The Angels are wrapping one other misplaced season, one by which Mike Trout was stored to a career-low 29 video games. As he gears up for the offseason, the three-time MVP indicated he was open to a doable place change in an effort to remain wholesome.
Trout hasn’t performed a single inning outdoors of heart area in additional than a decade. It’s doable that’ll change in his age-33 season. Trout instructed the Halos beat this night that he’s prepared to debate taking part in extra continuously within the corners and/or getting elevated reps as a chosen hitter.
“I feel there’s undoubtedly going to be some conversations within the offseason. It’s actuality,” Trout mentioned (hyperlink through Rhett Bollinger of MLB.com). “I do know I’ve a certain quantity of years on my deal and I knew after I signed my contract, I’d ultimately transfer to a nook. However is it subsequent yr? I don’t know. However we’ll have conversations.”
The 11-time All-Star elaborated that “all the pieces’s on the desk” to try to maintain himself on the sphere. “Whether or not that’s shifting to a nook or DHing extra, I’ll depart it as much as the entrance workplace to provide you with a plan,” he added. It doesn’t sound as if the long run Corridor of Famer has but had any conversations with GM Perry Minasian and his employees, however that could possibly be a key storyline going into the offseason.
Trout nonetheless has the athleticism to play a superb heart area when he’s at full energy. He had first rate defensive grades over 681 innings final season. Statcast positioned him within the ninetieth percentile amongst main leaguers in dash pace this yr. If he have been to maneuver to a nook, he must be a defensive asset. Trout logged almost 900 innings within the corners early in his profession. It’s widespread for heart fielders to maneuver down the defensive spectrum as they get into their 30s — each to remain wholesome and to make approach for youthful, rangier defenders up the center.
The well being caveat has been an all too acquainted one for Trout. He has fallen in need of 120 video games in every of the previous 4 years. That is the third of 4 seasons by which he gained’t attain 85 appearances. A proper calf pressure ended Trout’s 2021 season by the center of Could. He misplaced a while in ’22 on account of again spasms. A left hamate fracture all however ended his season on July 4 final yr. (He made a short return in August earlier than rapidly shutting issues again down.)
This yr could have been probably the most irritating of all. Trout went on the injured checklist on the finish of April after struggling a meniscus tear in his left knee. He underwent surgical procedure that got here with an preliminary four-to-six week restoration interval. It wasn’t till shortly after the All-Star Break that he was capable of start a minor league rehab task. The Angels rapidly halted that when Trout skilled renewed knee soreness. Testing revealed one other meniscus tear that required a second surgical procedure and formally ended his season.
Making issues worse, Trout hasn’t been capable of pinpoint precisely when he suffered the knee damage. It may have come whereas he was on protection or working the bases. His 2021 calf pressure got here as a baserunner, whereas final yr’s hamate fracture was a fluke damage on a swing. These clearly wouldn’t have been averted by a place change. Nonetheless, lowering his defensive workload may take a few of the total toll off his physique and hopefully maintain him within the batter’s field.
Trout stays a superb offensive participant, even when he has most likely taken a step again from his MVP kind. He hit .263/.367/.490 over 362 plate appearances final yr. Whereas a meager .194 common on balls in play left him with a .220 batting common and .325 on-base mark this season, he drilled 10 homers over simply 126 journeys to the plate. A heathy Trout clearly stays one of the best hitter on the workforce.
The Angels have left fielder Taylor Ward underneath arbitration management for one more two seasons. Ward has had a quietly glorious second half and is likely to be the workforce’s second-best offensive participant. Proper area has been an enormous weak point. The Angels have gotten a .208/.288/.371 exhibiting from that place. That largely falls on Jo Adell, who hasn’t made sufficient contact to come back near the large expectations he generated as a prospect. Former first-round choose Jordyn Adams is getting a glance there with Adell on the injured checklist, however Adams had a mediocre season in Triple-A.
If the Angels resolve it’s greatest for Trout to maneuver to proper area — or to left, with Ward kicking to proper — they’d want to seek out a solution up the center. That’s far simpler mentioned than achieved. Mickey Moniak has a .264 on-base proportion in 401 plate appearances as Trout’s major substitute in heart. Kevin Pillar might be retiring at season’s finish. Barring a shock Cody Bellinger opt-out, the free agent class is headlined by Harrison Bader. The likes of Cedric Mullins, Jose Siri, Leody Taveras and Trent Grisham are potential offseason commerce candidates, however that’s largely as a result of none of them are coming off nice years.
Trout goes into the seventh season of the 12-year extension he signed again in 2019. He’s underneath contract for $35.45MM yearly by means of the 2030 marketing campaign. Trout, who has full no-trade rights, has beforehand shot down the thought of requesting a commerce on a number of events.
