On Sunday Sept. 28, the Los Angeles Angels season came to a close following a 6-1 defeat to the Houston Astros. In the offseason, the team will look to make some changes to improve their chances next year.
The Angels are pivoting to a more youthful roster, with plenty of budding talents such as first baseman Nolan Schanuel, right fielder Jo Adell, shortstop Denzer Guzman and a few others. The question becomes: what do the Angels do with Mike Trout?
Mike Trout is widely considered as the best player to ever suit up for the Halos, and he has the resume to back it up. To name a few: three American League MVPs, 11 All-Star selections, 2012 AL Rookie of the Year and the captain for the United States 2023 World Baseball Classic team. With all the accolades, as well as the nostalgia attached to his 15 seasons with the team, it is hard to imagine Trout in anything other than Angels red.
That being said, the numbers don’t lie. Trout just recorded one of his worst professional seasons to date, ending the year with 106 hits, 26 home runs, 64 RBIs and a .232 batting average. Trout is far below his career averages in every category when he plays 100+ games. Additionally, he was struck out the second most times in a single season in his career, and played significantly less games than the other seasons where he recorded less strikeouts.
Despite this drop in productivity for Trout, it is important to note that this is the first season since 2023 where he played 100+ games. His performance, although subpar for his standards, is still good for a major league ball player. With a roster full of youth, it is important to have players like Trout in the locker room with experience and a cool head.
In the final series of the season against the Astros, Trout tallied three home runs, four hits, and three RBIs. It was an individual strong showing, despite the team dropping the series 2-1.
What should be the decision for the Angels?
Keep Trout.
Going forward, Trout can still be a valuable asset for the team, and he is far from the problems within the organization. It would be a mistake to let Trout walk, especially if he can stay healthy in future seasons. He will, as he always has been, be a key to the Angels success.