Angels' prediction has Mike Trout 'back' to near-vintage levels, reach 90 WAR goal

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Angels' prediction has Mike Trout 'back' to near-vintage levels, reach 90 WAR goal originally appeared on The Sporting News. Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.

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The Los Angeles Angels have seen some legendary players come through their organization in recent years. Albert Pujols spent some time in L.A., as did Shohei Ohtani. Both are no longer with the team.

That isn't the case with their third legend, Mike Trout, who is still trying to return to his vintage form from the mid 2010's. While it's a stretch to believe the now 34-year-old Trout can have such a year, there is some optimism for 2026.

Eno Sarris of The Athletic is predicting that Trout will be "back" this upcoming season, finally reaching 90 WAR in his career as he puts up his first four-win season since 2022.

Angels' bold prediction is that Mike Trout is 'back'

"Mike Trout is back," Sarris predicts. "Well, not back back. The future Hall of Famer isn't going to go back all the way to the vintage 10-win production of his early career. But there are indications Trout is back."

Trout might not be able to put up the ridiculous seasons he had for the Angels from 2012 through 2019, when he had a total of 71.7 bWAR in these eight years. But Sarris does believe he has what it takes to reach the 90.0 bWAR threshold for his career in 2026.

"But if he can stay on the field, his legs may be under him for the first time in a while," Sarris writes. "And that could push him to his first four-win season since 2022."

Trout last posted a 4.0 bWAR or better season in 2022, when he had 6.1 bWAR in 119 games. The two years before that season, he had 1.8 bWAR in a shortened season, and then 1.9 bWAR the following year in 2021.

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In 2023, at 31 years old, Trout had 2.9 bWAR in just 82 games. Had it not been for an injury, he would've had 4.0 bWAR easily. Last year, he put up 1.1 bWAR in only 29 games, another year where he could've eclipsed 4.0 bWAR had he been healthy.

But his 2025 season, 1.5 bWAR in 130 games as a primary designated hitter, was some cause for concern. He had a .797 OPS, the first time since his rookie season that his offensive production was below an .800 OPS.

If he can return to his prior offensive production, stay healthy, and play for most of the season, then Sarris's prediction that Trout is "back" could very well come true.

He currently sits at 87.5 bWAR in his 15-year MLB career. A 4.0 bWAR season would be more than enough to have Trout reach 90.0 bWAR in his MLB career, which would be another accolade to put on his eventual Hall of Fame resume.

Even if it's not his vintage self from 2012-2019, Trout getting back to All-Star levels for a full season again would be great not just for Trout and the Angels but for the baseball world in general.

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