Mike Trout Faces Challenges Ahead of World Baseball Classic
Mike Trout is set to receive over $35 million this year from the Los Angeles Angels, but his history of injuries makes this situation quite complicated as the World Baseball Classic approaches.
The three-time MVP, often affectionately called “Captain America” due to his notable performance in the last tournament, expressed his frustration to reporters on Monday after discovering he couldn’t secure insurance for his tournament contract.
“Insurance was really the main issue I was trying to navigate,” Trout shared, indicating his desire to participate in the event, adding, “It’s disappointing. We all wanted to get back together.”
According to reports, players are not automatically at risk of losing their contracts if they get hurt during these tournaments. Instead, teams are responsible for paying for insurance through National Financial Partners, which the World Baseball Classic organization uses for all participating players.
Trout’s base salary is set at $35.45 million for 2026, alongside an additional $1.67 million from a signing bonus that was part of his staggering $426.5 million contract. In similar scenarios, such as with Edwin Diaz of the New York Mets, the team received a full refund of his $18.64 million salary after he suffered an injury during a celebration.
One of the most memorable moments in tournament history involves Trout facing former teammate Shohei Ohtani in a nail-biting championship game, where Ohtani struck him out, securing Japan’s victory.
However, Trout’s ability to stay on the field has been a concern, as he has only participated in 130 games since 2021. He finally managed to reach that number last season, which was a first for him since 2019 when he only played 60 games. Last year, Trout transitioned to right field due to injuries but aims to return to center this season.
Remarkably, he hasn’t played more than 140 games since 2016 and has faced serious struggles at the plate, recording a .232 average and a .797 OPS—his lowest since his brief call-up back in 2011.
Trout, who signed a 12-year deal before the 2019 season, is contracted through 2030. Although this agreement was groundbreaking at the time, it has since been eclipsed by contracts for players like Ohtani, Juan Soto, and Vladimir Guerrero Jr.
