Mike Trout Ominously Warns of "Conversations" He'll Have With Angels This Offseason

The Los Angeles Angels are heading into a franchise-shifting offseason. With two-way superstar Shohei Ohtani likely leaving in free agency, and a disastrous finish to the season well underway, the big question now surrounds the Angels' other superstar, Mike Trout. 

The 3-time MVP spoke with Angels reporters, and said ominously that he has some questions for team management. 

There are going to be some conversations in the winter, for sure. Just to see the direction of everything and what the plan is.

When he was asked if that meant possibly asking for a trade if he doesn't like the answers, Trout simply replied "I'm not even going to comment on that."

But his previous comment already serves as one. He is wondering about the direction of the team, and whether he still wants to be a part of it. Trout has been with the Angels for 13 years now, and the longtime best player in baseball has been in the playoffs just once, way back in 2014, when they lost in the first round. 

Trout still has seven years and $252 million left on his contract, so even if a trade was requested, it would likely be awfully hard to pull it off. Part of that has to do with the fact that Trout himself hasn't been able to stay healthy the past few seasons. He missed all but 36 games in 2021 with a strained calf, and was out for about six weeks of 2022 with a back injury. This year, he's been on the sidelines again for about eight weeks (and counting) with a broken hamate bone.

In fairness to the Angels, they really did give it a shot at this year's trade deadline, bringing in all sorts of notable additions in an attempt to make it to the playoffs. But almost all of the new players fell flat, as did the team, and then Ohtani suffered a UCL tear knocking him out of the rotation. 

Although some of their troubles have been circumstantial and injury-related, clearly a team that hasn't made the postseason in nine years, and just once in 13, has not been doing some things right. That will have to change this offseason, or they might be facing the loss of TWO former MVPs. 

Photo: Brad Penner-USA TODAY Sports