Los Angeles Angels: What Would a Mike Trout Trade Look Like?
By Dylan Smith
What would a Mike Trout trade look like?
This is a very hard question to answer… There really is no modern precedent for moving a big name player like Mike Trout…
Miguel Cabrera was traded to the Detriot Tigers over 11 years ago. The same goes for Mark Teixeria being traded to the Atlanta Braves. Those deals happened in a different time in Major League Baseball. We could compare the Miami Marlins and their trade of Giancarlo Stanton, but the Marlins dumped his massive contract for 50 cents on the dollar.
This begs the question, what kind of return would Mike Trout warrant?
It is pretty safe to say that the Angels will receive a massive return for their superstar, the team will just have to find a club willing to meet their asking price. In my eyes, not many clubs have the talent necessary to pull off what would be the biggest baseball trade of the decade, though the Atlanta Braves, Philadelphia Phillies, and Los Angeles Dodgers feel like logical possible destinations.
To aid in my analysis, I will rank players in tiers ranging from one through four. One will represent a player that should have a significant impact on the Angels in the long run. Four will represent a player who will likely have a limited impact.
Atlanta Braves
The Atlanta Braves are a team filled with young talent. For a team who centered their rebuild around pitchers, they are a club defined by their young offensive players. A batting order featuring Ozzie Albies, Ronald Acuna Jr., Mike Trout, Freddie Freeman, and Dansby Swanson would easily make the Braves a World Series contender.
To acquire Trout, the Braves would likely need to trade…
(1) 3B- Austin Riley
(1) RHP- Kyle Wright
(2) LHP- Sean Newcomb
(2) C- William Contreras
and two to three low-level/high upside prospects.
This trade will revamp the Angels’ farm system as Austin Riley and Kyle Wright look primed to be impactful players at the big league level. The acquisition of Sean Newcomb will help stabilize their messy rotation. William Contreras, brother of Wilson Contreras, should be ready to make his big league debut behind the dish in 2020.
The Halos could go into 2020 with Riley at third, Jo Adell in the outfield, Ohtani DHing and pitching, with a rotation focused around Kyle Wright, Sean Newcomb and a number of their current young productive arms. Being an Angels fan myself, I would not be disappointed with my team’s future with a core made up of those players.
Philadelphia Phillies
Like the Braves, the Philadelphia Phillies are another team fresh off a rebuild. While they do not have the volume of talented young players like the Braves, the Phillies should have enough talent to make a megadeal happen. Trout, who is a New Jersey native, is a huge Philadelphia Eagles fan. I am sure that it will be a dream come true to play in their backyard at Citizens Bank Ballpark.
To acquire Trout, the Phillies would likely need to trade…
(1) RHP- Sixto Sanchez
(1) 3B- Alec Bohm
(2) UTL- Scott Kingery
(3) OF- Mickey Moniak
(3) RHP- Enyel De Los Santos
(3) RHP- Nick Pivetta
The big name in this possibility is Sixto Sanchez. The young righty looks primed to be the ace in any rotation for a number of years. This trade would also net the Halos with an offensive third baseman in Bohm, a controllable Kingery to play second base and De Los Santos and Pivetta to round out a starting rotation. I am a big fan of these pitcher’s pure stuff, they could fit nicely into the Angels’ bullpen as well if there is no room in the starting rotation.
Mickey Moniak is an interesting piece of this deal. Selected first overall in 2016, Moniak has not developed like a number one selection. Don’t get me wrong, he still is a solid prospect, but he will probably be an average big league contributor. Moniak could be a high upside/high floor, throw in for this deal. He could slide nicely into the Angels’ future outfield next to Jo Adell.
Los Angeles Dodgers
Given their geographical proximity, a Mike Trout trade to the Dodgers could be a PR nightmare. In the end, they should not be counted out of the equation. The Dodgers will always have the ability to spend on big-name players and possess the prospects needed to make big time trades. What would they need to give up to get Mike Trout?
To acquire Trout, the Dodgers would likely need to trade…
(1) RHP- Dustin May
(2) OF- Alex Verdugo
(2) C/3B- Will Smith
(2) LHP- Julio Urias
(3) C- Keibert Ruiz
(4) OF- Joc Pederson
and two low-level/high upside prospects.
This trade would see the Halos netting Dustin May, whose stuff and hair reminds me of Noah Syndergaard, and a possible tier one prospect in Julio Urias. Urias has missed a majority of the past two seasons due to injury, but due to his age and impact upon debut, he still deserves a tier two status.
Alex Verdugo does not seem like he will be an offensive weapon, but he could be a major asset for the Halos in the outfield. The acquisition of Will Smith and Kiebert Ruiz would also round out the team’s young depth. Like the two before it, this trade will revamp the Angels’ farm system for the immediate future.