By Matt Rappa, Sports Talk Philly editor 
Thursday, Sept. 6, 2018.
Philadelphia Phillies fans longing for a potential acquisition of Millville, New Jersey's own and future Hall of Fame outfielder Mike Trout should remember that date, if such an aspiration ever came to fruition. And it very well could.
The Los Angeles Angels — who enter Friday's action four games under .500, 19 games behind the American League West-leading Houston Astros and are projected to finish with a third straight losing season — spent their third-to-last off day of the season on Thursday contemplating the fate of injured two-way player, Shohei Ohtani. Less than 24 hours prior, the club announced that an MRI on Ohtani's right elbow revealed "new damage" to his ulnar collateral ligament (UCL), and that reconstruction or Tommy John surgery is the "recommended plan of care."
The Angels' top player in Trout, meanwhile, was not with the club in Los Angeles, planning for the final stretch of his eighth season, but rather in Philadelphia, attending the defending Super Bowl champion Eagles' 2018 season opener against the Atlanta Falcons at Lincoln Financial Field.
Although Trout's attendance at a Philadelphia sporting event during a scheduled off day seems insignificant, and it is, consider the symbolism and the current dismal state and future of the Angels franchise.
What makes Ohtani's injury significant, however — despite doctors' saying he can undergo surgery and still play in 2019 as solely a designated hitter — is that valuable time continues to tick away for the Angels, who have made the postseason just once over the last nine seasons (2014). The expiring time is that of when Trout's $144.5 million, six-year contract, ends following the 2020 season. Among conversations with six major-league executives on Thursday, The Athletic's Ken Rosenthal reported a consensus exists that the Angels "must get an answer on Trout’s future."
"At some point, … they must decide which is worse: The thought of trading Trout, or the thought of never winning a postseason game with him, and getting only a draft pick when he departs.
Ohtani, 24, has contributed significantly in his first season with the Angels as both a designated hitter and starting pitcher. At the plate, Ohtani has slashed .287/.367/.579 with 45 runs, 16 doubles, 18 home runs, 47 RBI and seven stolen bases over 82 games and 279 plate appearances. On the mound, the right-hander has gone 4-2 with a 3.31 ERA, 1.161 WHIP and 63-22 strikeout-to-walk ratio spanning 10 starts and 51 2/3 innings.
Ohtani and Hall of Fame two-way player Babe Ruth are the only players ever to slug 15 home runs and pitch 50 innings in a season. The two are also the only players since 1900 with 10-plus home runs batting and four-plus wins pitching in a single season. In addition, the Oshu, Japan, native's 18 home runs ties Kenji Johjima (2006, Seattle) for the most ever by a Japanese-born rookie.
Even if Ohtani does not pitch in 2019 and appears solely as a designated hitter, he likely would be limited 160 innings in 2020, "even if his recovery progressed smoothly," Rosenthal notes. "[Ohtani] might return as a designated hitter next season, but even then, the Angels would face complications — Albert Pujols, coming off left-knee surgery and turning 39 on Jan. 16, seems unlikely to carry a significant load at first base."
The 2020 season, Trout's last under contract, does not project much better. While Rosenthal notes pairing Ohtani, shortstop Andrelton Simmons and perhaps top outfield prospect Jo Adell would be "wildly entertaining," Simmons' seven-year, $58 million contract also expires following that season, and the club "almost certainly will not be as good" as their division rivals, the Houston Astros, Oakland Athletics or Seattle Mariners.
Rosenthal writes:
"One rival executive, in assessing the Angels, said the team has a “ton of holes,” specifically identifying catcher, first base due to Pujols, second or third depending upon which position Zack Cozart plays and arguably one outfield position, given Kole Calhoun’s decline. And that is before even getting to the pitching, which is by far the team’s bigger concern. The Angels probably need to add at least two starting pitchers and address their bullpen as well. …
A free-agent spending spree is unlikely to elevate the Angels from their current state of mediocrity, not when too many of their veterans already are on the wrong side of 30 and the team’s improving farm system is not yet ready to spit out significant major-league ready talent. "
The lack of a guarantee to acquire equivalent value, given Trout's full no-trade clause and him being owed $33.25 million over each of the next two seasons, could hinder owner Arte Moreno's justification to trade the seven-time All-Star. Rosenthal continues:
"Not one executive contacted by The Athletic believes Moreno actually would approve of such a move. Moreno is deeply fond of not only Trout the player but also Trout the person …
Moreno’s affection for Trout is understandable, but executives try to strip emotion from their decisions. One said the 'textbook' move, if Trout is unwilling to sign an extension, would be to trade him for perhaps the biggest package ever and move forward with a better future. Another seemed downright intrigued by the possibility, saying, 'One of the best talents in the history of the game is rarely explored in the market. A team might be willing to do something absolutely insane to acquire him. We just don’t know.'"
Per Rosenthal's executive source, the Angels could target a prospect-rich team looking to "'condense talent,' by trading a slew of youngsters for two years of a future Hall of Famer." Rosenthal named the Phillies, Atlanta Braves and San Diego Padres as "three such organizations," also adding that the New Yankees "never can be ruled out of such pursuits."
So while the Phillies are expected to be contenders this offseason to sign superstar free agents Manny Machado and Bryce Harper, keep an eye on the possibility of John Middleton, Andy MacPhail, Matt Klentak and company putting together their top prospect assets to land Trout. The Angels might decide the time is right this offseason to retool and move on to the next chapter of their franchise, given Ohtani's injury and other future impacts. What better time and place for the Angels than to deal Trout to the city that loved him all along?
The ball is largely in Trout's and Angels general manager Billy Eppler's court. Trout has a full no-trade clause, and Eppler said in a Wednesday conference call with reports that the club will not deal Trout. A lot can change and fast. Consider the Washington Nationals, who near the July 31 deadline shopped their once untouchable Harper, given his impending free agency. Rosenthal said that money might not be Trout's "sole motivator," if he does decide to waive his no-trade clause:
"Both Trout and his wife, Jessica, are from Millville, N.J., and he might simply want to use free agency as a means to play closer to home. Then again, the idea of spending his entire career with one team might carry its own appeal."
As the article's lede suggests, do not forget Thursday, Sept. 6, 2018, … the day the Angels' chances to succeed in current and future seasons with Trout lessened due to the injury of Ohtani.
What was previously thought as the impossible, the Angels trading their superstar Trout, has in recent days become much more realistic.
