Phillies Get More Power In This Blockbuster Trade Proposal
The Philadelphia Phillies have already struck once this offseason with the signing of pitcher Aaron Nola, which was the first significant deal in free agency and one that allowed the Phillies to keep their rotation intact.
Now is it time for the Phillies to strike again?
MLB.com put together six hypothetical blockbuster trades that would shake up the game. The Phillies made the list.
In this scenario the Phillies would deal outfielder Nick Castellanos, a player that has become a fan favorite, and one of their top prospects to the Los Angeles Angels for a player with roots in the area — outfielder Mike Trout.
Big enough for you?
Trout was born in Vineland, N.J. and played his high school baseball in Millville, N.J., before the Angels drafted him in the first round in 2009. Trout has emerged as one of baseball’s most dangerous players, with three MVPs, nine Silver Sluggers and 11 All-Star Game berths in his career.
For the Angels, a trade would be an opportunity to move Trout’s salary. For the moment, his contract still has the biggest financial commitment in MLB history — $426.5 million over 12 years. The Phillies would have to pick up the remaining seven years, which comes to $37.12 million per year through 2030.
For the Phillies, the deal carries risk. Trout is entering his age 32 season and injuries have become a real issue for him. Trout hasn’t played 140 games in a season since 2018, and he’s played just 237 games in the past three seasons due to injuries. The Phillies would have to be comfortable with that history and hope Trout can stay healthy.
As for the Angels, they would get Castellanos — who is set to make $20 million each of the next three seasons and that prospect, who in this case is outfielder Justin Crawford, the son of former MLB star Carl Crawford and is one of the Top 100 prospects in baseball.
Trout has a no-trade clause so he would have to accept the deal. The Phillies, MLB.com reasons, might be the one destination that Trout would accept:
The Phillies might be the one destination that could convince Millville, N.J.’s own Trout to accept a deal. They’d continue their all-in effort in the NL, pair Trout and Bryce Harper (two Cooperstown-bound ballplayers who are forever mentally associated with each other given their essentially simultaneous arrivals) and, finally (we hope), get Trout back to October (if he’s healthy).
Is the risk worth the reward? Only the Phillies can answer that question.
