Mike Trout says Angels made necessary moves at trade deadline

Longtime Angels outfielder Mike Trout expressed no change in his outlook on his future in Los Angeles following the team's significant trades at the deadline. "Nah, it hasn't changed anything," Trout stated. "We're not where we want to be. Doing what we did, I think helps our future. And we'll see where it goes."

Trout, 34, has been with the Angels for 16 seasons, being selected 25th overall in the 2009 MLB draft. He is under contract through the 2030 season, earning $37.1 million annually. However, the Angels currently hold the worst record in baseball with a 43-70 record entering Wednesday's games and dealt five players at the deadline, including right-handed starter Jose Soriano, slugging outfielder Jo Adell, and relievers Ryan Zeferjahn, Brent Suter, and Kirby Yates.

Trout acknowledged the difficulty of seeing teammates leave, noting that they have built strong relationships with each other. "We're not where we want to be," he said. "I think the best step in the best direction to turn things around is to do what we did."

Trout was brought into the front office's trade room a few days before the deadline to be informed of the plans. Interim general manager John Mozeliak explained that Trout's inclusion was to provide him with insight into the team's direction, as he is the face of the franchise. "We want to get this better for him and for others because our fans want to see winning, and that's the goal of what we're trying to accomplish."

Despite Trout's absence during the trade process, he affirmed that his role was limited to understanding the team's trajectory. The decision to trade the players did not involve any input from Trout on the specific players he believed the team should acquire or send.

Trout, a three-time American League MVP and 12-time All-Star, has faced a challenging period from 2021 to 2024, playing in only one game more than 82 games during those four seasons. However, last year, he played 130 games and is currently at 94 games played this season, with a .245 average, 18 homers, and 40 RBIs. He has not been selected as an All-Star in the past two years but managed to break All-Star recognition this season.

Trout is a career .291 hitter, with 422 homers and 1,058 RBIs in 1,742 games. He needs only 300 more hits to surpass Garret Anderson's franchise record of 2,013 games played for the Angels.