Mike Trout may be one of the biggest Philadelphia sports fans in baseball, but that has not brought him any closer to actually playing for the Phillies. The Angels star made that clear while in town for his 12th All-Star Game, and the answer still comes back to the same obstacle: his no-trade clause.
Trout grew up in Millville, New Jersey, about 40 minutes south of Citizens Bank Park, and he said he enjoys coming to Philadelphia. He has family ties to the area, a home near his parents’ house and Trout National in Millville, and he still talks about the city with obvious affection.
A trade still depends on Trout
“I enjoy coming to Philly. I’m an Angel, obviously. I’ve got a no-trade clause, so it’s ultimately my decision. But like I said, I love Philly,” Trout said Monday. He added, “Like I said, I’ve got the no-trade clause. It’s obviously my decision. I’m with the Angels, so that’s where it’s at.”
That is the main reason a move remains unlikely. Trout has spent all 16 seasons of his Hall of Fame career with the Angels, and he has not been to the playoffs since 2014, but there is still no indication that he has asked to leave.
People who know Trout doubt he will push for a deal, even with the Angels stuck in their 11th straight losing season. Joe Maddon, who managed Trout for 2½ seasons, said on Phillies Extra that Trout might agree to a trade if owner Arte Moreno approached him, but Moreno has long resisted trading stars.
Why Phillies fans keep dreaming
Trout’s connection to Philadelphia is easy to understand. He said he grew up a Phillies fan, along with being an Eagles and Sixers fan, and he hears about the possibility all the time from fans at Eagles games. “I appreciate them,” he said of the fans who ask about a Phillies trade.
The fit is obvious on the field, too. Trout is a right-handed hitter with power and on-base ability, exactly the kind of bat the Phillies could use in the middle of the order to help protect Bryce Harper.
| Key Trout Details | What the Article Says |
|---|---|
| Team | Los Angeles Angels |
| Career length | 16 seasons with the Angels |
| Playoff drought | Has not reached the playoffs since 2014 |
| Trade control | No-trade clause |
| Local ties | Grew up in Millville, N.J., and has family nearby |
Bryce Harper knows the appeal as well. He said, “I love Mike, man,” and added that they played together in Arizona Fall League in 2011 and became friends. Harper also said Trout has been someone the league roots for because of his talent and the way he can perform on a national stage.
Harper once lobbied for Trout to join the Phillies and was fined by MLB in 2019 for it, so he was careful not to go there again. Still, he predicted Trout could deliver a memorable All-Star moment in his home area, saying, “He’ll probably go deep, I’d imagine, just because that’s who he is.”
A homecoming built for a big stage
Trout will lead off for the American League in the 96th All-Star Game, becoming the first batter of the night in front of a crowd that is expected to be especially loud. He has played only eight games at Citizens Bank Park, and this one will come with about 20 friends and family members in attendance, including his wife Jessica and their two sons.
He said he planned to stay for Wednesday and play Trout National before flying back to Southern California to begin the second half. Even with all the Philadelphia affection around him, Trout tied his loyalty back to the Angels and to the idea of staying with one team, pointing to Derek Jeter as the model he admired growing up.
That is why the dream remains just that for Phillies fans. Trout loves the city, knows the fan base, and understands why the questions keep coming, but he has not shown any sign that he is ready to make Philadelphia his baseball home.
