The Ultimate Los Angeles Angels MLB Trade Deadline Guide
The Angels should be very active at the MLB Trade Deadline this year.
As the Los Angeles Angels entered the 2024 season, our mantra was “no expectations.” Considering the number of young players in need of development and extended Major League playing time, the loss of Shohei Ohtani over the offseason, and anchors such as Mike Trout and Anthony Rendon being unable to stay healthy over a full season, it was clear to Angels fans that this was not a year destined for the playoffs.
That said, it puts the Angels in an easy position as the MLB Trade Deadline approaches; sell off any assets that could net a return for the future. With a sub-.500 win/loss record and without the yearly pressure of fans screaming “Get Trout and Ohtani to the Playoffs!”, the Angels can focus on trading players whose returns will vary. Roll-of-the-dice lottery ticket types, promising prospects, and ready-now players are all on the table if the Halos do the right thing.
This is the Ultimate Los Angeles Angels MLB Trade Deadline Guide, where we’ll look at players they must trade, those they should trade for maximum value, and those they could trade, but don’t have to, in addition to potential trading partners.
With plenty of trade capital, the Angels have the chance to build toward the future and bring in players who could surround the likes of shortstop Zach Neto. (AP Photo/Eric Thayer)
MUST TRADE PLAYERS:
Tyler Anderson, LH Starting Pitcher
7-7, 3.9 bWAR, 2.62 ERA
Right off the bat, we have a trade candidate who, despite 1-1/2 years left on his affordable 3-year, $39 million dollar contract, must be traded at the deadline. Tyler Anderson’s 2024 is looking much like his phenomenal 2022 season with the Los Angeles Dodgers, though at the same point in time as 2022, his ERA is lower this year (3.23 in 2022 on June 27th, 2.63 in 2024). He’s overcome the issues that led to his subpar first season with the Halos, tweaking his delivery and finding the feel for his excellent changeup once again, ranking him among the top of all MLB starting pitchers in bWAR at 3.9.
Anderson, who's owed $13 million next season, is a very cheap starting pitching option compared to others on the market, both in terms of trade capital and dollars. While he doesn’t have the career track record of a Max Scherzer or Justin Verlander type, both were moved at last year’s deadline at ages 39 and 40, respectively. Anderson is a healthy 34.
Tyler Anderson’s results in 2024 make him an enticing trade piece. (AP Photo/Ryan Sun)
The urgency in moving Anderson is the notion that his value may not ever be as high as it is right now for the Angels. While he’s been the Halos’ most reliable starter, pitching into the 7th inning and beyond in 11 out of 16 starts, he’s shown flashes of 2023 Anderson here and there. Most recently, he labored through 5 innings against the Oakland A’s, earning the win, but using 109 pitches to do so.
While the results have been more than the Angels might’ve bargained for, his FIP, or Fielding Independent Pitching, shows that it might be a matter of time before Anderson returns to a lesser form. MLB.com defines FIP as “focus(ing) solely on the events a pitcher has the most control over -- strikeouts, walks, hit-by-pitches, and home runs. It entirely removes results on balls hit into the field of play.” Think of it as ERA, but only for the things a player can control himself. Anderson’s FIP sits at 4.76, and while he’s handled traffic on the basepaths well, as indicated by his 86.6% Left-on-Base Percentage, his K% is the lowest it’s been in his career, and his BB% is the highest it’s been, resulting in a 1.41 K/BB ratio.
It seems like only a matter of time before these stats catch up to Anderson and even out what has been a phenomenal start to his 2024 season. The Angels would be wary to still have him on the team when this happens.
Possible Trade Partners:
Baltimore Orioles, Milwaukee Brewers, St. Louis Cardinals, Los Angeles Dodgers
Carlos Estévez, RHP
1-3, 3.00 ERA, 16 Saves, 0.810 WHIP
Relief pitchers are always a case of “what have you done for me lately,” and lately, Angels’ closer Carlos Estévez has been very good. 2024 didn’t start that way, however; in his first 16 appearances this season, he pitched to the tune of a 5.06 ERA, surrendering 3 home runs, blowing 2 leads, and taking 3 losses as opponents slugged .500 against him. Despite the struggles, he did convert 7 of his save opportunities.
Since then, Estévez tweaked the delivery of his fastball to allow for more command, and the results have been fantastic. From May 28th to June 25th retired 26 straight hitters, just 1 shy of a “perfect game.” Earning 9 Saves and 1 Win, Estévez reclaimed trade value just in time for the Angels to get a worthy return from contending teams in need of a closer, or, at the very least, a back-of-the-bullpen arm.
Carlos Estévez is on an expiring contract, one he signed prior to the 2023 season for 2 years, $13.5 million. The Angels saw something in Estévez during his time with the Colorado Rockies and knew that a move away from Coors Field would benefit him, and it certainly paid off. Now, the Halos are in a prime position to net a nice return for his services.
