Los Angeles Angels general manager Perry Minasian said definitively in early December that three-time AL MVP outfielder Mike Trout wasn’t going to get traded.
Days later, Trout’s longtime teammate (two-way superstar Shohei Ohtani) signed a record 10-year, $700M contract with the Los Angeles Dodgers. With Ohtani no longer a Halo, Toronto Blue Jays starting pitcher Chris Bassitt told Chris Rose that he hopes the Angels send Trout to a specific NL contender as well.
Despite having 11 All-Star honors, nine Silver Slugger awards, the trio of MVPs and a Rookie of the Year award, the 2009 draft pick is still missing a World Series ring. At this point, Angels fans and MLB followers alike would just like Trout to be able to finally win a playoff game.
He’s been the face of the franchise for more than a decade since debuting in July 2011 and helped lead Los Angeles to its only postseason berth in the last 14 years in 2014. The playoff appearance was short-lived for the Angels, however, as they were swept in the ALDS by the Kansas City Royals.
Even with another year of Trout and Ohtani on the roster, the Halos finished in fourth place in the AL West at 73-89 in 2023 for their eighth straight losing season.
A move to Philadelphia would seemingly give the 32-year-old outfielder a great chance at finally returning to the postseason.
The Phillies made it to the NLCS this fall before falling in Game 7 against the Arizona Diamondbacks. The team nearly captured their first World Series title since 2008 in 2022 but dropped a six-game Fall Classic against the Houston Astros.
With the likes of one-time All-Star hurlers Aaron Nola and Zack Wheeler atop the starting rotation and two-time NL MVP Bryce Harper and star shortstop Trea Turner pacing a stacked offense, Philadelphia looks like it will continue to be annual contenders.Â
If Trout ever ends up getting traded, The City of Brotherly Love would surely welcome him with open arms and give him a great shot at playing meaningful October baseball.
