Angels missing key piece to help Mike Trout stay healthy despite Josh Lowe trade originally appeared on The Sporting News. Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
Who will play center field for the Los Angeles Angels in 2026?
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That is one of the AL West clubs’ burning questions of the offseason as spring training nears. At this point in Mike Trout’s career, it would be wise to keep him away from center field as much as possible.
“But [Josh] Lowe is a corner outfielder. So are Jo Adell, Jorge Soler, and, at this point, Mike Trout,” ESPN’s Alden Gonzalez wrote Monday. “Unless there’s another move coming, Adell and/or Trout could spend a lot of time in center field in 2026.”
The Angels reportedly plan to give Lowe, acquired from the Tampa Bay Rays, a chance to earn reps in center. The 27-year-old has 156 innings of experience at the position.
Angels in the outfield
Trout was almost exclusively a DH in 2025, as just 22 of his 130 appearances were in right field. On just about any other team, Soler would also be a full-time DH. His defense is well below par, but the Angels can’t afford to lose his power in the lineup.
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Los Angeles does not appear to be in the running for Cody Bellinger, but a player of Harrison Bader’s caliber, also a free agent, could be a potential fit.
Bader is one of the better defensive center fielders in the game and can help Trout stay off his feet and remain healthy.
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