Aug 2, 2024; Anaheim, California, USA; Los Angeles Angels outfielder Mike Trout (27) in the dugout during the MLB game against the New York Mets at Angel Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Kiyoshi Mio-USA TODAY Sports

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MLB’s most bizarre trade rumor yet: Mike Trout and Rafael Devers swap teams

So insane that it might just make sense...

Let’s start by calming the Yankees fan in me – because no matter how ridiculous this Mike Trout-Rafael Devers swap sounds on paper, one undeniable truth remains: getting Devers out of the AL East would be a blessing. The guy has made a career out of terrorizing Yankees pitching, especially Gerrit Cole. Even if it means replacing him with a generational hitter like Mike Trout… well, that part I’ll have to think about.

Now, let’s see how this sounds for the two teams actually involved.

Context

This wild trade scenario stems from Boston’s offseason acquisition of Alex Bregman, which immediately sparked drama about where Rafael Devers fits into the lineup. First base? DH? Nowhere at all? The Red Sox reportedly assured Devers during his contract extension talks that he’d remain at third base. Now, with Alex Bregman in the mix, a Gold Glove at third base, that promise seems shaky, and Devers may not budge.

ALSO READ: WATCH: Rafael Devers practices at hot corner amid trade rumors

There’s no debate about who Boston’s biggest offensive asset is – it’s Devers. And if the Red Sox want to succeed, they either need to keep him happy or replace him with an equally elite bat.

While Devers hasn’t publicly demanded a trade, if he feels slighted, there’s always a chance. And that’s where Bleacher Report’s Zachary D. Rymer comes in with a trade proposal so insane it might just make sense:

Trade proposal: Mike Trout and Rafael Devers swap

Los Angeles Angels receive: 3B Rafael Devers
Boston Red Sox receive: RF Mike Trout, LHP Samuel Aldegheri (Angels No. 5 prospect), $100 million cash

Mike Trout has been baseball’s equivalent of a tragic hero since 2014 – the first, and only, time he’s seen the postseason. For a player who is arguably the greatest of his generation, that’s borderline criminal. The Angels have wasted Trout’s prime, and at this point, a move elsewhere might be the only shot he has at October baseball.

Sure, the AL East is brutal. But even an inconsistent Red Sox team gives Mike Trout a better postseason shot than the Angels.

Would this trade actually make sense?

At first glance, Trout-for-Devers sounds insane. But let’s break it down:

Trout’s value isn’t what it used to be. Injuries have piled up, and he’s played just 319 games over the past five seasons (including the shortened 2020 season). That’s 63.8 games per year – not ideal for someone earning $35.5 million annually until 2030.
Boston would get $100M in cash, helping offset the risk of Mike Trout’s contract.
Aldegheri is a solid left-handed pitching prospect, but he’s not a franchise-changing addition.

From the Angels’ perspective, Rafael Devers is a younger, more durable star who instantly becomes the face of their franchise. They get a 28-year-old elite hitter, under contract for several more years, at half the price of Juan Soto. Not bad.

For Boston, this trade only works if Trout can stay healthy – or if Devers is genuinely unhappy and forces his way out. Otherwise, dealing a 27-year-old offensive elite for an injury-riddled superstar is a tough pill to swallow.

Rymer gave this trade an insanely high “Wow Factor” of 9/10, and surprisingly, it does hold some logic.

Los Angeles Angels

Mike trout

Rafael Devers

Red Sox

Trade

Mohsin Baldiwala

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Mohsin Baldiwala is a Master’s student in Journalism and freelance content producer who got hooked on baseball through Seinfeld’s hapless George Costanza. The same reason why he’s a Yankees fan. He writes about sports because he believes it can offer a brief escape from the world’s chaos. Even if that means enduring the heartbreak of the 2024 World Series.