12:43pm: On the Baseball Insiders podcast, Robert Murray of FanSided says the Angels are not in fact close to trading an outfielder (hat tip to Sam Blum of The Athletic and Beyond the Halo on X)
9:28am: Yesterday, Mark Feinsand of MLB.com (X link) reported that the Angels seemed to be close to trading an outfielder. Nothing has come together yet but it’s possible that talks are still ongoing. It wasn’t specified which outfielder they were about to trade but Feinsand suggested that Taylor Ward would make sense since there have been rumors of other clubs being interested in him. However, Ward’s agent Joel Wolfe told Jeff Fletcher of the Orange County Register (X link) that he hadn’t heard anything about trade talks involving his client. That doesn’t necessarily mean that there aren’t discussions happening but members of the Atlanta beat like David O’Brien of The Athletic (X link) and Mark Bowman of MLB.com (X link) both report that, if there is an imminent Ward trade, it won’t be to Atlanta.
Ward has seemed like a logical trade candidate for a while now. As the Angels have struggled to compete in recent years, there has been natural speculation about the veteran players on the roster with shrinking windows of club control. Ward will be celebrating his 31st birthday this Saturday and can be retained via arbitration for two more seasons.
If the Angels were pivoting towards a sort of reset, it would make sense to trade Ward for younger and more controllable players. However, despite just losing 99 games in the most recent season, the Halos are clearly trying to contend in 2025. Both owner Arte Moreno and general manager Perry Minasian made it clear that was the plan for this winter and they have backed that up, acquiring Yusei Kikuchi, Jorge Soler, Travis d’Arnaud, Kyle Hendricks and others already.
In that context, trading Ward becomes a bit more difficult to see. The outfield is already a fairly thin part of the roster, consisting of Ward, Mike Trout, Jo Adell, Mickey Moniak and perhaps Soler. Trout has become increasingly injury prone in recent years, having not played 120 games in a season since 2019. Soler is a poor defender and best suited to be the designated hitter more often than not. Adell and Moniak still have poor offensive track records overall.
Subtracting Ward from that group would make it even flimsier but clubs would certainly be interested if he were available. He has hit .259/.338/.440 over the past four years for a wRC+ of 118, indicating he’s been 18% better than the league average hitter in that time. His defense has also been graded around league average or above, allowing him to play at a pace of about two to four wins above replacement per year, according to FanGraphs.
MLBTR contributor Matt Swartz projects Ward for a $9.2MM salary in 2025, a notable sum but still a bargain for a player like Ward. Free agent corner outfielders like Anthony Santander and Teoscar Hernández are likely to command multi-year contracts with average annual values double that. Ward would be in line for a raise in 2026, his final season before free agency, but that figure would still be a good deal if he continues to produce at his usual rates.
A trade coming together would naturally depend on what other clubs are willing to offer. Perhaps the Angels get offered some big league pitching or infield help that they feel is worth taking, but they would then have to pivot to replacing Ward in the outfield mix. The Pirates and Royals were both connected to Ward at the trade deadline with Kansas City reportedly still interested in him as of last month, though the Angels haven’t let go of him yet.
Some fans might hear about the Angels potentially trading an outfielder and jump to Trout but it’s hard to imagine a trade like that coming out of the blue. He has a full no-trade clause and has repeatedly said that he wants to stay and win with the Angels. It’s possible that he changes his mind at some point but there’s hasn’t been any public suggestion that has happened.
His contract is also hard to move from a financial perspective. Trout is paid at superstar rates but hasn’t been able to provide that production in a while. He’s always good when he’s on the field but hasn’t been out there enough to accrue counting stats at his previous levels. He’s set to make $35.45MM annually for another six seasons. Even for a marquee name like Trout, that’s a lot of money for a guy who’s now 33 years old with mounting injury concerns.
Even if Trout wanted to be traded, it would be a tricky spot for the Halos since they would likely have to settle for a middling return on a franchise player or eat money just to get a notable package, which isn’t a great P.R. position either way.
It’s also possible Moniak or Adell are the ones being discussed, though neither would have huge value right now. Moniak has stepped to the plate 908 times in the majors thus far with a .230/.272/.402 batting line and 32.3% strikeout rate. Adell has hit .211/.268/.381 in his career with a 32.2% strikeout rate.
It’s possible to see some improvement from Adell in 2024, as he popped 24 home runs while lowering his strikeout rate to 27.9%. His overall production was still subpar but his .244 batting average on balls in play was well below league average. It’s possible he took a meaningful step forward this past year and will break out with better luck in 2025 but he’s floundered so many times that teams might be reluctant to bet on that.
