Angels: Mike Trout injury could be more serious than anticipated

Mike Trout’s return to the Los Angeles Angels lineup will be delayed after latest injury update.

Do not expect Mike Trout to be returning to the Los Angeles Angels lineup when he is eligible to come off the injured list on Monday.

Trout has not played for the Halos since July 12 due to a back issue. Jeff Fletcher of the Orange County Register reported on Saturday evening that “Mike Trout had a cortisone shot in his back a few days ago. He will not be ready when he’s eligible on Monday. It’s TBD after that, per head athletic trainer Mike Frostad.”

Trout may have been an All-Star for the 10th time in his career, but he might be breaking down.

All the while, the Angels are 39-55 on the year with next to no chance of making the postseason.

Los Angeles Angels: Latest Mike Trout injury update is bad news for the Halos

While Trout was playing up to his lofty standard before his back flared up, Angels fans have to wonder if they have already seen the best out of their franchise cornerstone. 2020 COVID-shortened season aside, it still does not change the fact that Trout has not played in 100 games since 2019. Though he is 21 games away from the century mark for 2022, he has to play in them.

Trout turns 31 years old in a few weeks. While he is almost certainly a lock for the Baseball Hall of Fame at this point in his career, he may not be the same player he once was now that he is firmly in his 30s. Trout is under contract through the 2030 MLB season, meaning the Angels are on the hook to pay him through his age-38 campaign. The Angels have a bad habit of awful contracts.

Although Trout’s time on the IL may only be for just a little while longer, an aching back is never good news for an athlete. It is one of those injuries that usually lingers and never really goes away. In the meantime, the Angels are in a brutal spot. They are not a playoff-caliber team. While they could be sellers at the trade deadline, they do not have much to offer besides … Shohei Ohtani…

Trout should be able to return to the Angels lineup at some point, but it may be too little, too late.