Possible Trade Partners:
Baltimore Orioles, Kansas City Royals, San Diego Padres
Matt Moore, LHP
4-2, 4.99 ERA, 1.272 WHIP
Matt Moore is the ultimate pro, as demonstrated by his offseason “it’s just business” comments regarding the Angels’ decision to place him on the waiver wire last season in an attempt to get under the Luxury Tax. After a strong 2023 out of the pen for the Halos, Moore returned on a 1-year, $9-million-dollar deal for 2024.
Though the results have not been quite as good as last year, Moore’s status as a late-inning lefty reliever makes him an intriguing option for contending teams. While he’s typically been seen in the setup role, Moore has pitched as early as the 5th inning this season for the Angels. In the month of June, he’s pitched 9.1 innings to the tune of a 2.89 ERA, earning a save and holding hitters to a .177 batting average.
Contending teams in need of left-handed relief would be wise to call the Angels about Matt Moore and bring some stability to their bullpen.
Possible Trade Partners:
New York Yankees, San Diego Padres, Minnesota Twins
Brandon Drury, INF
.173/.233/.236/.470 OPS
It’s been a dreadful 2024 for Brandon Drury. Traditionally a slow starter, any amount of “getting going” has been halted twice this season; a hamstring injury kept him out from May 9th until June 17th, and now a respiratory infection has left him on the bench.
While it likely wouldn’t net the return the Angels might’ve anticipated when the season started, a Drury trade must happen, considering his expiring contract. Clubs in need of an infielder with the ability to play 2nd, 1st, and some 3rd base in the past could look past the slow 1st half and enjoy what Drury is able to do in the 2nd half. Last season with the Angels, Drury smacked 12 home runs with 38 RBI over August and September.
Possible Trade Partners:
Boston Red Sox, New York Yankees, San Francisco Giants
Luis García, RHP
3-0, 4.37 ERA, 37 Games, 35 IP, 36 Ks, 1.257 WHIP
Veteran reliever Luis García has been a workhorse for the Halos this year. While not the best of his career, he still sports a phenomenal 51% ground ball rate in 2024, pairing well with his 24.2% K rate with only 3 home runs surrendered. He’s found work as a back-end reliever, being turned to in the 7th, 8th, and the occasional 9th-inning save situation.
Adam Cimber, RHP
3-0, 7.03 ERA, 28 Games, 24.1 IP, 19 Ks, 1.397 WHIP
The Angels took a gamble on Adam Cimber when he signed a 1-year, $1.65 million deal in the offseason. They trusted that his issues with the Blue Jays last season were the result of back and shoulder injuries, and early on, it seemed that the gamble paid off. 4 bad appearances have inflated his ERA, but he’s racked up 8 holds and 3 wins with 22 scoreless outings out of his 26. Currently, he’s working his way back from the IL due to shoulder inflammation, but the funky delivery of Cimber would be a strong addition to any pen when he’s healthy.
Hunter Strickland, RHP
2-1, 4.00 ERA, 36 Games, 36 IP, 29 Ks, 1.028 WHIP
The 35-year-old Hunter Strickland thought his pitching days were done and contemplated retirement before 2024. Instead, he signed with the Angels on a minor-league deal, and he’s proven to still have major-league stuff. While June has been a difficult month for him with 11 earned runs against him, he’s coming off a May in which he pitched to a minuscule 0.73 ERA, surrendering 1 run over 12.1 IP.
Kevin Pillar, OF
.290/.354/.510/.864 OPS
Kevin Pillar was signed to fill in for Mike Trout. Then he became Mike Trout. (AP Photo/Eric Thayer)
Who would’ve thought that being designated for assignment by one of the worst teams in baseball would be the saving grace Kevin Pillar needed in 2024? After being released from the Chicago White Sox, Pillar signed a deal with the Angels in light of Mike Trout’s torn meniscus. Then, Pillar became Trout in the month of May, hitting 5 home runs and driving in 21 to the tune of a .409/.435/.712/1.147 line. He’s cooled off in the month of June, but the 35-year-old’s outfield versatility could see him be a nice role player for contending teams.
SHOULD TRADE PLAYERS:
Luis Rengifo, UTL
.317/.362/.446/.808 OPS
Okay, okay, first things first: if the Angels do not plan on giving Luis Rengifo a contract extension, he absolutely must be traded. Rengifo, currently 27, is entering his prime baseball years, as demonstrated by his 2024 so far. He’s shown flashes of this over 2022 and 2023, but what he lacked was consistent playing time. Angel fans were quick to call him a second-half star, but, with the annual injuries to Mike Trout and Anthony Rendon taking place sooner than in previous seasons, Rengifo’s presence in the lineup became necessary. Now, his bat makes him a necessity.
