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MLB
The Red Sox trading for Mike Trout might actually make sense
TL;DR
The Boston Red Sox are considering a trade for Mike Trout, citing his leadership and potential performance at Fenway Park. The Los Angeles Angels may be interested in players like Jarren Duran and Brayan Bello, which could facilitate a deal despite Trout's hefty contract.
Key points
- Red Sox view Trout as a better leader than Bregman
- Angels interested in Duran and Bello for a trade
- Trout's contract has $175 million remaining
- Angels may want to trade Trout due to poor performance
- Yoshida's contract could impact the trade negotiations
Boston Red SoxLos Angeles Angels
- The Red Sox think Trout’s a better leader than Bregman
- He’ll hit a bunch of home runs at Fenway Park
- The Angels like Jarren Duran and Brayan Bello That first point is a massive peek behind the curtain into the Civil War between Alex Cora’s people and Craig Breslow’s people. If you’re like me, and you believe that Alex Cora drove both Bregman pursuits, the comparison between Bregman and Trout as leaders should get your antenna up. When Felger mentions this nugget, he’s reading from his source, meaning somebody went out of their way to make that comparison. Is it possible they’re plugged into the Breslow side of the operation and those guys aren’t pleased they had to bend to Cora’s way of thinking for a year and a half on that front? Remember, the Red Sox were on the verge of trading for in February of 2025 when John Henry swooped in at the last moment with his cigar and ponied up the funds for Bregman. Could this have been a Cora victory over Breslow that some in the organization still aren’t happy about? But before I get lost down that wormhole, I want to turn back and address bullet point No. 3, because that’s the one directly tied to the money, which is what really matters here. If the Angels really are interested in Jarren Duran and Brayan Bello, then we’re well on our way to a match because those are guys with limited surplus value going forward. You need guys like this in play because the immediate issue with any Trout trade talk is the enormous negative value that comes attached with his contract. He’s getting paid $37.1 million per year all the way through the end of 2030, which means there’s about $175 million to go prorated out as of mid May 2026. Now consider that Mike Trout’s games played over the last five seasons look like this: 2021: 36 2022: 119 2023: 82 2024: 29 2025: 130 YIKES! In short, any deal involving Mike Trout is going to require the Angels picking up a hefty portion of his remaining contract. It’s just a matter of how much. But additionally, it’s also one of the reasons the Angels may be motivated to move Trout right now. His hot start in 2026 could easily be their last best chance to get out from under the final few seasons of his mammoth deal, which again, kind of gives the timing of this rumor legs. (The Angels having the worst record in baseball at 16-28 and just a 1.3% chance to make the playoffs according to Fangraphs should also get conversations moving.) It gets even better, though, when you consider the Red Sox have on their books. He not only represents dead money in the short-term, but he also happens to be one of the five players in the current outfield / DH logjam that’s making Breslow look like a fool on a daily basis. And the fact that we’re talking about the short-term here is key, as the Angels would be more likely to take on some of that deal, while Craig Breslow needs to get rid of it to improve his job security. In other words, Yoshida represents the possibility to cut into how much money the Angels have to eat in a complex deal. And interestingly enough, the framework of this type of exchange has history. In 2015, when the Blue Jays traded for , all of the following factors were in play:
Q&A
Why are the Red Sox interested in trading for Mike Trout?
The Red Sox believe Mike Trout is a better leader than Alex Bregman and think he could excel at Fenway Park.
What players might the Angels want in exchange for Mike Trout?
The Angels are reportedly interested in Jarren Duran and Brayan Bello from the Red Sox.
How much is left on Mike Trout's contract?
Mike Trout's contract has approximately $175 million remaining, with an annual salary of $37.1 million through the end of 2030.
What factors could influence the timing of a Mike Trout trade?
The Angels' poor record and Trout's strong start in 2026 could motivate them to trade him to alleviate the burden of his contract.
