Mike Trout speaks candidly about 'needed' sale of Angels

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There aren't many — if any — figures across baseball who are more equipped to speak publicly about the state of the Los Angeles Angels than Mike Trout.

Over the past 16 years, Trout hasn't just become a future Hall of Fame player in an Angels uniform. He's repeatedly voiced his commitment to the franchise through plenty of struggles, making just one postseason appearance in his illustrious career.

Significant change is coming for the Angels, though, with Tuesday's reported sale of $4 billion to Stan Kroenke. 

Here's what Trout had to say about the Angels' sale.

MORE:Who is the worst owner in baseball after Arte Moreno's sale of Angels?

Mike Trout speaks on Angels sale to Stan Kroenke

For years, Angels fans and figures across baseball have criticized Arte Moreno as one of the worst owners in baseball. Moreno, who bought the team in 2003 during an era of success, has slowly let the franchise fall out of annual contention between disastrous free-agent contracts (Albert Pujols, Anthony Rendon), an unwillingness to rebuild and a failure to reach the postseason with Trout and Shohei Ohtani, two all-time players.

With Moreno making the decision to sell, though, there's a sense of renewed hope in Anaheim — and Trout seems to be on board with it.

"I'm excited," Trout said Tuesday of the sale, per ESPN. "Look, the track record -- it's there."

Kroenke is the controlling owner of a collection of successful sports franchises, including the NFL's Rams, NBA's Nuggets and Premier League's Arsenal F.C. He's often been praised for both his financial commitments to his teams and his willingness to take a step back, allowing front offices to make decisions.

"Seeing the reaction from the fans and some of the guys and the whole vibe, I think it was needed for a fresh start," Trout said, per ESPN. "The biggest thing is getting that feeling of getting that winning culture back and having that vibe in the clubhouse."

Trout and Angels shortstop Zach Neto also said they reached out to Rams players Tuesday to get a feel for Kroenke, told the new Angels owner "just wants what's important for us" and "will invest in anything they need behind the scenes."

"It's obviously been frustrating the last, I don't know how many years it's been," Trout said, per ESPN. "But just to hear the news like this, I'm super excited to have this change."

MORE:Where Angels' sale ranks among largest in MLB, North American sports history 

Mike Trout contract

One of the most pressing immediate questions following the Angels sale — and one that has stuck with the franchise for years — was whether Trout will be sticking around. He's under contract through 2030, and the star outfielder made it clear he plans to continue playing in Anaheim, saying the sale "doesn't change" his desire to stay with the franchise for the remainder of his contract.

Trout is playing on the 12-year, $426.5 million extension he signed with the Angels in 2019, with 2026 marking the eighth year of the contract. As he approaches his late 30s, still an All-Star outfielder, he'll be carrying an annual salary of $37.12 million, per Spotrac.

Trout isn't set to hit free agency until the winter after his age-38 season in 2030.

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