3. Angels trying to build something around Mike Trout
In Trout, the Los Angeles Angels have more than just the game’s best player. They have someone who’s doing things at an essentially unprecedented level.
If Mike Trout adds just 1 WAR this year, he'll already be among the 30 most-productive center fielders of all time. https://t.co/kvQM2QTKRP
— FanGraphs Baseball (@fangraphs) January 10, 2017
So, what’s the Halos’ problem? Basically, everything else.
Sure, they have some other solid pieces on offense like Kole Calhoun, Albert Pujols and Andrelton Simmons. But the pitching is a mess. Ricky Nolasco is the Angels’ Opening Day starter. No, that’s not a typo. Yes, we wish it was. At this point of his career, Nolasco is at best a No. 4 or No. 5 starter.
Making matters worse, Los Angeles has one of the game’s worst regarded farm systems.
Something has to change. The Angels’ players (especially the young ones) need to step up and show that they may have been overlooked. The Halos need to have a reason to think that a winning team can be built around Trout. Otherwise, he’s being wasted and really, should be traded at season’s end.
While Trout has only made one playoff appearance, Los Angeles has only suffered through one losing season in his career. So, it was relatively easy for the front office to get tricked and think things are headed in the right direction.
But 2016’s 74-88 season was disastrous. If another season goes in the can, the Angels may not have much of a choice but to trade Trout for (hopefully) a king’s ransom.