When Angels superstar Mike Trout first went on the injured list just over a week ago due to a bone bruise in his left knee, Trout expressed optimism that he would be able to return after a minimum stay. He’s eligible to be activated on Sunday, but that ultimately will not come to pass. Trout told reporters (including Rhett Bollinger of MLB.com) that while he’s resumed swinging a bat with no issues, he has yet to begin running.
The good news is, that could change fairly soon. Trout indicated that he’ll be traveling with the Angels to San Diego for their upcoming series against the Padres this week, and there’s “a good chance” that he’ll start running on that road trip. Trout added that the pain he was feeling in his knee that led to the IL stint has now dissipated, and the veteran is encouraged enough by the progress that a return in the somewhat near future seems to be on the table, though an exact timeline won’t be able to be established until Trout resumes running.
Obviously, the face of the Angels franchise returning to the field will be a key factor in whatever hopes the club may have of clawing its way back into the AL playoff picture. A strong start to the 2025 campaign for the Halos has largely been snuffed out at this point, as they own a lackluster 15-22 record and are currently sitting in fifth place in the AL West. Even side from the odds of playoff baseball in Anaheim, however, Trout’s return to action would be reason for celebration for fans all around the game. A slam-dunk Hall of Famer who was on track to become one of the greatest players in history just a few years ago, Trout has appeared in just 295 games since the start of the 2021 season and will be looking to have his first mostly-healthy campaign since 2022 once he returns from the injured list.
More from around the AL West…
- Astros right-hander Hayden Wesneski went on the injured list yesterday due to discomfort in his right elbow. It’s an ominous diagnosis that resulted in the righty being sent for imaging, but manager Joe Espada told reporters (including The Athletic’s Chandler Rome) this afternoon that while Wesneski’s MRI showed inflammation in his elbow, the club felt that they “couldn’t get a good read of what’s going on.” Espada added that the club’s plan is now to give Wesneski a few more days of rest in hopes that the inflammation will calm down before trying to reassess the situation and decide on next steps. It’s an update that offers little clarity on Wesneski’s path forward, much less a timetable for his return. The right-hander pitched to middling results in six starts for Houston this year after being acquired from the Cubs as part of the Kyle Tucker trade, with a 4.50 ERA in 32 innings of work.
- The Mariners are without co-aces George Kirby and Logan Gilbert at the moment. Kirby has yet to pitch this year after beginning the season on the shelf due to shoulder inflammation, while tightness in Gilbert’s forearm shut him down near the end of last month. Seattle GM Justin Hollander told reporters (including Daniel Kramer of MLB.com) yesterday that Kirby would make one more rehab start after today’s outing with Triple-A Tacoma. That would put him in line to be activated at some point during the club’s upcoming road trip, perhaps either against the White Sox or the Astros. Gilbert, meanwhile, is further from a return given that he’s still just playing catch. Hollander did suggest, however, that the righty could resume throwing off the mound in the coming days. Emerson Hancock and Logan Evans are filling in for Kirby and Gilbert in the club’s rotation in the meantime.
Shell of his former self
first – The game is better with a healthy Mike Trout.
I wish him well and hope he returns soon.
Shell of his former self has 9 homers in 106 at bats so far this year.
It is indisputable that Trout is nowhere near the player he was during his peak. It is logical that the passage of time as well as mounting injury are contributing factors. Do you disagree with this statement?
The first: “It is indisputable that Trout is nowhere near the player he was during his peak.”
Troll much? I think so.
Trout’s “peak” was being the best overall player in baseball for a decade. Did anyone expect him to put up MVP numbers forever?
He’s always given it 100% on and off the field, and that will take a toll as he ages. He’s been injured a lot over the last few years. But he’s still a productive player when healthy and he’s willing to become more of a role player to stay as healthy as possible. That’s because he is a class act all the way.
How much longer can he play? No one knows. Can he get back flashes of his former production? No one knows. But he became a first round HOF’er the moment he qualified. Have a little respect for a guy that has stayed positive despite his 85 career WAR being squandered by a greedy owner that never built a team around him.
Trout started this season with a flash of his former self, hitting 9 HR in his first 88 AB. Then the injury bugaboo hit.
If he retired today, in 5 years we would be attending his HOF induction.
Good insight!
Take out his 1st start and he has a 3.72 era. Seattle has won 4 of his 5 starts. 6inn last 2 starts. He’s finding a groove
Let’s not talk about the A’s.
