Trout: 'It's got to be the year' for Angels to make playoffs

Los Angeles Angels outfielder Mike Trout believes this is the season his team has to snap an eight-year playoff drought.

"This has got to be the year," Trout said, according to Jon Heyman of the New York Post. "It's got to be."

The three-time MVP added there's additional pressure to make the postseason with Shohei Ohtani's impending free agency after the 2023 campaign.

"Especially if we want to keep Shohei," Trout said. "We win and get to the playoffs, he'd think about it a little bit more."

The 31-year-old said in mid-February that he would do whatever he can to keep Ohtani with the Angels.

Trout also acknowledged that he's impressed with the club's front office for adding the likes of Hunter Renfroe, Gio Urshela, Tyler Anderson, Matt Moore, and Carlos Estevez in the offseason.

"I love it," Trout said. "(General manager Perry Minasian) went out there, got some big guys and filled some gaps. It was a good offseason for sure. … It's going to be a fun year."