Could the Angels seriously trade Trout to the interleague rival Dodgers? It would be devastating for the Angels’ brand as the No. 2 team in Los Angeles, but there are two reasons this could happen: 1.) The Dodgers might have the best team in baseball. Adding Trout could bring them their first World Series Championship since 1988. 2.) It’s not like the Dodgers aren’t swimming in intriguing assets.
Trout moving across town would be the biggest blockbuster trade before the deadline without debate. The Dodgers could trade pretty much everybody on their roster not named Clayton Kershaw to get this deal done, including other 2017 MLB All-Stars. Having any semblance of a chance to trade for Trout is worth it.
What makes the Dodgers a very real landing spot for Trout is that the Dodgers can put together a multitude of offers to tickle the Angels’ fancy. While the Dodgers have one of the best farm systems in baseball, the Angels can’t really say the same thing. The Angels could inquire on major league players or high-end guys in the Dodgers system for Trout. Either way, the Angels would be getting a massive overhaul for parting ways with their superstar outfielder.
That being said, it just doesn’t seem overly likely that the Angels would trade their best player to a division rival or a crosstown rival like the Dodgers. The trade would only be further scrutinized should it go southward for the Angels. Trout is the best pure talent to have ever put on an Angels uniform. The Dodgers have the assets, but this still feels like a stay away for the Angels strictly on the media market complexities that could follow.