Trout laughs off trade rumors: 'I love where I'm at'

Mike Trout has another five years left on the $144.5-million contract extension he signed in 2014, and despite how bleak things looks in Anaheim right now, he doesn't expect to leave the Angels anytime soon, trade rumors notwithstanding.

"I've seen it," Trout told MLB.com's Alden Gonzalez on Wednesday of the recent trade speculation. "I just laugh about it. I love where I'm at. I love Anaheim, the stadium, the organization, and obviously the teammates. Teams go through injuries. That's the way it is."

Trout can laugh about it, of course, not only because he's the best baseball player of his generation, but because his contract contains a no-trade clause that would allow him to veto a trade even if the Angels decide to rebuild. Though such a scenario seems unlikely, at least for now, the Angels would be remiss not to consider it. Their roster, ostensibly build to win now, is loaded with declining veterans on bloated contracts, and trading Trout would help revitalize what's widely considered one of the worst farm systems in recent history.

For now, though, the Angels are determined to compete, Trout said, even with Andrelton Simmons, C.J. Wilson, and Huston Street on the disabled list, and two key starters - Garrett Richards and Andrew Heaney - seemingly destined for Tommy John surgery.

"We're going to keep playing to try to win," Trout said. "It doesn't matter what other people say. Our mentality in this clubhouse is to win ballgames with the group of guys that we have. Obviously we don't have the full team that we wanted down in spring, but that's the way it goes."

Related: Angels GM: We're not trading Trout

When asked last week about the possibility of moving Trout, general manager Billy Eppler was even more emphatic than his 24-year-old superstar (who's hitting .303/.390/.541 with seven homers through his first 33 games this year).

"No chance," Eppler said Friday. " … You do not move superstar players."