Vladimir Guerrero Jr.’s recent contract comments hit a nerve around baseball, but they also sounded familiar to anyone who has watched Mike Trout’s Angels tenure unfold.
Guerrero, who signed a $500 million contract, said recently that he felt he was paid more for what he had already done before the deal than for what he would do after it. The reaction came fast, especially from Blue Jays fans, and the backlash was fierce. But Angels fans have been living in a version of that same reality for years.
Trout signed his 12-year, $426.5 million contract in 2019, and no one realistically expected him to keep producing at the exact pace he set earlier in his career. Still, it’s fair to say Angels fans have wanted more from the deal than they’ve gotten.
Since signing that contract, Trout has hit .265/.387/.536 with 186 home runs and 424 runs batted in, good for 27.4 WAR in 725 games. Those are strong numbers for most players. They just don’t match the level Trout had already established from 2011 to 2018, when he posted a .307/.416/.573 line with 240 homers, 648 RBIs and 64.3 WAR.
The truth is Trout was never going to keep producing like he did in the 2010s. He wouldn’t say he got paid more for what he had already done than for what he would do next, but that’s basically how it played out. Injuries have slowed him down, and age has a way of taking a little more from every player.
Even with that reality hanging over the contract, the Angels don’t appear eager to move on. Interim general manager John Mozeliak made it clear early in his tenure that Trout would not be moved. Mozeliak has also kept Trout informed about the club’s future plans, a sign that Trout is not going anywhere anytime soon.
Trout did put together a solid 2026 campaign, so this is not a case of a completely unplayable star. He is never going to reach the peak he hit in the mid-2010s again, but if he can still contribute, mentor younger players and keep drawing fans into the ballpark, the Angels can still make a case that the contract is worth it.
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Mike Trout May Have Just Opened A Big Angels Roster Shift
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Mike Trout May Finally Be Embracing A Shift Angels Needed
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The timing matters because the Angels already had other defensive options in center in 2026 who graded out better than Trout. With the club weighing a position change to better fit the roster and sharpen the defensive alignment, Trouts willingness to shift could open the door to a cleaner fit for everyone involved, even if the exact shape of that arrangement is still taking form. [Read more 🡒]