LA Angels: Five Biggest Storylines to Watch for the 2019 Season

Mike Trout

Finally, as always, the best storyline for the Angels for the ninth consecutive year, Michael Nelson Trout. But this year, things will be different.

We all know now Trout is the highest paid athlete in the history of American sports thanks to his $426.5 million deal signed last week.

For the first time ever, Angels fans get to watch a year of Mike Trout both a.) in his prime and b.) without worrying about the best player in the MLB leaving in free agency.

And while we’ll certainly enjoy watching that as Bryce Harper hits .238 through the first three months of the season, perhaps the person who will enjoy it most will be Mike Trout.

Trout made it clear over the past week that he always wanted to be in Anaheim. He wanted this deal done so that he could just focus on playing baseball, and we love him for it. So now, without the pressure of a new deal and the constant rumors, is Mike Trout about to put up his best season yet?

Short answer, all signs lead to yes. Last season, in 140 games, he had 10.2 WAR. His career high is 10.5 in 159 games. Basically, the only thing holding Trout back from putting up a career-high is staying healthy, and the past two years included a freak injury, and spending time with his family following the death of his brother-in-law Aaron Cox.

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The real question, and what I’ll be watching for this year, is whether or not Mike Trout has the best season of all-time. Babe Ruth currently holds the record of 14.1, and Trout was on pace to beat that mark well into 2018. However, the injury and playing exceptionally instead of at an elite level around then derailed his chances.

It may seem like Mike Trout being a storyline could get boring, but watching Trout never gets boring. And for the next 12 seasons, Mike Trout will be one of the top storylines for the LA Angels and their fans.