The 11x All-Star said, “I’ve got a great relationship with Shohei over the years. Obviously, what you see on the field is remarkable. What a great teammate. What a great friend. Even [interpreter] Ippei [Mizuhara], too. Just the way they’ve treated everybody with such a superstar status with respect.’’

Appraising Trout’s HOF resume

No World Series? So what? In all honesty, we do have a complicated Hall of Fame that doesn’t have Barry Bonds or Alex Rodriguez. But that’s an argument for another day. Mike Trout, just look at his numbers. Through 13 seasons, Trout has already amassed 85.2 wins above replacement (WAR), exceeding the 67 average among Hall of Famers. He’s batting .301 for his career with 1,624 hits, 368 home runs, 940 RBIs, and 1,106 runs scored.

What’s next for MLB’s stranded superstar?

Mike Trout’s been through a lot with the Angels, dealing with one bad decision after another from the front office and battling injury after injury. Yet, he’s never backed down or lost his loyalty to the team. But honestly, I can’t help but wonder if the LA Angels’ management is even worthy of someone like him. Don’t get me wrong, the fans in Anaheim are amazing. They show up every season, cheering their hearts out and standing by their players. But the front office? Do they really deserve the dedication of a player as committed as Trout?

Born in New Jersey, Trout is a die-hard Philadelphia sports fan. There was a buzz before the offseason that Trout might engage in talks with the Phillies regarding a possible trade. However, that prospect seems to have faded now. The fact of the matter remains – the longer Trout stays in Anaheim, the further he’ll get from the postseason.

Before 2023, Trout got candid about perpetual postseason misses, and you can’t help but feel for him. He said, “It’s been six years now since we’ve been playing [together with Ohtani] and we haven’t been to the playoffs. …It sucks losing. Everybody hates losing. If there’s any year we need to get to the playoffs, it’s this year.’’