Yankees dreaming big: Will Mike Trout don the Pinstripes?

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Mike Trout, often referred to as a generational talent, may be approaching the twilight of his baseball career sooner than anyone could have anticipated. Surprisingly, the baseball legend is also a fervent Philadelphia Eagles season ticket holder, leaving no doubt about his post-retirement dream destination. Could Trout’s desire for a change of scenery materialize this offseason, and could the New York Yankees play a role in this seismic shift?

As Shohei Ohtani’s departure from the Los Angeles Angels due to a UCL tear becomes more probable, MLB insider Bob Nightengale created quite a stir in the baseball community over the weekend. He reported that the Angels might entertain the idea of trading their star player, Mike Trout, should he express a desire to leave. Additionally, the New York Post suggested that the Yankees could be a logical destination if Mike Trout seeks a change.

Trout’s current contract ties him to the Angels until 2030, a year when he will potentially be 38 years old, still aiming for the coveted title of the Greatest of All Time (GOAT). His annual salary of $35,541,667 is a hefty luxury tax burden for the Angels to bear.

Regrettably, Trout’s aging trajectory took an unexpected turn post-2020. The baseball universe lost its beloved sport from April to July that year, only for Trout to return as a somewhat different and more injury-prone athlete. Currently sidelined with a hamate fracture, Trout managed to participate in just 36 games in 2021 and 122 games in 2022, sparking concerns that a newfound and highly rare back condition could prematurely curtail his illustrious career.

In essence, Trout could become the Yankees’ next Carlos Rodón, and New York’s hypothetical pursuit of Trout, particularly at this juncture in his career, would epitomize irony. It would be a self-inflicted wound if he arrived in the Bronx only to experience further regression.

What’s the price tag?

The 2023 season has undoubtedly been the most challenging for Trout since the pandemic hit. Despite grappling with a devastating injury and a lingering back issue in the previous year, he managed to display his brilliance by hitting .283 with 40 home runs and an impressive .999 OPS/176 OPS+ in 122 games—a performance that could be likened to that of the remarkable Aaron Judge.

However, this season has seen Trout take a step back, with a batting average of .263, 18 homers, 44 RBI, and 104 strikeouts. Despite the introduction of expanded bases and rule changes to promote base running, he has stolen only two bases, a far cry from his younger days when he consistently threatened to steal 30 bases, including a whopping 49 in his rookie year. His current 130 OPS+ is the lowest for a full season since his debut in 2012, down by 38 points.

If Trout indeed wishes to leave Anaheim, any team vying for his services will have to be prepared to surrender significant prospects, simply because he is Mike Trout. However, it comes with substantial risks. His age-31 season has been far from ideal, and it may end prematurely. For any team willing to part with three top prospects and a substantial amount of cash to secure Trout’s services from ages 32 through 38, they must be absolutely certain that their medical staff has made the right assessments and projections. The question then arises: Can any rational Yankee fan make such a determination?

Instead, it appears that the most logical destination for Trout would be Philadelphia, where he could join forces with the perfect complement for the Yankees’ current outfield vacancy—Bryce Harper. Interestingly, Harper was a player whom Brian Cashman, the Yankees’ General Manager, once bragged about not pursuing in 2018. At least the Yankees now have the unique opportunity to potentially reprise their draft day blunder and narrowly miss out on Trout once again.

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