The Los Angeles Angels missed the postseason in 2024 after finishing with a record of 63-99 and coming in last in the American League West.
With only one playoff appearance since 2010, the Angels have some work to do if they want to get back to a competitive level for the 2025 season.
This offseason, the Angels made multiple acquisitions, including starting pitcher Yusei Kikuchi, relief pitcher Kenley Jansen, outfielder Jorge Soler and catcher Travis d’Arnaud.
Along with those additions, the Angels hope to keep superstar outfielder Mike Trout on the field as he has dealt with multiple injuries in recent years.
Trout recently revealed why he wants to play well in 2025.
“Mike Trout says he’s ‘fired up’ and motivated after seeing him ranked as only the 39th best player in baseball by MLB Network,” Bob Nightengale of USA Today wrote on X.
Mike Trout says he’s ’fired up’ and motivated after seeing him ranked as only the 39th best player in baseball by MLB Network
— Bob Nightengale (@BNightengale) February 17, 2025
MLB Network likely ranked Trout where it did because of the amount of games he’s missed over the past several seasons.
Since 2019, Trout has played more than 100 games once, when he played 119 in 2022.
In 2024, he played in 29 games and batted .220 with 10 home runs, 14 RBIs and an .867 OPS before going down for the year with an injury.
The three-time AL MVP can put up big numbers, as shown by his last healthy season in 2019, when he played 134 games and batted .291 with 45 home runs, 104 RBIs and a 1.083 OPS.
The Angels getting back into the playoffs in 2025 likely will depend on whether Trout can stay healthy for the entire season.
NEXT: Mike Trout Gets Honest About His Position Change This Season