The Philadelphia Phillies will likely be looking to make a major move ahead of the trade deadline. After a brutal start to the 2026 season, the club fired manager Rob Thompson to help right the ship. President of baseball operations Dave Dombrowski immediately attempted to bring in Alex Cora for the position. The recently fired Boston Red Sox manager, however, opted to resist the move.
As a result, Dombrowski named bench coach Don Mattingly as Philadelphia’s interim manager. The move has, so far, paid off. The Phillies have won seven of their eight games with the New York Yankees legend at the helm. Assuming the club can continue their ascendency in the National League East, they will likely be buyers in the trade market.
Dombrowski even recently hinted that moves could be coming earlier than expected. According to MLB insider Jon Morosi, the Phillies exec recently admitted that he has had trade talks with other teams earlier than he has ever had in a season. Dombrowski previously became an MLB general manager way back in 1988. While the exec could improve his roster in multiple ways, Philadelphia’s offense has particularly struggled in 2026.
The biggest splash Dombrowski could make is to target Los Angeles Angels superstar Mike Trout. And Bleacher Report’s Zachary Rymer just named the Phillies as the best trade fit for the future Hall of Famer. Trout, now 34, has struggled with injuries in recent years, but is having a solid season once again. The outfielder already has 11 home runs to go along with an impressive .436 on-base percentage and 1.00 OPS.
Mike Trout Would Provide Big Boost to Struggling Philadelphia Phillies Lineup
GettyMike Trout is widely regarded as one of the best hitters of his generation.
This is not the first time that Trout has been linked with a possible move away from the Angels. After all, despite being a perennial MVP candidate for much of his career, Los Angeles has only made the playoffs once with Trout, and that was a dozen years ago. Despite this, the outfielder has previously resisted forcing a trade. He did, however, admit in 2024 that “there might be a time” that happens in the future.
At the moment, Trout is owed over $35 million per year through the 2030 season. If he wants to win a World Series title before he retires, he will likely have to leave his club. While the Philadelphia Phillies do have a losing record at the moment, they entered 2026 with high hopes. On paper, the team has a quality roster that may need one more slugger in the lineup, particularly in the outfield. Trout also grew up about an hour from where the Phillies play.
Philadelphia Would Likely Need L.A. to Retain Some Money in Deal
Assuming Trout is open to joining the Philadelphia Phillies, the financial aspects of the deal would be the biggest hurdle. As a result, Rymer suggests that Los Angeles would likely have to eat some of the superstar’s massive salary to help facilitate a trade. Philadelphia currently has the fifth-highest payroll in all of baseball.
Nevertheless, the Phillies do have prospects to attract Los Angeles. Fellow center fielder Justin Crawford would be a logical Trout replacement for the Angels. The American League club could also be interested in Philadelphia’s fourth-ranked prospect, Gage Wood. Although Dombrowski would have to give up highly rated youngsters, he could have a lineup that includes Kyle Schwarber, Bryce Harper, Trea Turner, and Trout.
Phillies Named Top Trade Fit for Three-Time MVP Superstar