Angels superstar Mike Trout pledges to pull out all the stops in order to keep his superstar teammate in Anaheim

Mike Trout and Shohei Ohtani are two of the best players in the world. It's a pity that their team's record, the Los Angeles Angels, has failed to reflect their quality in recent years.

Shohei Ohtani is one of the best players in the world. In 2021, he became the first-ever player to hit 100+ RBIs while simultaneously striking out 100 or more batters. That same year, he was named the American League's Most Valuable Player.

In fact, the Angels have not made the MLB postseason since 2014. 2022 saw the team endure a brutal 13-game losing streak, the worst in franchise history. The snap shook the foundation of the team to its very core, with Ohtani considering a departure from the team.

"Mike Trout: ‘I’m going to do everything I can to keep Shohei (Ohtani) here.’" - Bob Nightengale

Now, with the 2023 season looming large, Ohtani's teammate Mike Trout has spoken out in favor of his Japanese friend. In February 2023, USA Today MLB columnist Bob Nightengale reported that Trout had claimed "I’m going to do everything I can to keep Shohei (Ohtani) here."

Mike Trout has been with the Los Angeles Angels since 2012. Despite earning three MVP Awards with the Angels, Trout has only participated in the postseason once. Frustration among fans with the inability of their team to win despite having had Trout for so long is reaching a fever pitch.

The Angels finished a distant third in the AL West last season, 33 games behind the Houston Astros. Ohtani hit 34 home runs, 95 RBIs and threw a career-high 219 strikeouts.

"Mike Trout and Shohei Ohtani have arrived. #SpringTraining" - MLB

The owner of the Angels, Arte Moreno, is in the early stages of selling the team. Many have criticized the Angels front office for not doing more to attract Ohtani to stick around.

Ohtani only made $8.5 million last season under a one-year deal. He was re-signed to the Angels for $30 million, avoiding arbitration in 2022. Many expect Ohtani to attract multiple offers in the realm of $500 million when he becomes a free agent next year.

2023 will be a huge year for Mike Trout and Shohei Ohtani

In addition to the defending champions in their division, the Angels also have to deal with a resurgent Seattle Mariners team. 2023 will be less about the careers of Trout and Ohtani individually, and more about the team. If the Angels cannot prove to be viable after a decade, perhaps they do not deserve players like Trout and Shohei Ohtani.