you. But all the Angels will get back for him now is — yikes — the 74th pick in the 2024 draft.

At a reduced annual salary — $15 million? $20 million? — some club still might want Trout. Trades involving major paydowns have been become increasingly common over the past quarter-century. Moreno has made some, sending the New York Yankees more than $28 million to dump Vernon Wells in March 2013 and $63 million to the Texas Rangers to get rid of Josh Hamilton in April 2015. Wells no longer was a productive player. Hamilton angered Moreno by relapsing into substance abuse. Trout, in contrast, is a model citizen and elite player when healthy, a Moreno favorite.

For Wells and Hamilton, the Angels received virtually nothing. For Trout, Moreno probably would want, oh, six top-100 prospects, particularly if he was parting with tens of millions to facilitate the deal. Trout’s actual trade value, even at a reduced financial commitment, would be much less. So, good luck talking Moreno into this. He wouldn’t trade Ohtani when, more than once, he had the chance to make the same type of deal the Washington Nationals made for Juan Soto.

And now where are the Angels? Stuck with two players, Trout and Anthony Rendon, who combined are earning nearly $75 million annually through the completion of Rendon’s contract in 2026 yet cannot stay on the field. Which is where Trout’s tolerance for Moreno’s erratic stewardship becomes less understandable. The team is a mess, has been a mess, is going to be a mess for at least the next few years.

The Athletic’s Keith Law ranked the Angels’ farm system 29th out of 30, ahead of only the Oakland A’s. Even if the Angels somehow turn it around by the end of Trout’s contract, how functional a player will he be in his late 30s? His early 30s sure have not gone well.

In spring training, Trout told me he heard the noise about how he is content with the Angels, doesn’t want to win, won’t demand a trade. In an interview I conducted with him for Fox Sports, he said, “It fuels me more.” He was convinced he was about to return to form, saying he was getting chills just thinking about the possibility. And the way he was playing, a 50-homer, 30-stolen base season — proof he was still the GOAT, or at least, one of the top current players — seemed within his reach.

His earnestness remains one of his most endearing qualities. The suggestion that he does not want to play in a more demanding market always seemed off to those who know him best, who see how hard he works, who witness his competitive fire. But Trout’s desire to succeed with the Angels instead of somewhere else seemed, to most on the outside, a fanciful notion.

Armed with full no-trade protection, he could have leveraged his way to the Philadelphia Phillies, the team closest to his hometown of Millville, N.J. He could have blended in with a clubhouse full of hungry stars — Bryce Harper, Trea Turner and Kyle Schwarber, Zack Wheeler and Aaron Nola. And he could have been celebrated for escaping a bad situation rather than criticized for staying put.

It didn’t have to be the Phillies. It could have been virtually any contender with payroll flexibility. And it didn’t need to get to the point of a trade. Trout twice signed extensions with the Angels when he could have become a free agent entering his ages 26 and 29 seasons. His loyalty was commendable. But at the moment, he’s looking like a modern equivalent of Ernie Banks, who holds the major-league record for most games played in a career without making the playoffs (2,528).

Banks, playing in an era before free agency, never had the opportunity to choose another team. For most of his career, only the league champions made the playoffs, meeting in the World Series. He was a beloved figure, known as Mr. Cub. He made the Hall of Fame. But to many, there was always something missing, a what-might-have been aspect to his legacy.

Trout, in the wake of his latest injury, is moving into similar territory. More than ever, he seems destined to remain Mr. Angel. As good as his intentions might have been, that’s a very sad thing to say.

 

Related Posts

Trump and Musk send MAGA world wild with powerful duet of God Bless America at Mar-a-Lago – with a glaring problem

Donald Trump and Elon Musk looked more like Simon and Garfunkel at Mar-a-Lago during a rendition of God Bless America – but fans spotted one minor problem. The duo returned to a hero’s welcome at the ‘Winter White House’ Wednesday night after Trump had a friendly chat with the Bidens in D.C. and joked he can’t get rid of his billionaire ‘first buddy.’ Conservatives were thrilled to see them alongside opera singer Chris Macchio for a rendition of the American classic.

‘UFOs are real’: Congress to hear Pentagon whistleblower’s bombshell testimony at major ‘alien’ hearing TODAY

A PENTAGON whistleblower who claims UFOs are real is set to present his bombshell testimony at a major “alien“ hearing today before the US Congress. Former counterintelligence officer Luis Elizondo, who is said to have investigated UFO cases while at the Department of Defence, claims America is in “possession of UAP technologies“. The former defence official will speak before The US House of Representatives Committee on Oversight and Accountability.

Furious woman whose daughter was ‘given detention for wearing a poppy pin on Remembrance Day’ blasts school’s punishment as ridiculous

A furious mother has claimed that her daughter was given a detention for wearing a poppy pin on Remembrance Day. The parent said she was angered that her child was punished for trying to commemorate and honour those who served and sacrificed in the war. As Britain came together to mark Armistice Day on November 11, the mother was shocked to receive a text from her youngster saying she had been handed a detention for wearing a poppy pin.

Everyone can see the autumn scene – but you have a high IQ & 20/20 vision if you find the sneaky dogs in 12 seconds

THIS is the brainteaser to get you in the Autumn mood, as you’re challenged to find the hidden dogs amongst the golden leaves. Everyone can see the people gathering up leaves that have fallen from the trees, but only those with 20/20 vision and a high IQ can spot the sneaky dogs in 12 seconds. The teaser from Vape Globe will remind you of the last time you saw a really crunchable leaf on the pavement and had no choice but to step on it.

CNN anchor Jake Tapper opens show with five words he ‘never contemplated using’ after Trump’s shock Cabinet picks

Jake Tapper was absolutely dumbfounded beginning his show Wednesday after Donald Trump nominated Florida Congressman Matt Gaetz to be Attorney General. Trump named the controversial Florida Congressman as his nominee in a move that is bound to outrage Democrats and even shock many Republicans in Washington. Perhaps expressing that outrage, Tapper began his show in utter awe of the nomination.

Frankenstein scientists create flocks of creepy zombie drones out of DEAD BIRDS in haunting spy experiments

ZOMBIE duck drones have been made by scientists using eerie flocks of dead birds in a haunting set of spy experiments. Clever biomimetic roboticists at New Mexico Tech have miraculously discovered a way to use deceased animal parts to create realistic flying and swimming impostors. The Frankenstein scientists believe that the taxidermy bird drones will be able to help wildlife in a natural way by blending into a natural environment and sending information back to research centres.

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *