Mike Trout to Miss Remainder of 2024 Season Due to Knee Injury
Los Angeles Angels General Manager Perry Minasian has announced a significant setback for the franchise: star outfielder Mike Trout will miss the rest of the 2024 season due to a torn left meniscus. This injury effectively shelves one of baseball's brightest talents for yet another year, adding to the list of ailments that have plagued Trout in recent seasons.
Trout hasn’t taken to the field since April 29, the day he initially tore his meniscus. By then, he had already demonstrated his prowess, smashing 10 home runs in just 29 games. Unfortunately, this year's performance will be a mere highlight in an otherwise curtailed season.
The injury woes of Trout have been a recurring theme, limiting the outfielder to only 266 of 648 possible games over the past four seasons – a troubling 41% participation rate. After the All-Star breaks from 2021 to 2024, Trout suited up for just 41 games in total. These statistics paint a grim picture of an athlete whose on-field brilliance has been overshadowed by his inability to stay healthy.
As Trout approaches his 33rd birthday next week, questions concerning his durability intensify. Despite his advancing age, he remains a cornerstone of the Angels’ lineup, but time is undoubtedly working against him.
In March 2019, Trout signed an enormous 12-year, $426.5 million extension with the Angels. The sixth year of this contract has introduced both financial and strategic challenges for the team. Trout is under contract through 2030, with the Angels owing him $35.45 million annually from 2025 to 2030. This adds up to a hefty $212.7 million commitment over the remaining years of the deal.
The presence of Trout and dynamic two-way player Shohei Ohtani should theoretically elevate any team into contention. However, the Angels have not posted a winning record or made a postseason appearance over the past six seasons with these megastars on their roster. The last and only postseason appearance of Trout's illustrious career was in 2014, culminating in a series sweep by the Kansas City Royals in the Division Series.
One of the critical impediments to the Angels' success has been their fraught financial management. Team owner Arte Moreno has restricted the franchise’s ability to exceed the competitive balance tax threshold, making it challenging to build a winning roster around Trout and Ohtani. Last August, the team shed payroll specifically to avoid this tax, revealing the internal financial pressures facing the organization.
Additionally, the Angels’ struggles extend beyond financial constraints. Poor player development, questionable free agent signings, and a series of unsuccessful trades have left the team mired in mediocrity. These persistent issues have contributed to the perception that the Angels are one of the most mismanaged franchises in baseball.
Trout’s frequent injuries and the massive financial obligations attached to his contract pose significant hurdles for the franchise moving forward. Though he had an MVP-winning season in 2019 and secured a top-five MVP finish in 2020, sustaining that level of performance has become increasingly difficult.
As the Angels face another season without their star outfielder, the franchise must confront the harsh reality of its situation. The substantial investment in Trout, coupled with his recurrent injuries and the team's broader strategic failings, places the Angels in a precarious position. The years of mismanagement have cost the team valuable opportunities, leaving fans and analysts alike questioning whether brighter days lie ahead for the storied Los Angeles franchise.