Injuries and declining performance threaten to make Mike Trout's massive deal a costly burden for the Angels by 2028.
The Los Angeles Angels have been lucky to employ outfielder/designated hitter Mike Trout for 15 seasons. There have been multiple MVPs, Silver Sluggers, All-Star appearances, and countless highlights during those 15 years for Trout.
Over the past few seasons, however, it does seem like Trout is indeed human, contrary to prior belief. He’s played under 100 games in three of his last five seasons as injuries and time-missed have become a part of the regular conversation surrounding the 34-year-old.
Despite his performance still being positive when he is on the field, Trout still found his way onto a list predicting the 10 nightmare contracts of 2028 by Bleacher Report’s Kerry Miller.
“In 2025, his OPS was .797—a solid mark for most mortals, but laughable by Trout's former standards—his HR% (4.7) was the lowest it has been since 2016 and his K% (32.0) was the worst of his career,” Miller wrote. “He still mashed the occasional moonshot, including going 485 feet on the 400th home run of his career. However, he's nowhere near the consistent force he used to be.”
His placement at No. 6 on the list of nightmare contracts is not exactly a reflection of Trout’s performances compared to others in the league, but compared to himself. Every team in the league would take a DH who records a near .800 OPS, but because of the highs he once reached, it’s ringing the alarm bells for Angels fans.
He’ll remain under contract with the Halos through the 2030 season, a full five seasons away. If he continues his downward trend, the end of his contract could become ugly. By 2028, however, Trout should still be a serviceable DH, though not coming close to his peak.
Even if Trout’s deal does become a nightmare down the line, it would be one well worth it. After just one postseason appearance in his 15 seasons, Trout has repeatedly chosen the Angels over everybody. His loyalty to the club and what he has brought for them over the years will not only go down in Angels’ history, but in baseball history.
He gifted Halos fans the opportunity to see one of the greatest to ever step on the diamond, despite the incompetence of the higher-ups to put his talents to use. Trout could play zero more games for the Angels, and his $426 million contract would still be worth it for his years of dominance in Anaheim.