That Balls Outta Here
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Why Angels star Mike Trout fits with the Philadelphia Phillies

By Jim Bahm

ANAHEIM, CA - SEPTEMBER 25: Mike Trout #27 of the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim looks on prior to a game against the Texas Rangers at Angel Stadium on September 25, 2018 in Anaheim, California. (Photo by Sean M. Haffey/Getty Images)
ANAHEIM, CA - SEPTEMBER 25: Mike Trout #27 of the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim looks on prior to a game against the Texas Rangers at Angel Stadium on September 25, 2018 in Anaheim, California. (Photo by Sean M. Haffey/Getty Images) /
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While the obvious offseason targets for the Phillies are Bryce Harper and Manny Machado, the Phillies should make a move to acquire Mike Trout.

Now that the Boston Red Sox have convincingly won the World Series, we enter the next phase of MLB and that is free agency.  The Phillies along with several other clubs could be principle players as the likes of Bryce Harper, Manny Machado, and Patrick Corbin get set to make the “Big Bucks” and I mean really BIG BUCKS!

But what if the Phillies first switch their focus toward someone else? Like……wait for it……Mike Trout. The man, the legend, the Millville Meteor, the possible GOAT! Could it happen?

My colleague George Stockburger in this TBOH article provided great analysis on the potential trade packages for Trout. Signing either of the three aforementioned players, or possibly a couple second-tier free agents (get to that in a minute) could improve the Phillies’ recipe for success as well as satisfy their hungry fanbase, but getting Trout could put them in the playoff hunt real quick.  Of course, it would also require a few other creative moves but nothing too crazy.

Hopefully, every fan knows you are not going to get Trout unless you give up top-quality prospects. The Phillies have two top prospects with several possible youngsters in the lower levels who could morph into that classification. Sixto Sanchez and Adam Haseley are probably the Phillies’ top two legitimate prospects with high expectations for Adonis Medina, Alec Bohm, and JoJo Romero.

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Others, such as pitchers Enyel De Los Santos, Cole Irvin, and Ranger Suarez have excellent potential to make the MLB rotation. First baseman Darick Hall and outfielder Austin Listi, both from Dallas Baptist University, are great sleeper prospects as well as lefthanded pitchers David Parkinson and Will Stewart, who were both 8-1 at Lakewood this past summer. All could be major-leaguers one day.

The biggest question is will the Angels be willing to give up the main face of their franchise? From their standpoint, they need to sign Trout ASAP.  If they do not (and he may not because he and his wife may want to return to their families in South Jersey and sign with his favorite NL team…. hear that Yankees fans?) the Angels may not get anything of quality in return for him.

So Arte Moreno (Angels owner) and Billy Eppler (General Manager) what do you want? Grab yourself a handful! (no more than five) OR…. choose five off the MLB roster (with the exception of Nola and Hoskins). Mix and Match! Can we get ‘er’ done?

Some people will say: Are you crazy? You are giving up the farm! Others will say that’s still not enough. I will respond to that by saying not really to the first question and you might be right to the second.

Before I attempt to succinctly defend my first answer, I would say we are talking about the most complete centerfielder since Mickie Mantle and Willie Mays. A guy who would absolutely love to play the rest of his career near his home of Millville NJ, and a player who would potentially be the greatest Phils’ fan favorite ever!

Now, Sanchez could be another Pedro Martinez one day, but then again, injuries may prove that he might not.  Haseley will be a good Major Leaguer one day, but will he produce every day as a major leaguer? Medina and Bohm may be studs one day but guess what?  We are talking Trout here!

Obviously, there is no one from the major league roster, and realistically there is no one from the prospect list that can put up numbers like Trout. No one! It is probably a safe bet that statement rings true for almost every major league team, and that puts the Phillies as a qualifier to be in the trade talks.  In addition, Trout might choose to not sign a contract with the Halos, choosing instead to one day wear Phillies red pinstripes instead.

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It might also take the Angels raiding the Phillies big league roster.  That is okay, go for it. Carlos Santana (might have to add a few dollars), Odubel Herrera, Maikel Franco, J.P. Crawford, Scott Kingery, Cesar Hernandez, Nick Williams, Roman Quinn, Jorge Alfaro: pick five. Pick a pitcher or two from the rotation. After the Phillies trade for Trout, they can sort through the remaining players and trade and replace.

If the Phillies are able to trade for Trout, then they should go all out and sign Manny Machado (ok Yankees fans you have the edge on this one as well as Corbin).  John Middleton will have to put his money where his mouth is roll out the greenbacks. Also, they should bring Wilson Ramos and Freddy Galvis back.

Of course, it may take some convincing to play for the unpredictable Gabe Kapler, but money could talk in this case.

I know you still think I’m crazy! But a great team must be strong up the middle.  Ramos, Galvis, and Trout up the middle will solve plenty of the club’s problems. In addition, you will have a Gold Glove third baseman in Machado and decent defenders at second in Hernandez and/or Kingery.  I truly think if Kingery did not have to be an everyday utility man (which makes no sense) and instead an everyday second baseman, most of his hitting troubles would ease up.

Pitchers will be more confident and effective with Trout and the smooth-fielding Freddy Galvis up the middle. So what if Galvis doesn’t hit? It will not matter he is strictly in there for his defense.

If the Angels raid the Phillies major league lineup, we can even add a prospect or two. That is okay: we are talking TROUT!  There will still be decent players to surround Trout, Machado, Hoskins, and Ramos. A lineup of:

  1. Quinn: LF
  2. Trout: CF
  3. Machado: 3B
  4. Hoskins:1B
  5. Ramos: C
  6. Williams: RF
  7. Galvis: SS
  8. Kingery: 2B

Could get it done!

Next. Remembering the 2008 World Series, ten years later. dark

I guess it all depends on what Arte and Billy say.  And, oh yeah, what Matt Klentak and John Middleton say as well. I say GO FOR IT!

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