The story was about Trout not the A;s
The A’s are still in the AL West genius.
Which one of the A’s is injured or returning from injury. Ok then, STFU.
Life Is funny. I never thought I’d use the word “albatross” and “Mike Trout” in the same sentence in my lifetime.
@mlb fan
Well, if teams were more like the Rays and followed proper studies done on the subject, they would know that most MLB players careers las 2.7 years. So, burn the guy for 3 years and trade him before he becomes a liability.
The contract is not preventing the Angels from singing free agents, and after this season, when Arte sells the team, it won’t prevent the new owner either.
I don’t think the word albatross means what you think it means.
Arte isn’t selling, he tried and no one would reach his asking price–and that was with Shohei Ohtani still on the roster.
Trout doesn’t prevent the Angels from spending but the flip side is they don’t have a great track record with big money deals. The team needs to rebuild and as long as Trout is around they won’t do it so keep expecting middling results
I think he is. What was preventing him from selling was a huge finders fee which I believe that is set to expire before next season.
What also complicates things is that the owners might screw up negotiations by demanding a hard cap.
Trout is not an albatross because this team is incapable of competing with the current system in place, from owner to GM, from top to bottom.
To the new owner, Trouts contract is no more than a speed bump.
It has to be a drag playing fifteen seasons and not making the playoffs. Especially for a franchise player. You have to really start questioning how poorly your organization is managed. Add to that all the injuries, it’s a lot of drag on Trout.
Angel’s are toast, their pitching is awful, hopefully Trout can see this season for what it is and take it easy, work on his game, get ready for ’26.
It’s a horribly run organization. It’s starts with Moreno.
It’s a bad contract, but Trout is not why the Angels haven’t made the playoffs in a decade.
I can’t wait until Moreno, and everything he brought in is gone.
No way. Trout needs to be on the field every day. Unfortunately the guy can’t even run to first anymore. I hate to say it but Trouts career is over.
Another guy who doesn’t follow baseball, all players need to learn not to lunge for the bag at hit first with a straight leg. It’s probably the most common position player injury in baseball.
To say ‘even run to first” is pure ignorance.
that’s what people wrote in ’24……
and in early ’26 they can write:
“Angel’s are toast, their pitching is awful, hopefully Trout can see this season for what it is and take it easy, work on his game, get ready for ’27.”
mlb fan: “I never thought I’d use the word “albatross” and “Mike Trout” in the same sentence…”
Let’s see….
2012 salary $492k. 10.5 WAR, rookie of the year and 2nd in MVP voting.
2013 salary $510K. 8.9 WAR and 2nd in MVP voting.
2014 salary $1M. 7.7 WAR American League MVP
2015 salary $6M 9.5 WAR 2nd in MVP voting
2016 salary $16M. 10.4 WAR American League MVP
2017 salary $20M. 6.9 WAR 4th in MVP voting
They didn’t even have to spend a high draft pick to get the guy. They had him as a cost controlled Superman for his first SIX seasons. He was the best overall player in baseball for his first TEN seasons. How many playoff games has the team won during Trout’s entire career? ZERO.
Trout got paid long term because that was the only way the team could have kept him. He most likely would have gotten more from the Yankees.
Let’s not forget that Trout was an AS in 2021, 2022 and 2023 and Ohtani was playing at an MVP level during those seasons. Still not even a winning season during those years. You can’t really blame Mr. Trout’s contract for this organization’s status as a long term dumpster fire.
Trouts career path is simular to Griffey
I hope to god Gilbert just had tightness and no upcoming elbow damage
His first start or 2 back in the majors is going to be a huge tell on if he’s ok because there’s been too many times when a starter gets lighted up and then gets surgery
710 Seattle had someone on there explaining the flexor strain and that it is more likely than not that it will turn into a bigger issue.
Not every injury goes that way but he stated with how violently Gilbert throws it was just a matter of time.
I hope that it will just take rest but hearing what the guy on 710 said, it might be an issue that only the DRs knife will fix.
Ummmmm…. Lit up?
Uhhhhh…. R U, Lit Up?
What U Talkin Bout Willis?
Got any healthy Trout? Go fish.
If Trout gets injured just running to first base he’s pretty much done. Sounds like his knee is bone on bone. Meniscus is shot.
To be honest, Trout is getting blown away by heat. Those fastballs used to get crushed and now they go into the catchers mitt for strike three.
