After missing 370 games over the past four seasons due to various injuries, Mike Trout is open to the idea of moving positions.
Speaking to reporters on Monday, the Los Angeles Angels star and three-time American League MVP said “everything is on the table” when it comes to his future and trying to make sure he stays on the field.
“Ultimately, my goal is to be in that batter’s box, on the field, every day.” The trout said“Whether it’s moving to a corner or being more of a DH, that’s something I’ll leave up to management to come up with a plan. Given where I am and what’s happened the last few years, I’ll definitely try to explore every option that can keep me on the team.”
The Angels have had Trout in their lineup just 266 times since the start of the 2021 season. He last played this season on April 29 before an MRI showed he had a torn meniscus in his left knee. After undergoing surgery on May 3, the 33-year-old attempted to make a comeback in July during a rehab stint with the Angels’ Triple-A team in Salt Lake City. He lasted just one at-bat before having to leave the game with left knee soreness.
A week later, Trout was ruled out for the season.
Before the injury, Trout was hitting .220 with 10 home runs, 14 RBIs and an .867 OPS in 29 games.
Over his 14-year career, Trout has made 1,332 of his 1,502 starts in center field. Only 90 of those games saw him start at one of the outfield corners and 80 were as a designated hitter.
Trout’s 12-year, $426.5 million contract runs through 2030 and he acknowledged that a move to a corner outfield position would eventually occur.
“I know I have a few years left on my contract and I knew when I signed my contract that I would eventually move to cornerback. But will it be next year? I don’t know. But we’ll have conversations about it,” Trout said.
The Angels will not play in the postseason again and currently sit last in the American League with a 60-90 record. They have not qualified for the playoffs since 2014 and have made it just once since 2009.