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 [February 20, 2024]
Mike Trout says he has no desire right now to leave the Los
Angeles Angels, calling a potential trade "the easy way out."
The three-time MVP outfielder is heading into his 13th season with
the team and has seven years and close to $250 million left on his
contract.
But there have been trade rumblings regarding Trout, 32, since
former teammate Shohei Ohtani signed with the crosstown Dodgers in
December.
"The easy way out is just ask for a trade," Trout, who has a full
no-trade clause, told reporters on Monday at spring training in
Tempe, Ariz.
"There might be a time. Maybe. I really haven't thought about this.
But 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 bigger satisfaction (than) bailing
out and just taking an easy way out. So I think that's been my
mindset. Maybe down the road if something's changed, but that's been
my mindset ever since the trade speculations came up."
The Angels have not been to the playoffs since Trout's second season
in 2014, when they were swept by the Kansas City Royals in the
division series.
Los Angeles finished 73-89 in 2023 as Trout missed half the season
with a broken hand.
Ramping up for 2024, Trout said he has encouraged Angels owner Arte
Moreno to sign one of the high-profile free agents still on the
market. He did not name names, but that pool includes outfielder
Cody Bellinger, third baseman Matt Chapman and Cy Young winner Blake
Snell.
"There's a couple of guys out there still that can help this team
(be) better," Trout said. " ... I'm going to keep pushing as long as
I can until the season starts or until them guys sign. It is just in
my nature. I'm doing everything I can possible. It's obviously
Arte's decision. I'm going to put my two cents in there."
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Sep 21, 2023; St. Petersburg, Florida, USA; Los Angeles Angels
outfielder Mike Trout (27) looks on against the Tampa Bay Rays
during the first inning at Tropicana Field. Mandatory Credit: Kim
Klement Neitzel-USA TODAY Sports
Trout batted .263 with 18 homers and 44 RBIs in 82
games last season as the Angels finished fourth in the AL West, a
division that produced the last two World Series winners with the
Texas Rangers (2023) and Houston Astros (2022).
"Am I worried about what happens or: Do I want to get traded, am I
not gonna get traded? I'm not worried about any of that," Trout
said. "I'm going out there and play my game. I got to put a full
season together and see what happens.
"The overall build of not getting to the playoffs and then finally
when it happens -- I think that's bigger than if I just wanted to
just get out of here."
An 11-time All-Star, Trout is a career .301 hitter with 368 home
runs and 940 RBIs in 1,489 games.
--Field Level Media
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