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The Los Angeles Angels will pay Mike Trout more than $35 million this year, but that, combined with his injury history, has proven to be a major obstacle to the World Baseball Classic.
The three-time MVP, who was nicknamed “Captain America” for his stellar performance at the event three years ago, told reporters Monday that he was unable to secure his contract for the tournament.
Trout said he wanted to play again, but “insurance was the biggest obstacle I was trying to overcome.”
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Mike Trout of the United States leads his teammates while carrying the American flag before the game against Japan at LoanDepot Park on March 21, 2023 in Miami, Florida. (Jasen Vinlove/Miami Marlins/Getty Images)
“It’s disappointing, I wanted to do it again with all the guys,” Trout said.
According to Yahoo Sports, a player does not necessarily lose his contract if he is injured in the event. Rather, the team would be owed insurance coverage through National Financial Partners, which the WBC organization uses to purchase insurance policies for the contracts of all players on the 40-man roster competing in the event.
Trout has a base salary of $35.45 million for 2026 and is earning an additional $1.67 million of the $20 million signing bonus he agreed to as part of his $426.5 million contract.
For example, the New York Mets received a full refund of Edwin Diaz’s $18.64 million 2023 salary after he ruptured his patella tendon while celebrating a victory.
Trout was part of perhaps the greatest moment in tournament history, when he and former Angels teammate Shohei Ohtani of Team Japan faced off with two outs in the top of the ninth inning of a 3-2 championship game. Ohtani struck out Trout in a long at-bat to give Japan the title.
However, Trout has had great difficulty staying on the field in recent years.
Manager Phil Nevin talks with Mike Trout of the Los Angeles Angels during his at-bat during the eighth inning of a game against the San Diego Padres at PETCO Park on July 3, 2023, in San Diego, California. Trout subsequently left the game. (Sean M. Haffey/Getty Images)
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Since 2021, Trout has not played more than 130 games, a figure he reached last season for the first time since 2019 (the 2020 season was just 60 games). His injuries took him to right field last year, but this season his goal is to return to center.
Trout has not played in more than 140 games since 2016. He played in 36, 82 and 29 games in 2021, 2023 and 2024, respectively.
Finally able to stay healthy, Trout didn’t look like his usual self, batting .232 with a .797 OPS, the lowest mark of his career since his brief call-up in 2011, when he didn’t even qualify as a rookie.
Team USA’s Mike Trout reacts after hitting a three-run home run in the first inning during Game 6 of Pool C between Team Canada and Team USA at Chase Field on Monday, March 13, 2023 in Phoenix, Arizona. (Daniel Shirey/WBCI/MLB Photos via Getty Images)
Trout was signed through the 2030 season after signing the 12-year pact before the 2019 season. At the time, it was the richest contract in the history of the sport, but it has since been surpassed by Ohtani, Juan Soto and Vladimir Guerrero Jr.
