After the Marlins’ and Blue Jays’ November trade rocked the baseball world, the Angels decided to ride the offseason wave and made some dramatic moves of their own. Most recently, and most notably, Los Angeles picked up top free agent outfielder Josh Hamilton. The acquisition of Hamilton further loaded the Angels’ outfield, making some of their top young talent expendable.
Apparently, talks picked up this week between the Angels and the Marlins, who are looking to add depth to their 
outfield and give Giancarlo Stanton some lineup power protection. Preliminary reports seemed to indicate that the Marlins were interested in dealing for Peter Bourjos, but Clark Spencer, a Marlins beat writer for the Miami Herald, tweeted recently that the Marlins were “not real interested” in Bourjos, but would prefer to attain a more powerfully-hitting outfielder. And the Angels have just that.
Mark Trumbo has not necessarily become “expendable” with the signing of Josh Hamilton, but he is certainly not as crucial to Anaheim’s everyday lineup. The Angels are looking to bolster their rotation at the present moment, making a veteran like Ricky Nolasco a viable target. MLB.com’s Hot Stove reported yesterday that a Nolasco-Trumbo deal may be in the works.
Nolasco is the only real veteran Marlin who survived the massive 2012 chop shop. Nolasco likely wants to leave, and would fit right in with Anaheim. MLB.com’s Pete McCarthy made a good point saying it doesn’t “make a whole lot of sense for the Marlins to have an $11+ million starter after trading so much of the [team].” Further, Mark Trumbo would provide much more protection in the lineup for Stanton than would Justin Ruggiano or whomever else the Marlins had in mind.
Trumbo, who has experience in both corner outfield spots, also played first base in Anaheim. The Marlins have long had first baseman inconsistencies, so possessing a power-hitter who can play the spot, at least on occasion, would be valuable. Assuming Trumbo would play outfield regularly, Miami would likely place him in left, keep the strong arm of Stanton in right, and let Justin Ruggiano have fun in center.
The Top Step 