It’s no secret that Mike Trout is one of the best players in all of baseball. With all the trade speculation surrounding the 24-year-old superstar, would it be crazy to think that the New Jersey native could ultimately land in the Bronx?
According to Nick Cafardo of the Boston Globe, not only would the Yankees be in the mix for Trout’s services, but they would also be considered the top landing spot for the young phenom.
On Sunday, Cafardo wrote about the top 10 potential landing spots for Trout if the Angels do in fact look to trade him. With the team’s current struggles, the team might look to explore possible trades that involve Trout, as he will command a large return which definitely could help the Angels speed up their rebuilding process. It’s unlikely that the team will trade Trout in the near future, but that could all change depending on what direction the team is heading and what type of package they are offered in return.
If Trout does become available, expect every team throughout Major League Baseball to show interest. A player of Trout’s caliber doesn’t come around often, and multiple teams will definitely look to make him a franchise guy for their organization.
A trade for Trout would be a no-brainer type of move for the Yankees, as he is a player that they can shape their franchise around for at least the next decade. Cafardo lists his reasons why he views the Bronx Bombers as the top potential landing spot. Here’s what Cafardo said in his article in Sunday’s edition of the Boston Globe:
“1. Yankees — Eppler has a history with Brian Cashman, serving as New York’s scouting director and assistant GM. The Yankees also shed the contracts of Carlos Beltran and Mark Teixeira after this season and CC Sabathia and Alex Rodriguez next year. But Cashman doesn’t want to give up his young players, and certainly any package would have to include pitcher Luis Severino, outfielder Aaron Judge, shortstop Jorge Mateo, or reliever Dellin Betances.”
With some of the team’s bigger contracts coming off the books over the next few seasons, the team would definitely have the flexibility to take on Trout’s contract. Cafardo notes some of the team’s bigger contracts who are coming off the books over the next few seasons, which will give the Yankees more cap room to work with than they have over the past few seasons. Â Trout is currently in the second year of a six-year, $144 million dollar contract, and is not set to hit the free agent market until 2021.
The connection to former scouting director and assistant general manager Billy Eppler could also be a huge factor in any trade. Eppler knows the Yankees farm system, and could look to get acquire some of the players he grew fond of during his time with the Yankees organization. Eppler and current Yankees general manager Brian Cashman have worked together in the past, so the two parties very well could end up finding a trade that works for both sides.
However, Cashman’s unwillingness to part with some of the team’s top prospects could hurt the Yankees chances of acquiring Trout. Logically, any trade for Trout would likely have to involve a group of the team’s top prospects, and players such as Greg Bird, Aaron Judge, Jorge Mateo and Luis Severino could all be included. Cafardo notes that even Dellin Betances could be a trade chip for the Yankees, but it remains to be seen if Cashman will change his stance on trading his young talent if he has a chance to acquire this young superstar.
Right now it appears to be unlikely that the Angels part ways with Mike Trout, but if the team does elect to explore possible trade options, the Yankees could be serious players in the Trout sweepstakes. The Yankees have a rich history of outstanding center fielders who have played for the organization, and the thought of having Trout call Yankee Stadium his home is definitely an exciting possibly for the future.
