It has been a tale of two teams for the Los Angeles Angels during the first half of the 2022 season. Through 44 games, the Halos were 27-17, playing some of the best baseball in the Majors, and looked to be a lock for a postseason behind excellent pitching and elite performances from Mike Trout.
Since then, the Angels are an abysmal 10-28. Trout has had multiple stretches of 0-for-15 or greater, the pitching has become more inconsistent, and the bottom of the order has struggled to provide any assistance. And as the hill to climb for a playoff spot becomes increasingly tall, trade rumors have once again begun circulating.
It seems as though every season — usually during an Angels rough patch — the concept of trading Trout is revisited. Yes, a Trout trade would bring back a historic haul of prospects, but it would mean dealing away one of the greatest players in MLB history squarely in his prime.
Perhaps the biggest snag in this conversation is Trout’s no-trade clause, meaning he would have to approve any trade. And when Trout was asked about the idea of being dealt, he made sure to make it known he is happy in Anaheim, according to Jeff Fletcher of The O.C. Register:
“I signed the contract and this is where I want to be,” Trout said Tuesday, referring to the 12-year, $426 million extension he signed prior to the 2019 season. “A lot of people are like, ‘Oh, he wants to be traded. Do this. Do that.’ I want to win. Everybody knows that.
And even though the Angels sit seven games back of a wild card spot and have the fourth-worst record in the AL, Trout remains hopeful for the second half of the season.
“We’ve still got half the season left,” Trout said. “There’s still a lot of ball to be played. We’ve got to start winning some games.”
The Halos have 80 games to make up a seven-game gap. They’d also need to leapfrog at least six teams in that process. It’s not impossible, but the odds are certainly not on the side of the Angels.
Regardless, Trout appears committed to Anaheim. This likely won’t stop any chatter about how it would be smart for him to request a trade, but it should stop the Angels from actually going out and shopping this generation’s best player.
Alcantara shuts down Angels for fourth straight loss
It was another long night at the plate for the Angels on Tuesday night, who were completely shut down by NL Cy Young favorite Sandy Alcantara. He struck out 10 batters and allowed just two hits over eight innings pitched.
The Angels have had three hits or less in each of their last four games, all losses.
