The Red Sox are back in the trade deadline conversation after ripping off a 15-game win streak, and that surge has Boston looking more like a buyer than a team trying to patch holes. Even with the outfield no longer standing out as a glaring need, the club’s past pursuit of a superstar says plenty about how aggressively it has been willing to think.
USA Today’s Bob Nightengale reported that Boston previously made an attempt to acquire Angels center fielder Mike Trout. He did not say when the Red Sox made that push, but the report is still a striking one given Trout’s stature and the kind of player Boston was chasing after losing Mookie Betts.
"They made attempts to acquire Angels center fielder Mike Trout in the past, and this time have their eyes on Angels shortstop Zach Neto or shortstop CJ Abrams from the Washington Nationals," Nightengale writes.
Trout, a future Hall of Fame outfielder, signed a 12-year, $426.5 million contract before the 2019 MLB season. That leaves open a few possible windows for Boston’s interest, including before that deal was finalized or during earlier trade deadlines. Nightengale’s report doesn’t pin down the timing, so the exact moment of that pursuit remains unclear.
What is clear is that Boston’s interest in Trout would have been a massive swing. It also fits with the idea that the Red Sox are willing to chase major upgrades if they believe the roster is close. That could matter again this summer, with the club expected to buy and potentially part with a king’s ransom to strengthen its middle infield or catcher spot.
Still, a Trout trade feels far-fetched now. The Angels are unlikely to move him, and his no-trade clause makes any deal even tougher to pull off. Teams like the Philadelphia Phillies may come up in future Trout rumors, but Boston does not look like a realistic landing spot this season.
Nightengale’s report doesn’t include the details of Boston’s offer or how far those talks went. Even so, it’s a reminder that the Red Sox are not shy about dreaming big when they see a chance to upgrade.
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