Mike Trout has detailed a "frustrating" season that will end with him having played in fewer than half of the Los Angeles Angels' games over the past three years.

"Yeah, it's frustrating," said Trout, who is dealing with a hand injury. "I wanted to get back. It's tough. It's been hard."

The 32-year-old won three American League MVP awards within his first eight full seasons and finished as the runner-up in four other instances.

Trout suffered a fracture to the hamate bone on the bottom part of his left hand while completing a swing on July 3. He pushed to come back seven weeks later, on Aug. 22, with the Angels still on the fringes of contention, but his hand didn't respond well.

He has seven years and nearly $250 million remaining on the mega-extension he signed heading into the 2019 season, and there are questions throughout the industry about whether he and the Angels might actually part ways.

He is expected to meet with the front office to talk about the team's direction in the near future.

"These conversations happen every year, not just this year," Trout said. "They're private conversations I have with the front office -- John[Carpino] and Perry [Minasian], all those guys up there. So just keep it as that. The plan, as it always is, is to take a couple weeks off in the offseason, clear my mind, get in shape, get ready to play and go from there."

Trout provided a similar answer when asked if he wants to see it through with the Angels, saying: "I go through this every year. That's private conversations I have with Arte [Moreno] and John, and I'm doing the same thing I did last, what, 13 years, just go into the offseason, clear my mind, get ready for spring and, you know, wearing an Angels uniform in spring."

Despite an Opening Day payroll of just under $249 million, the San Diego Padres are only in the faintest of Wild Card contention entering the final week of the season.

The club is planning a different strategy for the 2024 season, according to a report.

This includes "player commitments of around $200 million," as the report states that the payroll cut is "in part because they are out of compliance with MLB regulations regarding their debt service ratio."

The Major League qualifying offer for the upcoming offseason is expected to be in the $20.5 million range, according to a report.

The exact number won't be known until after the conclusion of the regular season.

The value would be the highest qualifying offer in baseball history.

The offer is calculated by averaging the salaries of the 125 highest-paid players in the Major Leagues.

The Miami Marlins have claimed Matt Moore off waivers from the Cleveland Guardians for their playoff push.

It marks the second time this month Moore has switched teams following a waiver claim.

The Marlins won't be able to use Moore, 34, in the postseason should they qualify.

Miami is a half-game back of the Chicago Cubs for the final National League Wild Card berth, a full game behind the Arizona Diamondbacks for the second and 3 1/2 games back of the Philadelphia Phillies for the first.

The locker of Shohei Ohtani has been mostly cleared out at Angel Stadium.

Ohtani missed his 11th straight game on Friday with an oblique injury.

Ohtani will be a free agent this offseason after six seasons with the franchise. 

Ohtani has already been shut down as a pitcher this season because of a tear in his right elbow ligament, but the Angels had held out hope he could return as a hitter after straining his oblique in batting practice last week.

The Miami Marlins are in playoff contention, but the front office is already focused on their offseason plan.

The Marlins are planning to upgrade at shortstop this winter.

Joey Wendle, an upcoming free agent, has been their primary shortstop. The 33-year-old has hit a meager .222/.257/.323 this year, resulting in a wRC+ of 54.

The Atlanta Braves have had cursory discussions about exercising Charlie Morton's $20 million option for the 2024 season, according to sources.

The Braves haven't finalized the decision and Morton, 39, hasn't officially declared that he wants to pitch another year. 

Morton has a 3.42 ERA in 28 starts overall this season, and in his last four starts in August, he allowed one run in 24 innings, with 33 strikeouts. He hasn't allowed a home run in his past seven starts.

The Braves have been notably proactive in contract talks with their players, signing many of their young stars to long-term deals while locking down preferred veterans before they reach free agency.

With several MLB executives in attendance, Japanese pitcher Yoshinobu Yamamoto pitched a no-hit game on Saturday for his Japanese club the Orix Buffaloes.

Yamamoto struck out eight, walked one and hit one batter in the 4-0 victory over the Lotte Marines, extending his scoreless streak to 42 innings. He is 14-5 with a 1.26 ERA, 145 strikeouts and 24 walks in 143 innings this season.

It was the second no-hit game for the 25-year-old right-handed pitcher, who is expected to be posted to major league teams in the offseason.

The Los Angeles Angels have once again placed Randal Grichuk on waivers, according to a report.

Grichuk went unclaimed when placed on waivers last week.

He would no longer be eligible for a postseason roster if claimed by a new club.

Gerrit Cole isn't commenting on the potential opt-out of his contract with the New York Yankees.

"I'm just not going to comment on it," Cole said.

He signed a nine-year, $324 million deal with the Yankees before the 2021 season.

If he exercises the clause after next season, the Yankees could void it by adding a tenth year at $36 million. That would be Cole's age-38 season.