Mike Trout spoke about his future and Anthony Rendon spoke about his priorities as two Los Angeles Angels veterans made interesting comments Monday to hitters heading to spring training in Arizona and Florida. .
Trout, a three-time MVP and 11-time All-Star who has appeared in just one postseason series, will request a trade as the Angels rebuild their team with two-time MVP Shohei Ohtani. He said he was not interested. Transferred to Los Angeles Dodgers.
Trout, 32, has spent his entire 13-year career with the Angels. 12-year, $426.5 million contract Last year, the Angels went 73 wins, 89 losses, and lost for the eighth straight year. They haven't made the playoffs since 2014, when they were swept by the Kansas City Royals in the divisional round.
“I think the easy solution is to request a trade,” Trout told reporters such as The Athletic. “There may be a time, maybe. I didn't really think about this. When I signed that contract, I'm loyal. I want to win a championship here. The whole idea of doing something brings more satisfaction than bailing out or taking the easy way out. I think that was my mindset. If things change, maybe in the future. Maybe.”
Trout said that since Ohtani's departure, he has been lobbying owner Arte Moreno and upper management to add free agents who could strengthen the Angels. 10-year, $700 million contract With the Dodgers.
“I'm going to keep pushing as long as I can,” Trout said. “Until the season starts or they sign me. It's just in my nature.”
One of the Angels' biggest free agent moves in recent years was signing Rendon. 7 years, $245 million He signed the contract in December 2019 as he was about to retire. world series title With the Washington Nationals. Rendon, who won two Silver Slugger Awards in seven seasons with the Nationals, never played more than 58 games in four years with the Angels. Because of the injury.
Rendon talked Monday about how his passion for baseball has remained constant throughout his career, but he also said baseball “was never my top priority.”
“This is a job,” Rendon told reporters. “I do this for a living. My faith, my family, comes first over this job.”
Rendon said her perspective changed after getting married and having four children. But she also emphasized that baseball remains a priority, even if it's not the top priority.
“Oh, that's definitely a priority,” Rendon said. “Because that's my job. I'm here, right?”
