t$426.5 million—that’s the contract the Los Angeles Angels have signed with Mike Trout—and he isn’t even on the field. Last month, Trout suffered a season-ending injury – a tear to his meniscus. The worst part—this wasn’t even the first time. The 33-year-old didn’t even play 30 games this season for the Halos and given that he is their star player, this is a major blow. But, the harsh truth is Mike Trout hasn’t finished an entire season since 2019. And even this time, the saga continues.

What makes the situation even dire is the fact another ace that the team depended on Anthony Rendon, suffered an injury to his left oblique muscle. Rendon is on the IL for 10 days and given the timing of this all, this isn’t a good look for a team who is already struggling. The Halos are relying on youth like Zach Neto and Nolan Schanuel to carry them forward. And while that’s commendable, it does raise eyebrows for some. MLB analysts Mike and Jon Frisch discussed what the future looks like for the Angeles. And brace up, it’s bumpy!

Things need to stir for the Los Angeles Angels!

Just like any recipe calls for the perfect combination of ingredients—so does baseball. We need a healthy mix of veterans and the young players. However, Angels are missing out on just that–veterans. Mike Trout played his last game of the season on April 29 and chose surgery to get over his pain. His recovery has been challenging, and just a rehab game later he was sent back for treatment. Highlighting this, the Frisch brothers said on ‘Locked on Angels Podcast,’ “Mike Trout can’t complete a full year because he’s always been hurt. These young guys, you can see the burnout when they play out there. I feel like, as hopeful as you want to be for 2025, this team is going to be infused with a lot of new talent doing this for the first time. That’s a lot of what the situation was this year in 2024.”

The Frisch brothers, although, did complement the many young talents of the team. But they did warn that the road ahead isn’t so smooth as young talent is only what Halos go for. “As much progress as we’ve seen from the young guys, you have to consider, that next year, if we infuse this team with your Danas, your Aldegheris, and your Kochanowicz, it’s also their first full season, even Christian Moore. It’s also going to be a lot of the team’s first full year,’ said the brother duo.

Let’s be real: not every young talent is a Rookie of the Year candidate, and surely not all can manage the immense pressure of a sport like baseball. Burnout and that leading to inconsistency is widely what’s the most common. And given that the Angels are sitting at the bottom of the charts, it is a testament. The team hasn’t had a winning season since 2015 and even with the promise of farm talent, things aren’t looking up. It’s clear—something has to change. 

Anthony Rendon facing setbacks like Mike Trout

Every Los Angeles Angels fan had their hopes up on Anthony Rendon, more so when Mike Trout was sidelined. But now, their hope is on the sidelines too; much like Mike Trout, Rendon, too, has faced a series of setbacks, from the hip, wrist, and shin to hamstring injuries. The current back injury, thankfully, seems to be a minor one and it will only keep him for a short while in the IL. Now, when he returns to the game, it will be the 58th game of the season for Rendon. It’s a tough stat for a player of his caliber. 

Rendon, currently in the fifth year of his seventh year $245 million contract, is looking for the answers to his constant injuries. He has tried everything from blood tests to dietary changes and nothing seems to work. “No idea,” says Rendon. In fact, recently, he even came out to ask for some recommendations to get better, saying, “If you have any recommendations, I’ll take them. I feel like I’ve exhausted every blood test, DNA test, food, nutrition, allergies, and anti-inflammatory stuff. And I have no idea. Everything that’s not a banned substance.”

Moreover, Rendon is 34 and understands that he is not getting any younger and might not ever get back into the form he was at the Washington Nations. He said, “I’m not getting any younger,” but he is determined to fight with all his might! Well, at least Rendon has the determination to push forward, no matter the circumstances. His performance needs the push because he had no home runs in 238 plate appearances this season.

Do you think Rendon can make a strong comeback? Let us know in the comments.