#FreeTrout
Catch and release.
Trade Trout to the Mets for Starling Marte’s contract.
They are both DH’s at this stage of the game.
No team wants Jo Adell or Mickey Moniak.
Trout even owns Safeco sitting on IL.
*T-Mobile
It’s almost like an outrageously paid hostage situation.
Die Hard!
It is Christmas time!
Exactly what I was thinking!
He’d have to be for anyone to take him at this point…
Love Trout but I don’t see any chance of them moving that contract. Maybe a team like the Mets or Dodgers could eat it and hope he stays healthy enough to dh.
On second thought the Dodgers are out with Ohtani locking down the dh spot.
I think the Dodgers already have a pretty good full-time DH.
They can get him anyway just to keep other teams from getting him.
Yankees need an OF.
They just gave Soto and Ohtani 700 million dollar contracts, I think at this point Trout’s contract is beginning to look like a bargain
Jo Adel for Arenado straight up who says no
Angels
Adell and rendon for arenado
Woof
bark
Doggie Rendon is not tradable. Who would pay for an injury plagued overpriced 3rd bm. Yankees maybe.
How about no way.
The Angels have extended their Black Friday sale. Three outfielders for the price of one. Bundle and save:
Ward, Adell, AND Moniak!
If you act now, we’ll throw in an all-star 3rd baseman. World Series champ Tony Rendon!
Bring Trout home to the East Coast. Mets or Phillies make some sense. I’d secretly pop for the Yanks, but then the reality of what he is now would set in. Then again, change of scenery could be great for him mentally which contributes to the physical part.
Trout is cooked. I don’t see anyone trading for him unless the Angels take on most of the contract or they trade Trout to get rid of the contract for some minor fodder.
Ward would make the most sense to trade.
If Arte is not paying Rendon to go away, he is certainly not doing it for a much more expensive Trout.
Hopefully not over cooked, over cooked fish is gross.
@bloomquist4hof
It is. What’ even worse is frozen fish. Fish is best served raw, as they do in Japan.
You just reminded me that I owe my son Sashimi dinner for his grades this semester. That was our agreement for good grade. Need to get that in before Christmas. Might be a fun thing to do Friday night.
He’s far from cooked. His injuries have been mostly freak, not chronic.
Trout owns a beutiful TPC rated golf course in southern NJ. The course is done but amenities are still being built.
He also has full no trade to 29 teams. He is not going anywhere.
I so badly want Trout to experience the playoffs in almost a decade, but I doubt the Angels will trade him. They acquired Jorge Soler, and Yusei Kikuchi, and have a signing from last year’s offseason ready to make his debut: Robert Stephenson.
Even if they traded him he would be watching from the IL.
Clo – Trading Trout to another team is not the only way for Trout to experience the playoffs. Moreno has the power to make it happen.
It makes the most sense to trade ward, and get bellinger in a separate deal. They need a centerfielder. It’s really not improving production, but it fixes the flexibility in the outfield. Also when moniak plays center, bellinger could play 1st.
Ward would fit perfectly on the Padres. What do you think that deal would look like?
I’m sure it BC would give up Paul Skenes for him. Seems to want to sell cheap on SP
They should just sign Yasiel Puig for 5 years/100 million.
Might as well give Bauer a shot too
@darren
Yasiel still plays doesn’t he?
Which brand of clubhouse destroying weirdo would you take 1st? Puig or Bauer?
I go Puig at least he is entertaining.
Trade Ward for prospects and move Trout to left. Build for 2027.
if we havent traded gifo yet, we wont be trading ward soon. odds are we wont be majorly successful with them, but at least let the kids feel like theyre playing for something so when they actually are, they know what to do.
And the Yankees agree to extend him.
Bowman and DOB havent broken any big news in years. I highly doubt they have any sense of this situation.
Oh boy, why do I see a Dombrowski landing a Ward and calling it an offseason. Seems right up his alley right now. Only adding the same fringes to the roster every season now.
My thoughts exactly. Bohm is gone.
Trout to ATL
No. Braves already have an oft injured outfielder in Acuna
It’s going to be a nothing trade of Moniak or Adell. Basically the same player, why have two of them.
Moniak is mostly worthless, guess Adell would get something. Maybe tracde change of scene guys somewhere.
Terrible take.
@rpoabr. Moniak is the only centerfielder on the team. Adell would be right fielder because he has a stronger arm than trout. The answer to who they trade would be the one left out. It’s starts with a w.
