“The Angels probably resist any overture to reunite Trout and Shohei Ohtani across town, but at the end of the day, how many teams are actually equipped to take on Trout’s exorbitant salary…The Dodgers do need help in the outfield. It was one of their few genuine weak points offensively last season. Trout batting cleanup behind Ohtani, Mookie Betts and Freddie Freeman is a hell of a concept, and financially, few teams are more reckless with their spending. If any organization can take the plunge on Trout’s contract and just see if he’s durable enough in the outfield, it’s the Dodgers. And if any team can survive Trout’s inevitable, extended absence due to injury, it’s also the Dodgers,” Kline wrote.
This past season, Trout slashed .232/.359/.439/.797 with 14 doubles, 26 home runs, and 64 RBI in 130 games played. Put him in the Dodgers’ lineup, and those numbers are to be pumped up.