There’s been an idea brewing in Philadelphia Phillies circles for years that may or may not become realistic someday.
As the Phillies have constantly needed outfield help, the Los Angeles Angels have constantly flopped during Major League Baseball seasons. Future Hall of Fame center fielder Mike Trout is on a massive contract, and his presence isn’t helping the Angels win much.
Trout grew up just outside of Philadelphia in Millville, New Jersey, and remains a huge Philadelphia Eagles fan to this day. It’s nothing short of a Philly sports fan’s dream to imagine a lineup with Trout and Bryce Harper hitting back-to-back someday.
Unfortunately, Trout is owed over $37 million per year each season through 2030, and he’s been unable to stay healthy for a full season since 2021. Those things could be the only reasons he’s even on the table for a trade, but they also make acquiring him a gamble.
In a recent article, ClutchPoints’ Jordan Llanes proposed a hypothetical blockbuster that would send Trout to Philadelphia for pitching prospects Andrew Painter and Griff McGary and outfield prospect Justin Crawford.
“Trading Mike Trout is something that very few, if any, Angels fans will endorse,” Llanes wrote. “He’s the face of the franchise, and for a long time, a face of the MLB. If he returns to full health and his previous level of play, Trout will resume his place at the top of the mountain.”
“Securing a package of players from the Phillies, led by top pitching prospect Andrew Painter, might be something that makes this type of deal a little more palatable. Yes, prospects are uncertain. They might not pan out. However, there’s also a good chance that Trout never gets back to the heights he once reached.”
Frankly, this particular proposal would be a huge ask from the Phillies. Granted, it’s hard to know what fair value for Trout is, because of the injuries and the massive contract, but there are few players a team can feel comfortable trading two of their top three farmhands to get.
It feels like a question the Phillies will continue to ask the Angels year after year until LA is finally ready to play ball. If this isn’t the trade package that gets it done, perhaps the two sides will find another one before Trout wastes the rest of his career away on a last-place club.
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