Sounds like to the royals for like zerpa and some combo of mj, massey or Garcia
Not mj or Massey. What if India gets hurt?
They probably would have to eat half or more of Trout’s contract to move him at all, if someone will even take him. The idea of crossing your fingers and hoping to get 400 PA probably isn’t the most enticing thing even for Trout. I guess there’s always some sliver of chance he can return to some vague semblance of his former self even for a couple seasons, but would anyone take that chance, even at a steep discount?
MIke’s on the wrong side of 30. If the Yankees want to compete with the Dodgers, they need to start playing the same game as the Dodgers and sign guys in their prime with deferrals. Otherwise, the Dodgers have won the next 4 or 5 championships already.
Never happens.
The Reds should be involved as Ward would be a fit for them. But Krall was quoted as saying most other teams including the Anglels are wanting ML talent in trades. The Reds have a ton of top prospects, but that may not be a match.
What if they offer them some kind of change of scenery swap for adell
I would pass on Adell. The Reds need a productive OF’er, not one that hoping a change of scenery will make him productive for the first time in the MLs. It has happened, but it is far too risky. and low chance of happening,
I was only thinking Adell because he could possibly be had for some version of marte who we don’t need, I don’t see us getting ward without trading a player who will just leave another vacancy on the roster.
A 3 team trade
Angels are still trying to compete so they get Roberts Jr as they need a true CF & want Trout to be able to DH more…. They are essentially shooting for that boom lottery ticket that Trout & Roberts can both stay healthy…
Reds get Ward as they need a need a CONSISTENT outfielder who can provide some pop…
White Sox get prospects from the Reds & maybe another throw in from the Angels…
I would love this trade.
BUT….there are some huge issues or flaws in it.
First being the White Sox are in a sell high mode for Roberts Jr, so you’d have add a lot more pieces.
Second the Angels just picked up Soler who is primarily a DH
A 3 way trade like that could work. We will see what happens. The Reds need 4 things in an OF trade. Control for at least a couple of years, money being right, good fielder and power/hitting production.
The obligatory Trade Trout crowd is as annoying as any common political chant.
Enough already.
The Angels are N O T trading Mike Trout
Enough of this! Anyone who mentions that the Angels are/ can/ or should trade Trout should be banished from ever commenting again!
Agreed, only way Trout leaves the Angels is if HE asks out. He has said on quite a few occasions, he appreciates the distance between his home(s) on the East n West coasts.
Would I love him patrolling LF at the Bank? Eff yeah, do I ever think it will happen, probably not…
He once even mentioned (and I am paraphrasing here) that is was a bit of a pain in the butt the few times the Angels came to Philly. He would hear from people he hadn’t talked to is years all wanting tickets etc. The only good thing was his parents bringing him a couple bags of his favorite burgers from Jim’s Lunch in Millville. His go to order from there is six burgers without cheese and with Jim’s special sauce.
You just mentioned it. Damn it was nice knowing you. Enjoy the pete rose treatment.
Why is annoying for baseball fans to want to see the greatest player of a generation to go play meaningful games for another franchise? They held on to Ohtani too long, can’t draft and develop players, bad FA signings. Cant believe Trout hasn’t asked for a trade. There’s two teams that could and should go after Mike Trout: the Philadelphia Phillies and the New York Yankees after missing out on Soto. Major League Baseball would actually be better because of it.
#1 Trout has repeatedly stated he is NOT asking to be traded.
#2 At this point moving his contract would be nearly impossible unless they paid down a significant portion
#3 Trading Trout would be PR nightmare amongst the Angels fanbase
#4 There is reason to hope he bounces back, much like Griffey Jr did, and has an admirable career in the OC
#5 I never said it was annoying to see him elsewhere, it is annoying to see the rhetoric and utter nonsense because he IS NOT BEING TRADED any time soon.
Shall I continue or do you at least somewhat get my point?
1972 – you forgot the biggest one – Trout has a full no trade clause.
Trout has to play it out with the Angels it’s his team, better legacy having stuck it out and not won than to get traded to a team that is not his, even if he gets a ring. Still has five good seasons in him. Angels can make one good run at it over the course of Trouts remaining years. Stick it out. I’m Trout of here!
It wasn’t annoying the first dozen times….but now it’s on every Angel thread. I’ve read the same inane, unoriginal comment 1,000 times.
Enough already.
@halo11fan. Agreed it’s like saying the same unfunny dad joke at every get together for 6-7 years straight, and wondering what happened to your friends.
