Trout convinced he can return to MVP form
Los Angeles Angels outfielder Mike Trout has his eyes on two goals this season: winning and returning to his previous MVP form. He's convinced he can do the latter.
"I'm getting chills thinking about it right now," Trout said, according to The Athletic's Ken Rosenthal.
Trout enters the 2024 campaign healthy after an injury-shortened campaign where he appeared in 82 games and produced career lows in batting average and OPS.
His drop in production, injury concerns, and Shohei Ohtani's free-agent departure led to offseason trade speculation around the three-time MVP, who has seven years and close to $260 million left on his contract.
Angels general manager Perry Minasian assured Trout wouldn't be moved this offseason, and the outfielder recently said he hasn't considered asking for a trade.
Trout addressed the rumors again, explaining they fuel his desire to win.
"So when I hear, 'Trout needs to get traded,' or, 'He's happy to be there,' they can say whatever they want. I've got one thing on my mind. That's trying to win here," Trout said.
The Angels, who have done very little this winter to address the lineup following Ohtani's departure, haven't made the postseason since 2014 and are projected by PECOTA to win 74 games and miss the playoffs.