Trout not asking for a trade: 'There might be a time'
Outfielder Mike Trout is committed to staying with the Los Angeles Angels - at least for now.
"I think the biggest thing right now is taking the easy way out is just to ask for a trade," Trout said Monday, according to Jeff Fletcher of the Orange County Register. "There might be a time. Maybe. I really haven't thought about this. But when I signed that contract, I'm loyal.
"The overall picture of winning a championship or getting to the playoffs here is bigger satisfaction than bailing out and just taking the easy way out. So, I think that's been my mindset. Maybe down the road, if some things change, but that's been my mindset ever since the trade speculation came up."
Rumors surfaced at the end of last season that the Angels would be open to dealing Trout if he wanted out. However, the team poured cold water on the reports in December when general manager Perry Minasian said the superstar wouldn't be traded during the offseason.
The three-time AL MVP said that he's pushed owner Arte Moreno and Minasian to sign one of the big free agents still available.
"For sure, everybody does. I'm going to keep pushing as long as I can," Trout said, according to Sam Blum of The Athletic. "Until the season starts or until those guys sign. It's 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."
However, he's doubtful the Angels will make a splash.
"Um, you know, it's uh, yeah, no. You know how Arte is (laugh)," the 11-time All-Star added.
Trout also said he expected Shohei Ohtani to leave in free agency.
"My gut feeling was it was going to be the Dodgers," Trout said, according to Rhett Bollinger of MLB.com. "I'm just happy for him. Everybody reads everything, and that's what I was going with."
The 32-year-old experienced another injury-plagued campaign in 2023, hitting 18 homers with an .858 OPS over 82 games. He's logged just 237 contests since 2021. Meanwhile, the Angels finished 73-89 last season en route to missing the playoffs for a ninth straight year.