@Rexhulder Hey don’t pick on Halo11fan, he may still have a friend or two left. ha ha ha
Yeah kind of like all the pea brains who keep saying the Rays should move to Oakland. Why would the Rays want to move from one piece of crap stadium to another one?
Angels should sign Bauer, Trout would be on board with that.
Halo – I’ m done explaining to morons that Trout can’t be traded. They’ll figure it out eventually.
Prov unfortunately you are giving them too much credit in thinking they will figure it out…..at all
I’d be more excited about adell than ward…
I mean I haven’t seen him play so maybe I’m wrong, ward would be an upgrade but he kinda is what he is. Adell seems to have some upside and could be cheaper…
I doubt it. It makes too much sense, and it’s being reported. And though ATL has been seemingly interested, there’s never been a whole lot of reported interest in Ward for awhile. Maybe they’re playing it cool like a nerd asking out the prom queen.
Yanks are going to be stacked. Trout, Bregman, Bellinger, Burnes, Arenado.
Save some for the rest of us…
I’m just glad they’re finally acknowledging Trout’s not actually Superman secretly providing 275 WAR with perfect numbers every year and might actually have been over extended and be too broken down to be remotely worth his contract and has been this way for a few years now- his ‘best baseball player in history’ era didn’t last as long as they thought it would and it’s likely long over.
$222.7M left on his deal over SIX seasons, he’s basically five seasons past his true prime as is and he looks like he’s basically done, physically, in terms of being a professional level athlete.
I don’t blame Trout- BTW. I’m not anti-Trout. I just think it is what it is and people’s support/belief in him is living in the past and ignoring how long it has actually been since he was the Mike Trout people think of him as.
still on pace for 6 war every single season of his career, if he got 550 abs. he clearly has not in a while and im not expecting a full season but to call him done is plainly glancing at his numbers and reading injury news and not actually thinking.
(in 2022 he did hit 6 war btw)
If Trout never played another game the Angels would come out ahead on him over his career. He has 86.2 WAR and will make a total of $544 million in his career.
He has had 10.1 WAR over the last 3 years, a 3.3 average, so he has been good just not a superstar. The guy put up 1.1 WAR in 20 games while Conforto put up 1.3 WAR in 130. Trout is still otherworldly good when he is on the field. He just needs to play 1B like Harper so he can stay on the field.
29 games, not 20.
He’ going to the Reds. You can bank it.
I would hope so but of course that all depends on what would be going back. Then of course there is that minor issue of the latest report that they are not trading him, LOL.
Likely to reallocate salary for a signing while getting something in return that can help them now in the middle of the roster.
Angels fans, does Ward have the athleticism to play a decent CF? Or is he strictly a corner OF?
I think he could be decent in CF probably. But the angels have never played him there to my knowledge, so maybe they know something I don’t.
@ma4170. No that’s why they need to move him. He has played 1st, 3rd, and catcher. Maybe a team will bring that back.
I wouldn’t mind if the Tigers put together a package featuring Matt Manning for Ward. Ward strikes me as an older version of Matt Vierling with more power. AJ will have more Hot Wheels for his match up toy box. The Halos will get a potential rotation piece itching for a fresh start (!)…
Angels get:
Taijuan Walker SP (2/37)
Alec Bohm 3B (2/20)
Cal Stevenson CF
Michael Mercado RHP (#19)
Mick Abel RHP (#6)
Griff McGarry RHP (#20)
Phillies get:
Mike Trout CF (6/210)
Ben Joyce RHP
Reid Detmers LHP
Phillies responsible for entire Trout contract. Then DD signs Josh Rojas to platoon with Edmundo Sosa at 3B and sign Adam Duvall to a split contract, RH bat to potentially platoon with Marsh in LF and give Bryce an occasional day off at 1B.
@609 walk away from the drugs
By the way Trout is NOT being traded!
just put the fries in the bag bro
I would be thrilled if the Braves got Moniak.
Me too
I will pack his bag.
“Even if Trout wanted to be traded, it would be a tricky spot for the Halos since they would likely have to settle for a middling return on a franchise player or eat money just to get a notable package, which isn’t a great P.R. position either way”.
Oh yeah, well how did that work out when they didn’t trade and get anything back for Ohtani?
@Low IQ
Thank god you aren’t running the team. I hate that trade proposal
I have seen you state on a few occasions you are an Angels fan, yet when the opportunity arises you take the stance, like in this case, that you are not.
