The Los Angeles Angels are off to a rough start in 2025, and it’s looking like another long season ahead. They opened the year with a brutal 8-1 loss to the Chicago White Sox — the same White Sox team that was the worst in MLB last season. If that’s any indication of how things are going to go for the Angels this year, it’s hard to be optimistic.
The struggles in Anaheim aren’t just about the present. They’re tied directly to the future of Mike Trout, one of the most accomplished players of his generation. But at 33 years old, turning 34 in August, Trout’s future in baseball is looking more uncertain than ever.
Trout’s resume is stacked. With 1,648 hits, 378 home runs, and a slash line of .299/.410/.581 over 5,511 at-bats, he’s already cemented his place in MLB history. But those numbers have been overshadowed by injuries over the last few years. Since the start of the 2021 season, Trout has only managed to play in 266 out of a possible 648 games. The toll of those injuries is undeniable, and for a player of Trout’s caliber, it’s a tough reality to face.
Despite his loyalty to the Angels, Trout’s declining health and the team’s consistent lack of success are putting him in a difficult spot. He’s spent his entire career in Anaheim, and the Angels have only made one playoff appearance during his tenure. It’s clear that the team is still far from being a true contender, and the frustration is only building.
Trout isn’t likely to demand a trade. That’s just not his style. If anything, his preference seems to be to finish his career where it all started, even if that means enduring more losing seasons. But at this point, retirement is something that has to be on his mind. The injuries aren’t going away, and if the Angels continue to struggle, it’s fair to wonder how much longer Trout will choose to keep playing.
For now, the Angels and Trout are stuck in the same familiar pattern: flashes of brilliance, marred by injuries and team-wide underperformance. Unless something changes drastically, 2025 could end up being the final chapter of Trout’s legendary, yet frustratingly unfulfilled, career.
