NEWSLETTER
Although he’s already done more than enough to punch a ticket to Cooperstown when he eventually hangs them up, Mike Trout hasn’t actually completed a full season of baseball (excluding the pandemic year) since 2019. And even that was only 134 games — of course, 134 games of Mike Trout at that time was worth 8.4 WAR and the AL MVP award.
But the 32-year-old superstar is currently healthy and rocking this season, with three homers already in the bag, including MLB’s first regular season homer of the year and yesterday’s absolute MOONSHOT (which was one of two homers he hit in that game):
Through four games, Mike Trout is hitting .286/.333/.929 (241 wRC+) while delivering his typically very good center field defense. However, his Angels, now with 100% less Shohei Ohtani, are projected to win just 77 games this season. And that would mean, absent a trade, Trout would miss the playoffs. Again. As you’re probably aware, Trout has been to the postseason only once, ten years ago.
Yep. One of the greatest players of all-time has played in just three playoff games throughout his entire 14-year MLB career. That’s the same number of MVP awards he has.
Because of that fact, plus Ohtani’s absence, plus the Angels projections, people are starting to wonder if this is the year he’s FINALLY traded. A trade, which wouldn’t happen until the deadline (if it happened at all), would require approval from ownership, of course, but also from Trout, himself, who has a full-no trade clause. And historically, Trout has shown really significant loyalty to the Angels.
But if you ask Ken Rosenthal, he thinks that could soon change:
The key quote: “(Whether or not now is the time to trade Mike Trout) is a question for Arte Moreno … (but) my answer would be ‘Yes, now is the time.’ It was the time last offseason if not the offseason before. Trout has to want it, and I believe he’s getting closer to the point where he would be willing to entertain the possibility.”
Rosenthal went on to reiterate all the usual caveats, that it would have to start ownership, that Trout would have the ability to dictate where he’d go, and so on. But make no mistake, that’s a significant quote/impression, when it comes from Ken Rosenthal. Given Trout’s status in the game, as well as the loyalty he already has shown Anaheim, Trout may have as much say over his future as any player in MLB. And if he’s starting to signal a willingness to move on, well, that’s a big deal (especially because we got our first indication that the Angels were willing to trade Mike Trout at the end of last season).
Now for some of the specifics. Having signed an extension back in 2019, Trout is set to make $35.45M per year from now until 2030. That means any acquiring team would basically get him for roughly 6.5 years and ~$225M. And, you know, even at age-32 with his injury history, I bet he’d beat that on the free agent market this winter. So there is likely to be excess value here. Not that you’d expect anything less … he’s Mike Trout. Let’s not reduce his value to a franchise both on and off the field like we would any other player. It’s a different story.
As for the Cubs, well, I can’t say I’d really see them among the more obvious teams to get involved. Again, it’s almost silly to list other players or prospects or contracts when you’re talking about Mike Trout, but the Cubs do have medium-term money already allocated in both left and right field. And, of course, they have Cody Bellinger under contract (we assume he’ll opt out, but maybe he won’t), with Pete Crow-Armstrong, Kevin Alcantara, Owen Caissie, and Alexander Canario getting close. NONE of those players should prevent you from acquiring Mike Trout, but they might make you less likely than other contending teams with a more obvious needs in the outfield
Maybe you can squint and say that Pete Crow-Armstrong might be a necessary part of this deal, while Bellinger could opt-out of his contract after the season. But does trading for Mike Trout at the deadline really strike you as the sort of move Jed Hoyer would make? For me, it does not. No, I can’t imagine them getting involved, even though they do have one of the top-3 farm systems in baseball and as big of a need for star power as any team out there.
Mostly I just wanted to share this nugget from Rosenthal, because it felt like the seedling of what could turn into an enormous story. If and when we learn that Arte Moreno *and* Mike Trout are willing to entertain the possibility of a trade at last, we’ll pick this thread back up. But for now, just tuck it away (and maybe allow yourself just one dream of Mike Trout patrolling center field at The Friendly Confines).
