Bobby Abreu-Mike Trout maneuver benefits Dodgers and Angels It's a cliché, really. Not exactly the tired variety, because it seldom works out that a trade truly benefits both teams. But the Dodgers and Angels are stretching the adage with their Bobby Abreu-Mike Trout maneuver, a move that has clearly worked out well for each. When the Angels released Abreu on April 27, eating the rest of his $9-million salary, the left-handed hitting outfielder was miffed at his reduced playing time. And in truth, he was not performing well when he did play. So they cast him adrift and called up the heralded Trout. Seven days later, the Dodgers signed Abreu. What has happened since for both teams has been an ongoing tale of success. Trout has been an absolute sensation. Despite playing in just more than half of the Angels' first 61 games, he entered Monday's game leading the team with 33 runs scored, a .350 batting average, 13 stolen bases and a .407 on-base percentage. More important, the Angels were awash in disappointment at the time Abreu was released, struggling at 6-14. Since Trout arrived, they have gone 26-15. "I don't think you can understate how important he's been to our lineup since he came up for the last month or so," Angels Manager Mike Scioscia said. Meanwhile, Abreu joined the first-place Dodgers on May 4 in Chicago. Dodgers General Manager Ned Colletti and Manager Don Mattingly had spoken to Abreu before his signing. "We weren't sure about the playing time," Colletti said. We know he loves to play, so we wanted to let him know we couldn't make him any promises, that we'd have to wait and see what transpired. What transpired was within days of arriving in Chicago, Dodgers Jerry Hairston Jr., Juan Uribe, Juan Rivera and Matt Kemp all were injured and placed on the disabled list. Suddenly, Abreu's playing time wasn't an issue, unless the Dodgers were concerned about playing the 38-year-old too much. Since joining the Dodgers, Abreu has been in the middle of the lineup and batted .326. During that period, his .442 on-base percentage ranks second in the National League. "He's been a great add for us, both as somebody in the room and as somebody who plays," Colletti said. We've been better because of him. And they've been able to give a younger player pure opportunity. And the Dodgers, nine games over .500 when Abreu arrived, are, despite all the injuries, now 17 games over .500. "Bobby has been a guy kind of thrust into the middle of our order," Mattingly said. He's been great. The guy gets on base. Just the whole demeanor of his at-bats, he's been a pro. It's been an unusual win-win, neither team certain where they would be right now if Abreu had not been released. Monday night, the teams met for the first time this season. Trout led off for the Angels. Abreu batted cleanup for the Dodgers. Win-win. "It's working for the Angels," Abreu said. He's getting his playing time and he's doing good, producing for them. He's showed what kind of talent he has. And I came over here and just doing my job, and getting my playing time too. If Abreu had not been so vocal over his displeasure at his reduced playing time with the Angels, or hadn't been hitting .208, maybe he's still in Anaheim and the 20-year-old Trout at triple-A Salt Lake. Not that Scioscia buys any of that. "Mike Trout pushed the door open," Scioscia said. We were looking at what the right thing was to do for our club. There was no doubt Mike needed to be in the lineup somewhere and be in there every day. He was going to squeeze some guys for some playing time. You can deal in hypotheticals, but the way our team was, Bobby was the guy who was going to get fewer at-bats, and for his benefit it wouldn't have been much good to be not getting enough chances to contribute. Scioscia said he is not surprised at the success Abreu has been enjoying with the Dodgers. "There was no doubt Bobby was going to go somewhere and contribute," he said. If our team had been configured a little differently, he would have had more opportunity to contribute with us. It's just the way all the pieces fell into place, and he's given those guys a big lift.