This piece dives into the Los Angeles Angels’ evolving outfield puzzle. At the center of it all: the future defensive role of franchise icon Mike Trout.
After a season marked by injury, positional shuffling, and a crowded group of corner outfielders, the Angels face a question. Can Trout return to center field while balancing health, roster construction, and a thin external market for true center fielders?
Mike Trout’s Positional Shift and Injury-Riddled Season
Last offseason, the Angels tried a proactive move. They slid Mike Trout from center field to right field, hoping to keep their superstar healthier and fresher over the long haul.
On paper, it looked like a classic longevity play for a player with a Hall of Fame résumé. Trout’s injury history had been growing, and the team wanted to protect him.
But reality didn’t cooperate. Trout suffered a knee bone bruise that kept him out for most of May.
His season never really stabilized after that. He spent most of the year as a designated hitter, played no innings in center, and made just 22 starts in right field early on.
From everyday center fielder to DH-first star
By season’s end, Trout’s defensive role had basically vanished. The Angels leaned on his bat and protected his lower body, but that forced other players into awkward defensive spots.
The outfield alignment felt disjointed all year. The team just couldn’t find a rhythm with so many moving pieces.
GM Perry Minasian Opens the Door to Trout in Center
Now, with a new offseason underway, general manager Perry Minasian is hinting that things could change again. He isn’t ready to lock Trout into right field or DH.
The Angels are considering Trout for a mix of roles next season, including:
A more versatile Trout if the medicals cooperate
Health is the big variable here. If Trout’s knee and durability hold up, the Angels look ready to put him back in the middle of the diamond at times.
The roster logjam in the corners has eased. That opens up more possibilities for Trout in center.
How the Taylor Ward Trade Reshaped the Outfield Picture
The trade that sent Taylor Ward out and brought in Grayson Rodriguez changed things. It didn’t just help the pitching staff—it also thinned out the outfield and opened up innings.
Last season, the club tried to juggle multiple corner bats. The domino effect showed up most painfully in right field, where Jorge Soler ended up playing regularly.
Jorge Soler out of position and Jo Adell on the move
Soler, best suited as a full-time DH, had to play significant innings in right field after Trout’s injury. The defense suffered, and it was obvious both by the numbers and to anyone watching.
Jo Adell got an extended look in center, but his defense there didn’t quite work. Late in the season, the Angels moved Adell to right, hoping to minimize the issues while still using his athleticism and bat.
Internal Candidates to Patrol Center Field
Despite all the questions around Trout’s workload, Minasian has made it clear he doesn’t see acquiring a center fielder from outside as necessary. He actually trusts several internal options.
Some of those in-house candidates:
Nelson Rada: defense, speed, and long-term upside
Nelson Rada draws the most intrigue. He already stands out as a strong defender and a legitimate base-stealing threat.
That kind of profile can change the geometry of an outfield and mess with a pitcher’s head. If his development stays on track, Rada offers a real homegrown solution in center, though the team will have to manage his workload carefully.
A Thin External Market at Center Field
Minasian’s faith in internal options makes more sense when you look at the market: the external market for center fielders is extremely limited. Teams searching for a true up-the-middle defender this winter don’t have much to pick from.
The top free agent is Harrison Bader, a glove-first center fielder with range and instincts but a spotty offensive record and his own durability issues. Trade-wise, prying Luis Robert Jr. away would be a dream, but it’s a long-shot at best considering cost and the White Sox’s leverage.
Pitching and Bullpen: The Bigger Priorities
While the Trout-in-center question grabs headlines, the Angels’ more urgent needs are on the mound. Minasian has said the club is still very active in the market for both starting pitching and bullpen depth.
The bullpen, especially, remains unsettled. The Angels haven’t named a closer, and late-inning roles are still up in the air.
Until the pitching comes together, the outfield alignment—Trout in center or not—is just one piece of a much bigger puzzle.
Balancing Trout’s usage with a complete roster build
Trout’s defensive home in 2025 will probably come down to two things: his health and whether the Angels finally patch up their pitching. If the rotation and bullpen settle down, the team can get a little creative with Trout in center and lean on internal options elsewhere.
But if pitching stays shaky, they’ll need his bat in the lineup every day, even if that means he spends more time at DH and less in the outfield.
Here is the source article for this story: Angels Open To Playing Mike Trout In Center Field
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