Trout faces setback, pauses rehab?

ANAHEIM --- Shortly after the 2024 Trade Deadline ended, Angels general manager Perry Minasian addressed the media about the club’s approach.

While the attention primarily focused on the club trading Luis García to the Red Sox on Tuesday -- and last Saturday’s Carlos Estévez trade for a pair of top pitching prospects -- Minasian also shared that Mike Trout had a setback in his recovery and will pause his rehab process.

“Mike had a little bit of a setback. We’re going to shut down his rehab in general,” Minasian said. “He’s going to get re-evaluated today. He still doesn’t feel good. We’ll see where that goes.”

Trout has only played in 29 games this season after he was placed on the injured list on April 29 with a left meniscus tear. After undergoing surgery on his left knee, Trout spent the next few months rehabbing. On July 24, he began a rehab assignment with Triple-A Salt Lake, but it was cut short due to left knee soreness.

It’s been a trying handful of years for Trout, who has missed significant time due to injury. Last season, he missed 80 games due to a fractured left hamate. In 2021, Trout only appeared in 36 games due to a right calf strain. With Trout’s latest setback this year, it’s possible that he again finishes with fewer than 50 games played.

In addition to Trout’s setback, the Angels also placed Anthony Rendon on the injured list with low back inflammation, retroactive to July 27. This will be the veteran third baseman’s second stint on the injured list after being placed on the IL with a left hamstring strain on April 24. Rendon played in just 14 games since returning on July 8.

“Obviously, these two guys have been banged up,” Minasian said. “They’re both disappointed. They both want to play. It’s unfortunate, but it is what it is."