A position change is the best option for Angels outfielder Mike Trout

2024 has been another lost year for Los Angeles Angels outfielder Mike Trout.

Trout missed significant time again this season, appearing in just 29 games due to surgery for a torn meniscus in his left knee. He tore the meniscus again during his rehab assignment in Triple-A, requiring another surgery that forced Trout to miss the rest of the season.

Angels beat writer Jeff Fletcher reported on Monday that Trout has been hitting for several days and is looking forward to a normal offseason. Fletcher also noted that Trout is willing to move to a corner outfield spot or become a full-time designated hitter for the Angels, saying that he will "definitely try to explore every option to keep me out there."

Injuries have been a problem for Trout as he has missed significant time in each of the last four years. He has appeared in just 266 games in that time frame, playing in more than 85 games once. Trout has impressed when he has appeared on the diamond in that span, posting a .276/.376/.575 batting line in his 1,133 plate appearances, hitting 76 homers and 51 doubles.

A move from center may have been inevitable for Trout anyway. Angels fourth-ranked prospect Nelson Rada spent the season at Double-A despite being 18 years old. MLB.com projects Rada to make his major league debut in 2026, something that is entirely possible given how quickly the Angels move prospects through their system.

Making Trout the full-time designated hitter, or moving him to a corner outfield spot, should alleviate some of the wear and tear he has undergone. His history of lower-body injuries necessitated such a move regardless of Rada's ascension. Shifting Trout away from center would be the best option for both him and the Angels moving forward.