Could Mike Trout move from center field? Joe Maddon says Angels have talked about it

TEMPE. Ariz. — The concept didn’t simply come out of left subject. The Angels know they’ll have to maneuver star middle fielder Mike Trout to a nook spot sooner or later. A proper calf pressure that sidelined the three-time American League most useful participant for many of 2021 could push that transition as much as this season.

“To play middle subject day-after-day within the massive leagues coming off a extreme damage, that’s not gonna be simple,” Angels supervisor Joe Maddon stated Sunday prematurely of Monday’s first spring coaching exercise.

“Then once more, taking part in left subject in our park is just not simple. It will get massive. No conclusions have been made, however I’d be disingenuous if I didn’t let you know that this hasn’t been a part of the dialog, as a result of it has.”

Trout, 30, is scheduled to deal with the media Monday. The Angels want to get the 6-foot-2, 235-pounder off his ft with extra begins at designated hitter, however that’s hardly ever an choice with two-way star Shohei Ohtani, the 2021 AL MVP, holding down the DH spot.

One option to ease the wear and tear and tear on Trout can be to maneuver him to left and begin 24-year-old Brandon Marsh, a more-than-capable defender who struggled on the plate final season, in middle, with Jo Adell or Justin Upton taking part in proper.

Trout, within the fourth 12 months of a 12-year, $426.5-million contract, was on the opposite finish of such a transfer in 2012 when, as a 20-year-old rookie, he bumped nine-time Gold Glove-winning middle fielder Torii Hunter, then 36, to proper.

As of Sunday, Maddon hadn’t spoken to Trout in regards to the potential transfer, considered one of many points to be sorted out throughout a lockout-shortened, 24-day camp. Among the many others: