3 LA Angels trade rumors to squelch before they gain any traction

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The Los Angeles Angels have had an eventful season. They've had some good moments and some awful moments, yet they find themselves right in the thick of postseason contention.

The Angels might be seven games back in the AL West but they're just 0.5 games back of the final Wild Card spot, and have shown no reason to think they'll suffer a 14-game losing streak like last season.

The Angels just traded for Eduardo Escobar, and will certainly be looking to add more talent to this roster barring an unforeseen collapse. We've seen some ridiculous mock trades already, and will certainly see more as the deadline approaches. Here are some Angels rumors you should squelch before thinking too much.

LA Angels star Shohei Ohtani is not being traded barring an unforeseen collapse

You knew this one was coming, but after Bo Porter's ridiculous mock trade, it's time to officially shoot down Shohei Ohtani trade rumors. The Angels, a team well over .500 will not consider moving their best player unless they find themselves outside of postseason contention.

We can argue all we want about whether or not this is the right decision to make. It's very possible the Angels miss the postseason and lose Shohei Ohtani for nothing but a compensatory pick in free agency. That would be, obviously, catastrophic.

I'm not saying whether the Angels are right or wrong to hold onto Shohei, but I am saying that the Angels have explicitly said that they're not moving him.

I know every opposing fan base wants Ohtani to come to their team, but it's just not happening. Maybe if the Angels collapse in the next month, but still, doubtful.

LA Angels outfielder Mike Trout is not getting traded no matter what

Another important one to shoot down would be Mike Trout going anywhere. There're different reasons as to why Trout wouldn't go anywhere, but even if the Angels collapse and trade Ohtani, Trout will still be here.

First of all, Trout has a no-trade clause. This is not to say he wouldn't waive it to go to a team like the Phillies, but there's a reason Trout signed the deal he signed. He wants to be an Angel for life. Even through all of the losing he's never asked out, all he's done is double down.

Let's just say Trout was fine with being traded or even requested it. Where would he go? Trout is making $35.45 million annually through the 2030 season. How many teams would trade for that contract? We know Arte Moreno isn't going to pay a cent of it.

Another reason Trout isn't going anywhere is his production. Look, I think he bounces back and is much better than a .250 hitter, but it's pretty clear Trout is beginning to decline offensively. He's still an elite player, but he's in decline. There just aren't many teams comfortable trading for an injury prone player who's in decline making as much money as Trout is.

Lastly, the cost won't be anything close to what the Angels are comfortable with. I'm not going to say Trout has negative value, but he's not netting you top prospects or anything close to worth trading your franchise icon. It's just not happening.

The Tim Anderson fit still isn't there for the LA Angels

The Angels infield depth has taken a serious hit with Gio Urshela done for likely the rest of the season, Zach Neto out for another while, and Anthony Rendon on the IL for the short term.

The only conceivable way the Angels trade for a player like Tim Anderson is if Neto's absence is prolonged by a while, and even if that happens I'm not sure a player like Anderson is someone the Angels should be looking at.

Anderson is a great player and a two-time all-star but he's also in the midst of his worst season. He's slashing .245/.284/.288 without a single home run and only 11 RBI. To put it lightly, that's brutal.

Anderson is a shortstop who is not good defensively, so if he isn't hitting there isn't much appeal to adding him.

He just played his first game at second base, but the Angels don't really need any help there with Brandon Drury doing a fine job at the position. The Angels would need more help at first base, but Anderson doesn't provide that. Even if they move Drury over to first, I'm not sure I want Anderson playing out of position anyway, especially when he has done nothing with the bat.

Anderson is a fun player to watch when he's going well, but this season has not been kind. I'd be shocked to see the Angels pursue him.

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