Angels' Mike Trout says move from center field is possible next year

ANAHEIM – Mike Trout has acknowledged that his days as the Angels’ primary center fielder may be over.

The Angels superstar has missed most of the season for the third time in the last four years. On Monday, he spoke to reporters for the first time since undergoing season-ending surgery on his left knee and said he's open to trying something different if the organization feels that's the best way to keep him healthy.

“I think anything is possible,” Trout said before the Angels' 8-4 loss to the Chicago White Sox. “I think my goal is to be on the field in the batter's box every day. Whether that means moving to a corner or working more as a DH, I'll leave it up to management to come up with a plan.”

“I think given my current situation and the events of the last few years, I should definitely try to explore any option that could keep me out of there.”

Trout, 33, has not played since April 29. He suffered a torn meniscus, underwent surgery and seemed to be on his way back to the team in late July. However, Trout suffered a setback and had to undergo a second meniscus surgery that ended his season.

“I can’t look back and say exactly what I did or how I did it,” Trout said.

Trout said he feels “great” now. He was cleared to bat last week and plans to start running on an anti-gravity treadmill this week.

Trout said he was looking forward to a “normal offseason.”

The setback was another chapter in a troubling series of serious injuries for a player who had been on his way to the Hall of Fame since winning three American League MVP awards.

The calf injury that cost him most of 2021 and the hamstring fracture he suffered in 2023 were not as serious as expected. He also missed about five weeks in 2022 due to a back injury.

Now Trout is once again faced with the question of what he can do differently to avoid a similar fate in 2025.

“You always sit down with your family and your team and try to figure out how to prevent things from happening and try to find a formula,” Trout said. “I was really confident with where I was and how I was training and how I was practicing during the season. When spring came around, I felt really good. So there will definitely be some conversations about things I can improve on and hopefully I'll keep doing what I've been doing.”

When Angels general manager Perry Minasian announced Trout's retirement in July, he said he was confident Trout would be an elite offensive player in 2025.

“He will hit 70 home runs and be voted MVP,” Minasian said.

Minasian, however, did not comment on his expectations for Trout's position.

Trout has started 1,332 times in center field. During his first two years in the major leagues, he started 90 games at one of the outfield positions. He has not started at left or right since 2012.

Trout has also started 80 games as DH, never more than 12 in a season.

He could certainly alleviate some of the strain on his body by moving to a corner, but switching to DH would obviously be the best way to preserve his body.

When asked about a move to the left or right, Trout acknowledged that it would happen sometime before the end of his 12-year, $426 million contract in 2030.