After coming up short in the World Series in 2022, the Philadelphia Phillies reached 90 wins for the second consecutive season in 2024, but again couldn’t make it back to the sport’s biggest stage.
Now looking ahead to hot stove season, Rob Thomson’s club is expected to retain the majority of its core for next year, including Bryce Harper, Trea Turner, Zack Wheeler, Kyle Schwarber and Aaron Nola.
However, Bleacher Report recently explored the possibility of the Phillies adding to their star power in its “8 Bold MLB 2024-25 Offseason Predictions” article. One of the hypotheticals involved a potential blockbuster trade that would send Los Angeles Angels slugger Mike Trout – who is entering the seventh season of his 12-year, $426 million contract – to the City of Brotherly Love.
Don’t get it twisted, the move is highly unlikely, especially with Trout’s full no-trade clause, but they don’t call them “bold” predictions for nothing. “The Angels would need to eat a lot of Trout’s remaining contract in any trade negotiation, and especially in one with Philadelphia, which is already staring down the barrel of a roughly $275M payroll in 2025,” B/R’s Kerry Miller wrote.
“If, however, Los Angeles retains the entirety of Trout’s 2025 salary before letting Philly begin to pay its share in 2026 once JT Realmuto and Kyle Schwarber come off the books, the Phillies would be quite interested in adding the 11-time All-Star in hopes of addressing the fact that they pinch-hit for an outfielder six times in a postseason run that lasted just four games.”
Trade speculation around Trout, 33, is nothing new. However, besides financials, the biggest roadblock in a deal may just be the three-time MVP’s self-proclaimed loyalty to the Angels organization. “The easy way out is just ask for a trade,” Trout told reporters at spring training in February.
“There might be a time. Maybe. I really haven’t thought about this. But when I signed that contract, I’m loyal. I want to win a championship here.” Perhaps watching former Angels teammate Shohei Ohtani on the brink of a World Series title with the Los Angeles Dodgers will sway his opinion.
Trout, who hasn’t played more than 82 games in four of the last five seasons, played in a career-low 29 games in 2024. But when healthy, he remains one of the best hitters on the planet.
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