MRI on Mike Trout is clean; trade deadline approaches

ANAHEIM, Calif. — Mike Trout was relieved when speaking to media Friday prior to the Angels game against the Oakland A's.

The former MVP had a MRI on his left knee Thursday and told reporters that it came back clean with no major damage.

"I got the MRI, came back clean, just scar tissue buildup and some inflammation in there which is a huge relief for me," Trout said.

Trout had surgery on a torn meniscus May 3 and went to Triple-A Salt Lake on Tuesday for a rehab assignment. He experienced some discomfort after playing two innings Tuesday and returned to Anaheim to get evaluated.

“Something didn’t feel right,” Trout said. “Then I came out the next day and tried to loosen it up and felt a little pop. Then I thought the best thing is for me to come back and get it checked out, make sure everything was good.”

Trout said he can swing the bat pain free right now, but hasn't tried to run since returning to Anaheim.

"I'm just doing rehab right now," he said. "In the two days since I've been home I haven't ran or anything.

"Just trying to let it calm down a little bit and get right back out there."

Trout said if he feels good in the coming days he will try to run and get back on the field as soon as possible. 

"For me, he doesn't have to be 100 percent,"  Angels manager Ron Washington said. "His presence is just as important as his performance.

"To hear that news today that he's getting there, that's good news because I think these young kids need his presence."

Washington said that he doesn't anticipate Trout needing to return to Salt Lake for any rehab appearances once he is ready to return. 

"He's been there already," Washington said. "Once he says he's ready to go, he's going have to be ready to go here."

Trade deadline mentality

With the trade deadline approaching Tuesday, several Angels players have been rumored to be on the trade block.

The Angels went 7-3 in their last three series and have played better baseball. Washington said the recent success does not change the team's approach for the trade deadline. 

"Our approach to this deadline has not changed and will not change," Washington said. "I expect us to be playing the way we are playing until the season is over, no matter who the personnel is."

"No matter who we have left, we will have O'Hoppe, Neto, Schanuel, Moniak. That core is going to be here. Mike (Trout), Rendon are going to be here and we are going to perform with whatever we have."

Around the league

One of the names from the Angels that has been floated around in trade rumors is closer Carlos Estevez. 

A trade occurred today involving a player of a similar caliber as Estevez. The Toronto Blue Jays traded relief pitcher Yimi Garcia to the Seattle Mariners in a package that involved Jonatan Clase, who was previously the No. 12 ranked prospect in the Mariners organization.

Garcia has a 2.70 earned run average in 30 innings with five saves and 42 strikeouts. He has an ERA+ of 151 and a FIP of 2.64. Estevez has a 2.38 ERA in 34 innings with 20 saves and 32 strikeouts. His ERA+ is 1.79 and his FIP is 2.85. 

Both players will be free agents after the season and will be rental arms for their respective teams. Estevez has more experience closing games than Garcia and he throws more strikes, so he might yield a slightly bigger return, but the Angels should expect a prospect around the caliber of Clase in return for Estevez.