The Philadelphia Phillies might go all-in on a trade for a megastar returning from injury, according to a new report.
Philadelphia entered Saturday with a 36-22 record, tied with the New York Mets atop the National League East.
The Phils have one of the best teams in baseball, and it feels like they have a good chance to emerge out of the NL and reach the World Series. But to overcome juggernauts like the Los Angeles Dodgers along the way, Philly could use another big bat to serve as a separating factor.
As such, The Liberty Line’s Drew Smith proposed a blockbuster deal for Philly on Friday.
“Mike Trout is officially set to come off the injured list Friday when the (Los Angeles) Angels head to Cleveland,” Smith wrote.
“The three-time MVP will return after missing nearly a month with a left knee injury that had fans and media alike guessing about his status.”
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“Trout was hurt running the bases on April 30. The Angels initially downplayed it, but he landed on the IL on May 2 and (hasn’t) played since. It was later revealed to be a bone bruise … Now, he’s back. And while Trout’s hitting line this season isn’t pretty (.179 average in 106 ABs), he still managed to belt 9 homers and drive in 18 runs before the injury.”
“The bigger conversation here, at least in Philly, is whether the Phillies should be working the phones on Trout ahead of the trade deadline. I’ll say it again — the Phillies absolutely should.”
In pitching a Trout-to-Phillies trade, Smith seemed more concerned about Trout’s injury history than with the obvious (and most likely insurmountable) barrier of pulling off a deal for Trout, in the first place.
Rather than explore, or at least acknowledge, why the Angels would be extremely hesitant to move Trout, Smith merely wrote about how Trout’s massive salary could feasibly fit into Philly’s plans moving forward, contrary to supposition.
“The Phillies already have a projected $275 million payroll for 2025, but Trout’s deal could be manageable if the Angels are willing to eat money or stagger the salary,” Smith wrote.
“Several Phillies contracts — Realmuto, Suarez, Bohm, Castellanos, Schwarber — could come off the books within 1-2 years, making a move for Trout more feasible in 2026 and beyond.”
Sure, the Angels aren’t contending — and the Phillies certainly are — but a Trout trade here is closer to dream than reality.
Hey, but Trout did grow up a passionate Phillies fan (and even attended their 2008 championship parade) … so there’s that.
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