How Mike Trout Was 'Left Behind' As Shohei Ohtani Wins Two Rings
Mike Trout has not played in a postseason game since 2014, marking the longest active playoff drought for a player of his caliber. The three-time MVP is now in the final phase of his career with the Los Angeles Angels. At 34 years old, the center fielder boasts an 87.5 WAR, the highest for a modern player without a postseason win.
Since being swept by Kansas City in the 2014 ALDS, Trout and the Angels have not made the playoffs. The franchise’s last postseason victory dates back to 2009, the year Trout was drafted.
In March 2019, Trout signed a 12-year, $426 million contract extension, which at the time was the richest in North American sports history. This deal, lasting through 2030, still carries about $190 million in remaining value.
Trout’s Commitment to the Angels
"I've got (five) more years on the contract," Trout told The Athletic in September. "I feel like I've got a lot left in my tank. And I know when it's right, I can be the best."
Multiple sources conveyed to The Athletic that Trout would never ask for a trade, viewing such a move as "the easy way out."
Shohei Ohtani’s Success Post-Angels
Former teammate Shohei Ohtani joined the Los Angeles Dodgers in December 2023. Since then, he has won World Series titles in every season with the Dodgers.
Trout and Ohtani shared six seasons on the Angels but were both in the lineup together for only 46.6% of games, during which the team posted a 194-211 record.
Despite Trout's stellar individual performance, team success has eluded him, especially compared to Ohtani's championship achievements since leaving Los Angeles.
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