An early subplot to the Los Angeles Dodgers pursuing Shohei Ohtani in free agency was a report the team would also look to complete a Mike Trout trade if they managed to sign the two-way superstar.
That appeared improbable given the financial commitment required to roster both players, but if the Dodgers believed it would aid their pursuit of Ohtani, or if he signaled any interest in remaining teammates with Trout, then certainly the possibility would be explored.
The initial report was refuted and Angels general manager Perry Minasian also went on the record to state Trout would not be traded despite the team receiving interest for the three-time MVP.
Minasian reiterated that stance during the Winter Meetings earlier this week by fully ruling out a potential Trout trade, via Sarah Valenzuela of the L.A. Times:
“Mike Trout’s not getting traded,” Minasian told reporters at the winter meetings. “100%.”
Beyond financial implications, it was all the more difficult to imagine the Angels would be willing to trade Trout to the Dodgers. Angels owner Arte Moreno reportedly became frustrated with the delay for a trade to acquire Joc Pederson and Ross Stripling in 2020, and backed out of negotiations.
Then there were conflicting reports at the MLB trade deadline this year as to whether or not Ohtani was truly available, and also with how open Moreno may or may not have been in working with the Dodgers on a deal.
Shohei Ohtani likely breaking Mike Trout’s contract record
Trout signed a record-setting 12-year, $426.5 million extension in March 2019 that has him under team control through 2030. Trout at that point will be 38 years old.
Trout’s contract is both the richest in MLB and at the time it was largest in North American Sports history. However, that since has been exceeded in the NFL with Patrick Mahomes signing a 10-year, $450 million contract in 2020.
Both figures should be shattered when Ohtani signs his contract, which recent estimates suggest could approach $600 million.
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