Mike Trout and the Yankees make for one of those offseason ideas that sounds wild at first, then starts to linger once you look at the roster picture.
Trout has made it clear he wants to stay with the Los Angeles Angels, the team that drafted him in 2009. Even with the Angels’ long postseason drought, his commitment to the organization has not wavered. That said, the New York Yankees still have reason to at least pick up the phone and ask about his trade availability.
“The Yankees will have an opening in center field once Trent Grisham files for free agency, so it especially makes sense to inquire on Trout and [Byron] Buxton,” Bleacher Report's Zachary D. Rymer wrote.
“Brian Cashman just shouldn't expect to get anywhere on either. Both are institutions with their respective teams, and neither has ever expressed interest in getting traded,” he added.
There’s also the obvious complication: Trout has a no-trade clause in his contract, which means the Yankees could be wasting their time if this is a conversation they’ve already had with the Angels. Still, as Rymer noted, it doesn’t hurt to ask again.
If Trout ever did agree to a move to New York, the fit would come with some real questions. Center field is still his natural position, but he just turned 35 and has a lengthy injury history. The Yankees would probably prefer Cody Bellinger there.
Then there’s the bigger roster puzzle. Aaron Judge is moving toward a full-time DH role in his late thirties, and the same could be said for Trout. That leaves a messy overlap.
So while Trout in pinstripes would be a big-name sight, it’s not a clean baseball fit. It’s the kind of idea that grabs attention, but doesn’t line up all that neatly once the details come into focus.
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