The New York Yankees would be crazy to make this trade for Mike Trout.
The New York Yankees look like the class of the American League right now, having won 15 of their last 17 games to improve to 25-11, but there is almost no question that the Yankees will be searching for upgrades between now and the trade deadline.
Remember: New York got off to incredibly strong starts in 2024 and 2025 as well before midseason swoons slapped the Yankees with a major reality check.
Yes, things are going incredibly well for New York right now, and what's more, Carlos Rodon and Gerrit Cole are both returning soon (Rodon should be back for his next start, as a matter of fact).
But at some point, the Yanks will go through a rough patch, and their warts — which were very prevalent earlier in the season — will be exposed.
One of the Yankees' most prominent issues is their lineup depth, which has been a sticking point for several years now. Jose Caballero's recent hot stretch has mitigated that, but can we really expect the lifetime .664 OPS hitter to continue tearing the cover off the ball?
New York could look for another bat before Aug. 3, and Keith Law of The Athletic recently pitched one huge name as a potential option: Mike Trout.
The Los Angeles Angels aren't contending, and they would surely love to get out from under the remainder of Trout's contract, which runs through 2030 at $37.1 million annually.
Law then proposed a trade in which the Yankees would send Giancarlo Stanton and prospects to the Angels in exchange for the three-time MVP.
Los Angeles Angels outfielder Mike Trout. Credit: Gary A. Vasquez-Imagn Images."They still owe Giancarlo Stanton, who is nominally their DH in his brief interludes between IL stints, about $40 million through the end of 2027, including the buyout on his 2028 team option," Law wrote. "They could send Stanton to the Angels to offset some of Trout’s remaining contract, and have enough second-tier prospects after George Lombard Jr., and Dax Kilby to put together a compelling package."
Uh, speaking of Stanton's IL stints, why is Law completely grossing over the fact that Trout has been even more injury-prone than Stanton?
Let's not include the 2020 campaign, which was shortened by the pandemic. So, since 2021, Trout has played in 100 games just once, which came last year when he appeared in 130 contests and managed a .797 OPS ... while Stanton was mashing to the tune of a .944 OPS.
Stanton has played in well over 100 games four times since 2021. So why are we mentioning his tendency to hit the injured list but ignoring Trout's?
Not only that, but Stanton has been the Yankees' best playoff hitter for the last half-decade. He nearly single-handedly carried New York to its first World Series appearance in 15 years in 2024, and he is one of the best postseason power hitters the game has ever seen.
Plus, since we're talking about the $40 million the Yankees owe Stanton, Trout is owed over $185 million for the remainder of his deal. And Law wants New York to send prospects (like Spencer Jones, for example) back Los Angeles' way, too?
I understand Trout is having a resurgence this season, having homered 11 times already, but like Stanton, it's only a matter of time before he gets injured, and I would much rather have Stanton's proven bat in October than Trout's.
In no way, shape or form should the Yankees even consider this ridiculous trade.
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