Boston Red Sox
“If it happens, you can thank me. If it doesn’t, don’t blame me.”
Mike Trout has slugged 11 home runs so far this season. (AP Photo/Frank Franklin II)
May 12, 2026 | 7:25 PM
2 minutes to read
Could a Red Sox team in desperate need of a shakeup — and an impact bat — be on the prowl for a three-time MVP?
Longtime 98.5 The Sports Hub radio host Michael Felger shared an interesting trade rumor during Tuesday’s episode of “Felger & Mazz” — relaying a message from a “source” about Boston’s reported interest in dealing for Angels star Mike Trout.
Before diving into the rumor, Felger was quick to downplay the validity of the “source” in question.
“This is something that I can just kind of see happening — because it’s so out there,” Felger said. “I can see it, but I’m not presenting this to you as, ‘baseball sources inform me that this is coming’. … I feel it’s my responsibility as a host of a one-source show. And I would say even the use of the word ‘source’.”
“Is loose,” fellow host Tony Massarotti interjected.
“Very,” Felger replied. “But if something interesting comes across my phone, I’m going to present it, and don’t blame me.”
Felger then relayed what he heard from the source about a potential blockbuster deal involving the Red Sox and Angels.
“Don’t be surprised if we end up with Mike Trout,” Felger said of the source’s comments. “He’s 100 years old, but they believe he is a better leader than [Alex] Bregman and will hit a bunch of home runs at Fenway Park and LA likes [Jarren] Duran and [Brayan] Bello.”
Trout’s credentials speak for themselves as an 11-time All-Star who was arguably the best player in baseball for close to a decade.
But it remains to be seen if the Red Sox want to assume the risk of taking on a player in Trout who is already 34 years old, has dealt with injuries over the last few years, and is making over $37 million a year through the end of the 2030 season.
Trout — who turns 35 in August — is having a bounce-back season with Los Angeles so far this year. Through 41 games, Trout is batting .248 with 11 home runs, 23 RBI, and a .924 OPS.
However, this surge in production has been an outlier for the future Hall-of-Famer as of late.
Over the previous six seasons from 2020-25, Trout has only appeared in 449 total games, appearing in under 55 games in three of those campaigns.
Trout would be a welcome addition to Boston’s lineup as a veteran talent, marketable star, and a right-handed bat who could get on base and pepper the Green Monster.
But the Red Sox would assume plenty of risk taking on a player with Trout’s injury concerns and his age — especially if Boston is on the hook for the rest of a contract that is seemingly destined to age poorly.
And even if the Angels wanted to get Trout’s contract off the books, one would assume that another team with deep pockets could trump a Red Sox trade package centered on Duran and Bello.
Duran — who won’t hit free agency until 2029 — has seen his stock plummet over the last few seasons. The 29-year-old outfielder is batting just .194 this season with four home runs and 18 RBI over 35 games, while Bello has been one of the bigger disappointments on the mound for Boston with a 7.44 ERA across seven appearances.
“If it happens, you can thank me,” Felger reiterated. “If it doesn’t, don’t blame me.”
Conor Ryan is a staff writer covering the Bruins, Celtics, Patriots, and Red Sox for Boston.com, a role he has held since 2023.
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