The star centerfielder is still uncertain about his wrist.
Angels MVP Mike Trout remains optimistic, albeit uncertain about progress on a return from his current wrist ailment.
In a tweet from Jeff Fletcher of the OC Register, Trout mentioned that he has taken steps to get back on the field, but doesn’t know exactly when he’d see game action again.
Trout broke his hamate bone in his wrist on July 4th and has been out since that game against the Padres in San Diego. The team would surely welcome his return sooner rather than later, especially with outfielder Taylor Ward likely out for the regular season.
Trout was in the middle of another All-Star season, hitting .268 with 18 homers and an OPS+ of 132 before suffering his injury earlier last month.
Despite Trout hitting the shelf and the uncertainty considering Shohei Ohtani’s imminent free agency in the winter, the Angels have refused to sell at the deadline. With many recent acquisitions, the team has surpassed the luxury tax for the first time in Arte Moreno’s tenure as owner.
These acquisitions include pitching from the White Sox in starter Lucas Giolito and reliever Reynaldo Lopez. Giolito made his first start for the Halos in Toronto (and struggled in his second against Atlanta), but the move to get him became more important to maintain decent starting depth with Griffin Canning’s recent injury.
LA also acquired another bullpen arm from the Mets in Dominic Leone as the team from the Big Apple had a massive sellers day. Despite a large payroll, Leone was among the names to depart Queens for other franchises on deadline day.
On the offensive side of the diamond, Colorado traded first base power bat CJ Cron and outfielder Randal Grichuk to the Angels after trading infielder Mike Moustakas to Anaheim earlier in the season.
Trout’s return remains key to any real postseason push for the Angels this year despite these moves. If the rest of the roster can maintain a winning pace, the rally monkeys may be broken out again in Anaheim for the first time since 2014.