You clearly need to pick a side of the fence here. If you are not a fan, then move along. No one wants to hear you rant over and over on how little you like the Angels.
Edwin Arroyo 3B for Taylor Ward?
Who says No?
Castellanos and T walker for Trout, (no money transfers/no prospects)
Cast/Walker eerily add up to 38 mill (Trouts salary) the next 2 years, then both expire.
Angels angle is obv getting off the last 4 yrs of Trout at 38 mill (152 mill basically)
anyone with any amount of baseball IQ says
NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO
Well that makes zero sense as there are 2 parties here.
I’ll assume by your name you think the Angels are getting screwed here, I happen to disagree there as well
Was looking for more detailed responses that delve into the financial impacts of this trade moving forward. I’m not an Angels fan, but Id feel this trade was a lifeline if I was and would accept rather quickly
Fine
No because #1 Trout would NOT waive no trade
and secondly why would the Angels take on 2 bad contracts even if it is for 2 years? Especially when you always have the chance that Trout only being in his early 30s can rebound and still be an all star?
Trout is NOT being traded anytime soon!
I should also add that there is no need to “match salaries” in MLB.
Totally agree he wont be traded and doubtful he’d waive his NTC, was more a mind exercise
I don’t think the Angels are going anywhere the next 2 years and Id love to wipe those last 4 out today.
Could Mikey rebound and make me the fool, yes definitely, but Im willing to push the red button today to get out of it. There’s significant downside in the contract today, one which this org doesn’t need in a build up stage moving forward
**I actually think this is a tougher decision for Philly Brass/fans to make
The only way you can even consider such a trade is Trout comes out and publicly demands it. The PR nightmare that will ensue if you trade the ONLY Angel to be a born and bred HOFer is not worth it.
Both teams. Trout has value even if he is not the Trout of old. His problem is health, not sucking like Castellanos and Walker. But Trout is owed steep piles of cash. No one is taking that off Arte’s hands.
Moniak to the Jays for Barger…
The Angels are not competing in 2025
The Angels would have to add an Outfielder before they can subtract one
@rsox. I’m guessing they are kicking tires on ward. To acquire bellinger. Ward is a left fielder, that’s where trout’s going to play this year.
Trout has a stronger arm than Ward. Why would he not play RF or maybe even 1B like Harper?
@baseball. Never said ward did. I still doubt that unless you have metrics to back it up. Trout has been known for a noodle arm. Was simply saying trout is taking ward’s spot which is confirmed. How the team is now. he doesn’t have a spot unless they put him at first and send schanuel down.
Statcast
Ward
Arm strength- 72nd percentile
Trout
Arm strength – 75th percentile
I didn’t read that Trout was definitively going to LF. You are an Angels fan so you undoubtedly read and hear more about their plans.
Ward has played more games in LF than RF, but he is not a stranger to the position. He has 195 games played in right. He isn’t good defensively in either so it’s about getting his bat in the lineup, not his glove.
@baseball. It’s possible they move ward to first. Maybe if they don’t get right package schanuel can hang in the minors until the deadline. He only played in the minors for a month. Still think it makes sense to trade ward and get bellinger, because otherwise they need a backup center. As far as adell and moniak I would like to see one more year. Ward has already peaked
Ward had a higher WAR last season than Bellinger. Just pass on expensive and mediocre OF unless the Cubs are paying more of the $52.5 million he is owed
Neither Ward nor Trout have great arms. Your stats show that. There have been indications since the Soler trade that Trout would play LF, but no statement from the team that he would for sure be the LF. I think Mike gets to choose anywhere that is not CF. I wish he would DH/1B. His bat is what makes him so valuable.
@outfield. I get what your saying it’s kinda of going backwards in a sense, but if you can get a centerfielder since there’s really not one on the market, makes sense. Trading ward might be able to get a utility guy, starting pitcher, or reliever. Instead of dipping into free agency. Not saying all three. I don’t think bellinger will cost much except the contract, and it’s really not that bad. It feels a need and it’s better flexibility because he’s cf/1b. Ward is a lf, that’s a expendable because of trout.
Kevin Pillar
Rather the Braves get Moniak. He won’t cost much in return and at 26 still has time to improve
It would make sense for the Angels to trade either Adell or Moniak. Not Ward.
Adell and Moniak have no value other than a couple million savings in salary.
That may be the first thing I have seen you post that makes sense. Cortes is headed to the pen in NY and Adell at least fills RF even if he is terrible.
The Angels have no intention of trading Ward. The Angels probably will trade either Adell or Moniak.