The Los Angeles Angels last made the postseason in 2014, being swept by the Kansas City Royals in the American League Division Series.
The rebuilding club’s cornerstone player, Mike Trout, has yet to win a playoff game in his 15-year Major League Baseball career, but has a chance to this season if the Angels can capture one of the AL’s three Wild Card spots.
Trout signed a historic 12-year, $426.5 million contract extension with the Angels in March 2019, and is owed $222.6 million through 2030. Unfortunately, injuries have derailed Trout’s career, leading one MLB analyst to declare his contract as one of the league’s worst.
Mike Trout’s Decline Caused by Injuries
Since the start of the 2019 season, Trout has been placed on the injured list five times. He played just 82 games in 2023 and 29 games in 2024 after suffering a meniscus tear in his left knee early last year.
In 2025, Trout is serving as the Los Angeles Angels’ full-time designated hitter, with the team attempting to keep him off his feet and healthy for nearly a full season.
“The 33-year-old has yet to play the field since his return in late May, and at this point, it’s possible he [Trout] never will again, if only to reduce the number of opportunities to get injured,” Bleacher Report’s Kerry Miller wrote Tuesday.
“If that gets him back to a point of playing in more games per season than he misses over the remaining five-and-a-half years on his contract, he should at least provide some ROI. But the thought of Trout remaining one of the 10 highest-salaried players through 2030 has grown cringier with each passing season.”
When Trout played, he remained a relatively great offensive force, posting numbers reminiscent of his first few seasons with the Angels.
“Trout missed 80 games in 2023, all but 29 games last year, and already spent one month on the IL this season,” wrote Kelly. “As such, he just last Sunday played in his 162nd game since the beginning of 2023, posting a .246/.349/.489 triple slash with 40 home runs and a 4.4 bWAR.”
“Not bad numbers by any means, but not typical Trout-ian numbers by any means, eitherâKyle Schwarber-like slugging, but with Anthony Rendon-like health.”
Would the Angels Consider Trading Mike Trout?
While it’s possible the Los Angeles Angels could find interest from other organizations in Trout at this year’s July 31 trade deadline, his contract makes it hard to believe teams would be comfortable taking on over $200 million over the next five and a half years.
Trout has also publicly expressed a desire to finish his career with the Angels, aiming to win a championship with the organization that drafted him.
The three-time MVP and 11-time All-Star, now 33, needs help from other hitters in the Angels’ lineup to help him reach the postseason again.
Shortstop Nach Neto leads the Angels’ lineup with a 2.7 bWAR, hitting 12 home runs and a .802 OPS in 64 games. Outfielder Jo Adell is the hottest hitter for Los Angeles right now, already slugging 18 home runs through 76 games, two homers short of his previous career high of 20.
Like Heavy Sports’s content? Be sure to follow us.
This article was originally published on Heavy Sports
The post Angels’ $426.5 Million Contract Named One of MLB’s Worst appeared first on Heavy Sports.