As the Los Angeles Angels have floundered and failed to put together a contending team year after year despite employing two of the world’s greatest players in Shohei Ohtani and Mike Trout, many wondered when Trout — the 13-year Halo veteran — would finally say enough is enough. Trout, in 13 years with the Angels, has made the playoffs only one time and has not won a postseason game.
At some point, a trade request away from the Angels felt inevitable. And yet, through it all, he has maintained an undying loyalty to the organization. He signed a 12-year, $426 million contract extension two years before he needed to as a show of faith and loyalty to the Angels. The franchise has yet to give him anything significant in return.
And in perhaps his most candid statements as a Major League Baseball player, Trout finally explained why he has never requested a trade and if that could happen in the future, according to Sam Blum of The Athletic:
“I think the easy way out is to ask for a trade. There might be a time, maybe, I really haven’t thought about this. When I signed that contract, I’m loyal. I want to win a championship here. The overall picture of winning a championship or getting to the playoffs here is the bigger satisfaction than bailing out or taking the easy way out. I think that’s been my mindset. Maybe down the road, if some things change.”
Trout has never, to this point in his career, been this honest about his feelings on the Angels organization. He admits that asking for a trade in order to win games would be easy and it might even be something he considers in the future. But for now, he’s putting his faith and loyalty into the organization and hoping they can build a winner around him in Anaheim.
It remains to be seen if owner Arte Moreno is capable of that, and if he proves not to be, then Trout will eventually find his way onto a new team. He still has seven years remaining on that historic dozen-year contract extension.
Angels youngsters getting praise
Both Angels young cornerstones, Logan O’Hoppe and Zach Neto, recently received praise from manager Ron Washington for their abilities and leadership at such a young age. Neto and O’Hoppe figure to be huge pieces for the Angels as they retool around Trout.
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