Mike Trout was the 25th overall pick of the Los Angeles Angels in the 2009 MLB draft. Since then, Trout has added numerous records to his résumé, but that can’t be said for his team. The Angels, on the other hand, have had quite a number of bad postseasons, and Trout has been struggling in recent times, leading to speculation that he could be looking for another team.

According to Jackson Holliday, Mike Trout should be with the Phillies. The Baltimore Orioles player, who made his debut last year, highlighted Trout’s inclination towards the Phillies. Jackson Holliday was golfing – spotted in a YouTube video with golf content creators, Mason “Busta” Nutt and Cole “MadJack” Lantz,  Holliday commented on  Mike Trout and the Philadelphia Phillies. He seems to be bothered by the fact that Trout is not with the Phillies.

“I think the Phillies would do anything to get him,” Holliday said, sounding almost certain and continuing, “I think they would give away their whole farm system ‘cause he’s from Philly, you know. I don’t know why he wouldn’t be open to that.” For the Orioles rookie, the logic seems simple: if a team like the Phillies can give you the best chance to win, why wouldn’t you make the jump? But despite all this chatter, Mike Trout has been loyal to the Angels.

Trout has not had a bow season in nearly 10 years, which is why many are questioning – Will he be better off in another team, especially the Phillies? Another reason is that he has not been at his best, suffering from injuries. Mike Trout missed major games in the 2024 season because of his torn meniscus injury and underwent surgery. It was anticipated that he would return shortly in summer, but the centerfielder tore his meniscus again. The second time proved to be worse and ended Trout’s season. Recently, the LA Angels GM gave an update on Trout’s injury, noting that he is becoming ready for spring training. 

The 2024 season marked yet another setback for Mike Trout

It has become an unfortunate pattern of injuries for the Angels’ superstar. For the fourth straight year, Mike Trout battled health issues, with his calf, back, and hand all taking their toll. The result? He played in fewer games than ever before in his career, appearing in the fewest contests in a season since his MLB debut, and missed the All-Star Game for the first time since 2011.

Trout’s injury problems have raised questions about how the Angels can better manage his health moving forward. With just one season since 2019 in which he played over 100 games, the team is exploring ways to reduce his injury risk. One idea is moving Mike Trout to a corner outfield spot or even to the designated hitter (DH) role. That’s where the physical demands of the game would be less on his body.

This strategy isn’t new though; under manager Joe Maddon in 2022, the Angels considered shifting Trout out of center field, but the outfielder wasn’t ready to make that change.  “I think everything’s on the table,” Trout said in September, noting, “Ultimately, my goal is to be in that batter’s box, in the field every single day.” That’s the spirit we know and love about Mike Trout. While Trout is still recovering from his latest injuries, he’s already taken steps toward getting back to full strength for the 2025 season. In September, he began swinging again, ramping up his preparations for a return.