Angels Rumors: Insider Proposes Multi-Player Trade to Send Mike Trout to National League
As the Los Angeles Angels head into the offseason soon, the talk about them possibly trading star outfielder Mike Trout has gotten louder than ever. While a trade still seems unlikely at this point, the fact that it is being talked about just shows how bad things have gotten for the Halos.
The team will once again miss the postseason, as their long drought continues on. It has been a frustrating season for them, and they’ve seen another lost year go by.
For Trout, he has seen his career go by pretty quickly without much team success. Maybe he decides that he has had enough, and finally asks out of the organization.
One team that could make some sense for Trout would be the San Francisco Giants. After missing out on Carlos Correa and Aaron Judge last offseason, the Giants are still searching for a star player to help lead their team. They have the pieces needed to compete but need that one guy who can help take them over the top. Enter in Trout if the Angels were to put him on the trade market.
“Trout could be that guy in theory, and one can imagine him being willing to join up with a generally well-run organization that has some young talent on the rise. Yes, even if it means having to take hacks at the notoriously pitcher-friendly Oracle Park.”
Zachary D. Rymer of Bleacher Report put together some trade packages for top teams trying to land Trout this winter, and the Giants were named on the list.
The proposed deal would have the Giants receiving Trout and $85 million to help deal with the rest of his contract, while the Angels were to get outfielder Mitch Haniger and left-handed pitcher Carson Whisenhunt.
It would essentially be a salary dump to move Trout, as the Angels would need to pay some of his remaining salary. But they could likely get more in return for their multi-time MVP — plus Haniger isn’t on a great deal himself, so the Angels would still be taking on unnecessary money.
“Here's a bad contract swap, albeit not quite an equitable one since Haniger is only owed $20 million after this season. Whisenhunt, ranked by Reuter as MLB's No. 74 prospect, would be a good get for the Angels, but it would be better for them if they didn't have to eat so much money even while taking on a bad contract in a deal.”
All in all, the contract of Trout seems like it will be very hard to move. It would require the Angels to pay off a hefty amount of it, and that may not be something they are willing to do.
