As the MLB trade deadline approaches, the Los Angeles Angels face a familiar crossroads. With the team slowly slipping out of postseason contention, they're poised to become one of the most active sellers on the market—and the smartest move might not involve trading Mike Trout.

While countless rumors have swirled around the future Hall of Famer, his no-trade clause makes a deal complicated. Instead, the Angels could turn their attention to a more practical asset: veteran infielder Adam Frazier.

Frazier, an All-Star with the Pittsburgh Pirates in 2021, is the kind of player that every World Series contender covets for a playoff push. He's a left-handed utility man who can plug in anywhere on the diamond, serve as a late-game pinch-runner, and provide a steady at-bat off the bench. According to FanSided's Chris Landers, "Frazier isn't flashy, and he certainly won't fetch a haul for Los Angeles. But he's exactly the kind of player that every World Series hopeful wants to have on their bench for the stretch run."

So far this season, Frazier has posted a .733 OPS with a home run and six RBIs in 70 plate appearances for the Angels, along with a 106 OPS+ that shows he's been surprisingly solid at the plate. He's also no stranger to the trade market—this would be his fourth career trade, having played for six different organizations since leaving Pittsburgh.

For the Angels, the logic is clear. Los Angeles signed Frazier to a one-year, $1.75 million deal this offseason, exactly the kind of low-risk, high-upside contract designed to be flipped at the deadline. As Landers put it, "Teams need guys that can plug as many holes as possible. He's exactly the sort of rental veteran that rebuilding teams sign for one-year deals specifically so they can flip them at the deadline."

Whether the Angels ultimately pull the trigger remains to be seen, but if they're serious about building for the future, dealing Frazier to a contender could be the smartest route to take.