Yankees-Angels Mike Trout unrealistic trade that would shake up MLB offseason

The chances of Mike Trout suiting up for the New York Yankees in 2025 are slim at best — but that hasn’t stopped anyone from having fun. And with the Yankees reeling from the loss of their star Juan Soto to the rival New York Mets, now is as good a time as any to figure out how far they could go to make up for this embarrassment.

As rumors swirl that Trout’s days with the Los Angeles Angels may be numbered, suggestions for trade packages are emerging that range from the unrealistic to the completely insane. So why not join in and see what it would take for the Yankees to win three-time MVP?

Remember, Trout grew up in Millville, New Jersey, idolizing former Yankees captain Derek Jeter. Even if he has a full no-trade clause, it’s not too hard to imagine him waiving it to head east to a local club that just happens to be the most storied franchise in all of sports.

The question is, would the Yankees even want him? Such a question would have been absurd just a few years ago, but Trout hasn’t had anything close to a full, healthy season since 2019. He’s barely played 100 games over the last two years combined, and entering his age-33 season, there’s real concern that Trout’s MVP days are far behind him.

Any Mike Trout trade will be complicated, even if it involves a team that has the resources of the Yankees. So New York and Los Angeles could negotiate a deal.

The Yankees and Angels need to address Mike Trout’s contract

Trout is in the middle of a 12-year, $426,500,000 contract he signed with the Angels in 2019. Under that deal, he is due more than $37 million per year through 2030, his age-38 season. The likelihood that Hal Steinbrenner is willing to pay that for someone as risky as Trout is less than zero – even if his upside is higher than any other baseball player, and even without having to pay Soto anything. The Angels would either have to eat up a significant portion of his contract or sign someone from New York who comes with a hefty price tag.

Marcus Stroman is a rumored Yankees trade candidate who happens to be due $18.3 million next year, with a vesting option for the same amount in 2026. That would help New York for the next two years while DJ LeMahieu is still on the hook ($30 million left on his contract) and the busiest years of Giancarlo Stanton’s deal. Trout’s contract will be easier to manage without these deals in a few years.

The angels need parts to be built around

You have to give something good to get something good, and that will be the case if the Yankees want to bring Trout to the Bronx. So step forward, Spencer Jones. The Yankees’ No. 2 pick would have to be part of this deal, as the Angels would be looking to replace a superstar outfielder with someone who can develop into that — albeit not at Trout’s level.

Known for his power and athleticism, Jones hit 17 home runs at Double-A Somerset this season with an OPS of .789. The left-hander is 23 years old and will likely start in Triple-A next season, be it with the Yankees or the Angels.

The Yankees also have a number of interesting fringe players who are major league-ready and could spice up the trade package. Clayton Beeter and Yeondrys Gomez both logged innings for the big league club in 2024 and could contribute to a mediocre Angels bullpen in 2025.

Crazy Yankees-Angels trade to sign Mike Trout

Because of Trout’s overwhelming strength combined with his recent injury history and huge contract, it’s difficult to estimate exactly what the Yankees would need to pry Trout from the Angels. What we do know is that the Yankees want to find a way to balance his salary in the short term and will need to part ways with major league-ready talent.

Here’s the unrealistic trade proposal from Mike Trout that we ended up with:

Yankees received: Mike Trout (6 years, $222.7 million left)

receiving angels: Marcus Stroman (2 years max, $36.6 million remaining), Spencer Jones (Yankees’ No. 2 prospect), Clayton Beeter (Yankees’ No. 18 prospect), Roc Riggio (Yankees’ No. 21 prospect)