MLB Makes Mike Trout Announcement After 15th Season

Ahead of every season, MLB Network releases its Top 100 Rankings to highlight the best players in the game.

For much of the past decade, Trout was a fixture at the very top, holding the No. 1 spot for six consecutive years from 2016 through 2021 before two-way superstar Shohei Ohtani began his run of dominance.

This winter, however, Trout was ranked 82nd, marking the steepest drop of his career and the lowest placement he has received in more than a decade.

The ranking reflects how evaluators view his current impact rather than his legacy, weighing his recent struggles at the plate and diminished defensive value against his decorated track record.

Angels Banking on Trout’s Veteran Presence Amid Youth Movement

Trout remains tied to Los Angeles long-term after signing a 12-year, $426.5 million extension in 2019 that keeps him with the organization through 2030, making him one of the highest-paid players in baseball.

That investment has been tested in recent years, as injuries have limited his availability. His 130 games played last season marked only his second time surpassing 100 appearances in the past five years.

The Angels are now attempting to balance Trout’s veteran presence with emerging talent such as Nolan Schanuel and Zach Neto, hoping to blend experience with youth.

Trout’s accomplishments still place him among the greatest players of his generation. The Angels now hope he can outperform that ranking in 2026 and help push the franchise toward a long-awaited postseason breakthrough.