Can Mike Trout Make the Los Angeles Angels Contenders Again?

For over a decade, Mike Trout has been the face of the Los Angeles Angels, a generational talent whose combination of power, speed, defense, and consistency has made him one of the greatest players in baseball history. Yet for all his individual accolades—three MVPs, multiple Silver Sluggers, and perennial All-Star appearances—the Angels have rarely been relevant in October. As the 2025 season unfolds, the familiar question resurfaces: Can Mike Trout, even at 33 years old and with a growing injury history, still make the Los Angeles Angels contenders?

The challenge for Trout has never been personal performance. Since his debut in 2011, he has done everything asked of a franchise cornerstone and more. Year after year, his stats speak for themselves: elite on-base percentage, home run totals, and WAR figures that rival all-time greats. But baseball is not a solo sport. The Angels, despite having Trout and even pairing him with Shohei Ohtani for several seasons, have failed to surround their stars with the depth, pitching, and organizational stability needed to compete in a loaded American League.

In 2025, Trout faces perhaps the most uncertain chapter of his career. Injuries have limited his playing time significantly in recent seasons, including a torn meniscus and recurring back issues. The power remains when he’s on the field, but questions about his durability and long-term role have started to loom. For the Angels, his presence still commands respect in any lineup, but the question isn’t just whether Trout can play at an All-Star level—it’s whether the roster around him can carry its weight.

The departure of Ohtani to the Dodgers dealt a symbolic blow as much as a competitive one, underscoring the Angels’ continued inability to turn star power into postseason success. While the farm system has shown some signs of life and young players like Nolan Schanuel and Zach Neto offer hope, the Angels’ pitching remains a major weakness. Without a reliable rotation or bullpen, Trout’s offensive brilliance will once again be muted by the team’s inability to prevent runs.

Front office decisions have also contributed to the Angels’ struggles. Years of questionable free-agent signings, underwhelming trade deadlines, and inconsistent managerial direction have kept the club mired in mediocrity. Even with one of the largest markets in baseball and a Hall-of-Fame-level player on their roster, the Angels have not made the postseason since 2014 and have only had one winning season in that span. It’s hard to blame Trout for the franchise’s failure to capitalize on his prime years, but as he moves into the latter stage of his career, the window for a meaningful postseason run narrows.

Still, there’s a reason the question persists. Because if Trout is healthy, he can still be a difference-maker. He can still carry an offense for stretches, turn games with one swing, and elevate teammates with his professionalism and presence. He remains a leader in the clubhouse and a player who draws respect from opponents and fans alike. If the Angels can finally field a competent pitching staff and stay healthy themselves, Trout’s impact could help push them into the playoff picture, especially with the expanded wild-card format.

But that’s a big “if.” The truth is, Trout alone can’t make the Angels contenders. No player can—not even one of the best to ever wear a uniform. The organization must do its part. Building a contender takes a 26-man roster, a vision, and a front office that knows how to construct a sustainable team. Trout deserves that support, and Angels fans have waited long enough to see their superstar shine in meaningful October baseball.

So can Mike Trout make the Los Angeles Angels contenders again? The answer is complicated. He can still be a centerpiece, a catalyst, and a legend. But the Angels can’t just ride his coattails anymore. If they want to contend, it has to be a collective effort—and time is running out.