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Atlanta Braves: The Pros and Cons of a Mike Trout Move

By Benjamin Chase

ANAHEIM, CA - JUNE 01: Mike Trout #27 of the Los Angeles Angels warms up before the game against the Texas Rangers at Angel Stadium on June 1, 2018 in Anaheim, California. (Photo by Harry How/Getty Images)
ANAHEIM, CA - JUNE 01: Mike Trout #27 of the Los Angeles Angels warms up before the game against the Texas Rangers at Angel Stadium on June 1, 2018 in Anaheim, California. (Photo by Harry How/Getty Images) /
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Atlanta Braves
ATLANTA, GA – AUGUST 28: Ender Inciarte #11 of the Atlanta Braves converses with Ronald Acuna Jr. #13 during a pitching change after failing to catch a two-run homer by Brandon Lowe #35 of the Tampa Bay Rays in the sixth inning at SunTrust Park on August 28, 2018 in Atlanta, Georgia. (Photo by Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images) /

An article in The Athletic recently mentioned a possible trade scenario that could bring the game’s best player to the Atlanta Braves. Is it crazy to consider?

Mike Trout has two more seasons left on his deal, but the Los Angeles Angels may be facing a year without Shohei Ohtani due to a possible Tommy John surgery as well as the continued advanced aging of former superstar Albert Pujols. That led to an article this week from Ken Rosenthal of The Athletic (paid link) about options the Angels may have with Trout, and one included a possible trade with the Atlanta Braves.

This was the exact quote:

"The exec proposed the following package from the Braves: Outfielder Ender Inciarte and left-hander Sean Newcomb plus the Nos. 2, 3, 4 and 7 prospects, according to MLBPipeline.com, from a talent-rich system: right-handers Kyle Wright and Ian Anderson, third baseman Austin Riley and righty Touki Toussaint. Sounds like a lot? Of course it’s a lot — the Braves would be getting Mike Trout."

That’s a huge package, no doubt. That would be the Atlanta Braves starting center fielder, #3 (or #4) starter, and four of the top 10 prospects in one of the 2-3 best farm systems in the entire game. Interestingly, a number of places cannot decide if this is too much or too little for Trout, which is usually a good sign that the price is right about in the sweet spot where there’s some feasibility behind the deal.

The question is two-fold: if the Atlanta Braves were presented with such an opportunity, would it make sense to make the deal, and would the deal be worth it to make in the short and long term for the franchise?

We will explore both of those answers, but first, let’s take a look at exactly what this would do for the Atlanta Braves roster for 2019 if it were to go through.

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