He’s got about 5 years left on his contract.
Maybe him and the Angels can work out a deal to pay 70% of it to him and then he can retire or be a free agent or something.
Do the same thing with Rendon.
You think trout is getting paid anything less than 100% of his guaranteed contract, you are mistaken.
Phree4u: “You think trout is getting paid anything less than 100% of his guaranteed contract, you are mistaken.”
Especially since Moreno low balled him early in his career.
Low balled? If you mean his first 3 years- that’s the way the pay structure is. Arbitration is: your # vs My #. After that, it’s ALL negotiations. So the owner did nothing that ALL other owners do in the early years. SO, he wasn’t lowballed
hoof hearted: “…he wasn’t lowballed”
From AP article “Mike Trout takes high road on salary” dated March 3rd 2013:
“The Angels renewed the contract of the AL Rookie of the Year for $510,000 on Saturday, just $20,000 above the major league minimum, prompting an angry response from Trout’s agent.
While Craig Landis said the renewal “falls well short of a ‘fair’ contract,” Trout took the high road before a morning workout at the Angels’ spring training complex on Sunday, repeatedly insisting that “I’m just happy to be in the lineup.”
My take: Well played again Arte! You saved some pennies at the expense of a young kid who just won ROY on your team. I’m sure he’ll be happy to also take a reduced salary six years from now.
Finally, an honest take. Not 100% accurate, but close enough. Trout has always had troubles with high fast balls.
Now they don’t even have to be high. Either his timing sucks because hasn’t had the ABs, or he’s way behind on the aging curve. I won’t argue with either take.
They had to give him that money to have any chance of keeping him. He’s a Hall-of-Fame level player already. And he’s still a very good player when healthy. His contract isn’t THAT bad. His last 5 years aren’t going to be nearly as bad as those of guys like Pujols and Miguel Cabrera.
It’s bad, but it’s not that bad. A player sensational player that has only played for the Angels has value
Edub23: “Maybe him and the Angels can work out a deal to pay 70% of it to him and then he can retire or be a free agent or something.
Do the same thing with Rendon.”
Moreno doesn’t have a great track record of eating contracts.
A lot of players get hurt landing on first base. Dozens every year. Casas may have jeopardized his entire career stepping on first.
How do you not know this? Do you even follow baseball?
Did you even watch the play? There was no collision. He didn’t trip and twist his ankle. He stepped on the bag and damaged his knee (bone bruise). An idiotic statement you made there. Maybe so many years of losing has damaged your brain.
So you don’t follow baseball. Got it,
Not true. Dozens of players don’t go on the IL every year from stepping on first base. I guess we can all keep rationalizing all of Mr. Brittles injuries or sadly admit that the guy is washed up as an athlete and is done.
Angels need Trout back quickly to make a run at the Division!
As an Angels fan I can’t even say this with a straight face. Please Arte just sell the team to someone who cares about winning.
Edub23;
As I wrote this past offseason as they signed yet another group of over-the-hill FA’s:
They keep doing the same thing year-after-year and Angles fans come on here excited about the coming season.
Hey, at least you had a good 2-3 weeks at the opening this year.
–
Yes, ownership in both Anaheim and Pittsburgh needs to be changed. Yet the Commissioner was looking into a potential Rays sale. That team competes for a playoff spot 3 out of every 4 years.
Well said, Samuel.
And yet Trout, by “yet to begin running,” is already singing his version of “See You In September.” Very sad to think about what could have been with that guy.
Trout is cooked. Plate him up because he’s done. No other way to say it.
Sk – Dude, it’s been less than 3 years ago since Trout was great and mostly healthy.
You said the exact same thing about Sale 2 years ago, didn’t you learn anything from that?
Yep. Sad but true
Sadly Father Time has caught up with Trout it’s now time to call it!
No, just injuries.
Amused by all the people thinking they know what’s best for Trout more than he does.
And I’m amused by all the people who think a broken down former stud who can’t even run to first anymore and has been injured year after year after year after year is going to suddenly become a healthy and dynamic athlete, not get injured again and be a major contributor to a pro sports team.
I don’t care for the Angels, but I would like to see Trout get to WS
Sure glad tommy john didn’t listen to the nay sayers. “Your arms seriously hurt, hang it up”
Or even the neigh sayers, hoof? 😂
He’s our Griffey
“Meanwhile” has to start the sentence, not come in the middle between commas.