"It's frustrating obviously for him, but for the generational talent that he is, and was" - Eduardo Perez on Mike Trout's season-ending meniscus tear

Mike Trout's massive 12-year, $426.5 million 2019 contract was not just the largest contract in MLB history at the time, but it was also an unambiguous endorsement of Trout as the Angels' franchise player. Half a decade later, the promise inherent in the deal remains unaddressed.

That promise, of course, was that Mike Trout would help the team win a World Series. Instead, neither Trout or the Angels have played in a postseason game since 2014, and appear set to miss October again this year. On Thursday, some more bitter news echoed through the organization.

It was revealed that the results of an MRI test revealed a tear in the star's left meniscus, effectively closing the book on the season for Trout. Previously, the Angels outfielder underwent a procedure on May 3 to correct another tear in the meniscus, and has not played since April 29.

"'It's frustrating obviously for him, but for the generational talent that he is, and was.' @PerezEd reacts to the news that Mike Trout will miss the rest of the season with another meniscus tear. #Angels #RepTheHalo" - MLB Network Radio on Xirius XM

In a recent appearance on MLB Network Radio, former MLB infielder Ed Perez spoke to the regrettable situation. Perez described the injury as "frustrating", not just for Trout "but for the generational talent that he is, and was. It sucks for the fans."

Since the start of the 2021 season, Trout has only played in 266 of the Los Angeles Angels' 595 total games. Despite deploying considerable resources on the three-time MVP, the consistent injuries have made some fans wonder if the massive contract is worth it.

Moreover, the size of Mike Trout's deal was among the factors that dissuaded Angels owner Arte Moreno deciding not to pursue Shohei Ohtani in free agency last year. Now, without either Trout or Ohtani in the lineup, it looks like 2024 will represent the 15th season since the club won a playoff game.

2024 will be another missed chance for Mike Trout

Now 9.5 games behind the Houston Astros in the AL West, it has become clear that the Angels will, once again, miss the postseason. Via a social media post, Trout reflected on the unfortunate chain of events on Thursday:

“Playing and competing is a huge part of my life. This is equally as heartbreaking and frustrating for me as it is for you, the fans. I understand that I may have disappointed many, but believe me, I will do everything I can to come back even stronger.”

While nobody knows what's next for Trout and the Angels, one has to wonder what it will take for the team to start to look to other sources of elite offense.