ANAHEIM, Calif., Feb. 24 (UPI) -- After leading the league with 49 steals in 2012, Mike Trout has seen steady slips in his stolen base statistics.
And rare critics haven't been the only ones who have noticed.
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1 of 3 | American League's Mike Trout (27) celebrates after celebrates after being named the game MVP in the 86th All-Star Game at Great American Ball Park in Cincinnati, Ohio on July 14, 2015. Photo by John Sommers II/UPI | License Photo
Trout told MLB.com's Alden Gonzalez Wednesday that his confidence is the culprit.
The 24-year-old won Rookie of the Year in 2012 and finished second in MVP voting. In 2013, he swatted 27 home runs and 33 stolen bases. In 2014 he won MVP by swatting 36 home runs but only stole 16 bases. Last season he dipped down to a career-low 11 steals.
You've probably heard this before, but Trout wants to get back to stealing bases this year. Said his confidence was down w/ that last year.
— Alden Gonzalez (@Alden_Gonzalez) February 24, 2016
Angels owner Arte Moreno spoke last week to the Orange County Register about the possibility of trading Trout.
"One hundred percent we are not trading Mike Trout," Moreno said. "We're not trading Mike Trout. It's not even in the thought process. Yes, we want to win. But we're not going to give up any part of what we're going to do in the future by making economic mistakes right now."
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Trout will make $15.25 million this season and $19.25 million next season, before his salary jumps to more than $33 million, annually, through 2020.
