Orioles: A dream trade package to land Mike Trout

With a new ownership group likely arriving for the Los Angeles Angels, could the team trade Mike Trout? If so, what would it take the Baltimore Orioles to land him?

Earlier this week, Arte Moreno announced that he was open to selling the Los Angeles Angels. As is the case with new ownership, they will want the team to be built in their vision. Not only that, but possibly clear money off of the books.

Mike Trout is the star of not just the Angels, but all of MLB. He has the richest contract (12 years, $426.5 million) in the league and was a year-in, year-out MVP candidate. The thing is, he dealt with costovertebral dysfunction at T5 in his back, to which he said back in late July that he was feeling better. Not to mention he has eight years remaining on his deal.

Getting the money off of the books could be enticing for new ownership, even if it comes at the expense of the face of baseball. There would be countless teams calling to get Trout. What would it take the Baltimore Orioles?

Orioles: What would it cost to trade for Mike Trout

Remember, this is a strictly hypothetical.

Trout would hold all of the power in trade negotiations, as he carries a full no-trade clause. So, the Angels will have to trade him to wherever he is willing. That would hurt the overall value the Angels would get in return, but there is a slight chance that a team would be willing to take on his full salary. But let’s not forget that the Colorado Rockies had to give up $50 million to the St. Louis Cardinals to take on Nolan Arenado’s contract.

The Orioles are no longer one of the worst teams in baseball. This season, they have shown great promise and that they have a bright future ahead of them. As of this writing, they are above .500 and are in the AL Wild Card hunt. Getting a star like Trout could put them over the edge.

When it comes to shortstop, the Orioles have Jorge Mateo as their starter this season. Gunnar Henderson will slot in at third base whenever he is called up, and is unlikely to be moved. He is the No. 2 prospect in all of baseball, after all.

The Orioles could surrender Jackson Holliday, the first-overall pick in the 2022 MLB Draft, to start things off. Given Henderson’s flexibility on the left side of the infield, he carries more value for Baltimore.

Los Angeles has a desperate need for pitching, and the Orioles could provide them that by sending right-handed pitcher Grayson Rodriguez (No. 2 prospect) and left-handed pitcher DL Hall (No. 6 prospect).

Baltimore can also send Cedric Mullins, their centerfielder, to Los Angeles to replace Trout. Mullins has three more seasons of arbitration remaining until he hits free agency.

We do not know if new Angels ownership would even consider trading Trout, and if they did, would Trout even want to go to Baltimore. Oh, and who knows if Moreno will actually sell the team. This is all hypothetical.