New Mike Trout Trade Rumors on Angels Owner's 'Unwillingness to Move His Franchise Player'

Despite sitting at the bottom of the MLB standings with one of the worst farm systems in the sport, the Los Angeles Angels don't appear likely to move Mike Trout prior to the trade deadline.

Per ESPN's Jeff Passan, there have been "no indication owner Arte Moreno has relented on his unwillingness to move his franchise player" this summer.

This echoes the way Moreno operated in 2023 when the Angels were trying to figure out what to do prior to the trade deadline as Shohei Ohtani was set to become a free agent at the end of the year.

Even though the Angels did make Ohtani available, there was never any indication a deal got close. ESPN's Buster Olney reported hat Moreno "reacted angrily" in July 2022 when the front office presented him with the idea of trading Ohtani.

That was one full year before Ohtani was going to become a free agent, but it started a trend that continued through the 2023 season.

Prior to the San Diego Padres acquiring Juan Soto from the Washington Nationals in August 2022, they were reportedly prepared to offer the Angels a bigger package for Ohtani than the one that got the deal done with Washington for Soto.

At least in 2023, the Angels were a respectable 56-51 and only four games out of a playoff spot prior to the trade deadline when they decided to keep Ohtani.

Now, the Angels are tied with the Colorado Rockies for the worst record in MLB (24-39) and have the third-worst farm system in the league.

Trout is not the same level of player now that Ohtani was in 2023, nor would it be as easy to trade him because his contract still has four years and $148.5 million on it after this season.

Despite the Angels' struggles in 2026, Trout has been able to stay healthy and is having his best season in years. He is hitting .240/.411/.479 with 14 homers in 62 games.

Trout could be a potential difference-making bat in the middle of a lineup for a playoff contender, but instead it seems like he will remain with the Angels barring a surprise change in approach from Moreno before the Aug. 3 trade deadline.