The New York Yankees are facing a significant gap in their lineup after losing Juan Soto to their crosstown rivals, the Mets, who offered him a record-breaking contract potentially worth $820 million over 15 years. Now, the Yankees must figure out how to replace Soto’s production.
Reports suggest that the Yankees are eyeing free agent Teoscar Hernandez of the Los Angeles Dodgers, but new and somewhat improbable rumors began circulating on Wednesday, hinting at another potential superstar from the Los Angeles area.
Matt Shovelson of Wrightway Sports Network wrote, “The Yankees are still in win-now mode, but after Juan Soto signed with the Mets, they need another star to pair with Aaron Judge,” and predicted that the Yankees could pursue Los Angeles Angels outfielder Mike Trout.
Shovelson was quick to clarify, “This is a PREDICTION, not a REPORT!”
Trout, drafted by the Angels in 2009 and quickly becoming one of the game’s best players, has been an MVP three times, despite playing for a team that has made the postseason only once during his 14-year career. Over the first seven years of his career, Trout’s stats outpaced Soto’s in almost every category, with Trout hitting 235 home runs compared to Soto’s 201, and posting a higher OPS (.1000 vs. .953) and batting average (.310 vs. .285).
In 2019, Trout signed a 12-year, $426.5 million extension with the Angels, but with six years left on the deal, the team shows no real signs of playoff contention.
Despite hailing from New Jersey and being a Yankees fan growing up, Trout has expressed little interest in playing for New York. ESPN’s Alden Gonzalez reported that Trout values the separation between his home life in the Northeast and his baseball life in Southern California and seems uninterested in the media attention that comes with playing for the Yankees.
Trout missed most of the 2024 season due to a torn meniscus but has said he’s open to changing positions to remain on the field, possibly switching to a corner outfield spot or designated hitter.
The Yankees would also have to consider whether they’re willing to pay Trout $37 million annually, especially with his injury history. To make a trade work, the Angels might need to absorb part of Trout’s salary while he hypothetically plays for the Yankees.
