TEMPE, Ariz. — For years, when Mike Trout would hold his traditional press conference at the start of spring training, the discussion was whether the Angels could win enough to convince him to stay for the long term.
Now, the topic has shifted to Shohei Ohtani.
From Trout’s perspective, he is hoping as much as all Angels fans that the Angels will be able to keep the two-way star, who is set to be a free agent at the end of the season.
“I’m going to do whatever I can to keep Shohei here,” Trout said on Wednesday, before the Angels’ first official workout of the spring. “We’re going to have to go out there and play. We’re going to go out there and try to win. I really haven’t talked to Shohei about his future, but it seems like he’s having a good time so far in spring.”
Trout was two years away from the end of his contract in March 2019, when he signed a 12-year, $426 million deal to stay with the Angels. Ohtani is already closer to free agency than Trout has ever been, which is why there is so much speculation that Ohtani will be gone next season. Ohtani’s next deal – regardless of the team – is expected to exceed Trout’s in total value.
“I think the biggest thing is he’s got to do what’s right for him,” Trout said. “And what he feels is right. That’s all up to him. If he feels that staying in Anaheim is the right move, he should do that. If he thinks otherwise, I’m going to do as much as I can to try to convince him to stay. He’s got to really sit down and think about it. It’s a big decision. It’s the biggest decision of his life.”
Ohtani is scheduled to speak to reporters on Thursday morning, which will be the first time since the end of last season that he’s addressed the English-speaking media.
Throughout his past interviews, he’s said little about his future plans beyond the fact that he is frustrated that the Angels haven’t been able to win during his five years.
Trout can identify with…
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