With just 6 home runs this season, Rengifo has emphasized contact over swinging for the fences. That’s not to say he doesn’t have power; his .447 Slugging Percentage is the best of his career. His .315 average puts him among the league leaders. He’s swiped 20 bags before July at a 77% success rate. His strikeout percentage, 13.8%, is the lowest of his career. For the first time in his career, the switch-hitter is finally hitting righties, sitting at nearly .300, while he’s continuing to crush lefties from the right side of the dish as he always has, this year to the tune of .388.
Luis Rengifo simply needed consistent playing time, as we discussed on Locked On Angels over the offseason. (AP Photo/Ryan Sun)
Though he is not a particularly great defender at any one position, Rengifo is the ultimate utility man, with the ability to play 2nd, 3rd, shortstop, and the outfield. But, teams will gladly take his production at the plate and on the basepaths if it means increasing their playoff chances.
Rengifo’s value has never been higher. Again, if the Angels don’t plan on extending him, then they should settle for no less than 2 top prospects from another team’s farm system.
Possible Trade Partners:
Boston Red Sox, New York Yankees, Los Angeles Dodgers
Taylor Ward, LF
.246/.329/.444/.773 OPS
Taylor Ward often gets looped in with names like Logan O’Hoppe, Nolan Schanuel, and Zach Neto as a piece of the young core the Angels are trying to build. But, let’s remind everyone that he is in his age-30 season with the Halos. Although he has 2 more years of arbitration and will be a free agent after 2026, Ward’s value might be the highest he will ever have to offer as a trade piece, given the years of control and the fact that he isn’t getting any younger.
A streaky hitter, Ward has shown flashes of an elite bat at times. In 2022, he was given a proper chance by then-manager Joe Maddon, and Maddon was rewarded for his faith in Ward: in April and May of that year, he slashed .347/.459/.686/1.145 with 10 HRs and 26 RBI. It was then that Ward hit a wall, literally; he smacked into the right field wall at Angels Stadium head first, and he wasn’t the same all summer. He seemed to find it again in the month of September, but the success halted once again in 2023 due to another injury. Before a high sinker from Blue Jays starting pitcher Alek Manoah hit Ward in the face, ending his season, the now-left fielder put up a slash line of .304/.424/.623/1.047 in the month of July.
To his credit, Ward overcame any concerns fans may have had entering 2024 and had another hot start in April, hitting .273/.310/.496/.806 with 7 HRs and 23 RBI. May was not as productive, and June has been a struggle, but there’s no doubt that his production could be beneficial to a team needing outfield help if he gets hot at the right time as he always seems to do. Given his age and his 2 years of control, it’s unlikely that Ward’s potential contributions happen within a competitive window for the Angels.
Possible Trade Partners:
Los Angeles Dodgers, Kansas City Royals, Pittsburgh Pirates, Philadelphia Phillies, Atlanta Braves
COULD TRADE PLAYERS:
Jo Adell, OF
.180/.245/.383/.628 OPS
It’s easy to see why Angels fans have been frustrated with Jo Adell and his development. Once the Halos’ top prospect and a top-10 MLB prospect, Adell arrived in the Majors in the pandemic-shortened season of 2020 simply to give him some real, competitive games. At the time, there were no minor league games happening, and teams essentially had their farmhands playing pickup games to keep them ready for a potential call-up. In Adell’s case, that call-up happened much too quickly.
Fast forward to the beginning of 2024, Adell barely had the equivalent of 1-year’s worth of plate appearances from 2020-2023. This was the season to give him a full-time role with the team and let him demonstrate what he can do at the big-league level.
Jo Adell is getting his first real shot in 2024 with an everyday role on the Angels. (AP Photo/Ryan Sun)
For a while, it seemed as though the Angels were getting the Jo Adell they’d been hoping for. In April, he got into 15 games, hitting .316/.365/.614/.979. Ron Washington’s emphasis on not trying to swing for the fences, not pulling every ball he hits, and trying to use the whole field seemed to have paid off, at least for a while. Adell employed a more compact swing and indeed did stop trying to hit everything out, making him a much more productive hitter.
Since then, Adell has fallen into old habits, chasing pitches down and away, making baserunning errors, and his bat has gone quiet in the month of June. On the other hand, he’s turned himself from a liability in the outfield to one of the game’s premier defenders in right field.
Baseball insiders have said that the Angels are asking for quite a return for Adell’s services, which makes sense, given his age, years of control, and the to-be-determined nature of what a full season at the majors could look like. The incentive for the Angels to pull the plug on Adell now is that despite his struggles, he’s still intriguing enough to other clubs who see his value as a great outfielder who’s shown flashes of having it. It’s up to the Angels to decide if more exposure to MLB competition is helping his career or hurting his value.
Our opinion? Keep him, and let’s reevaluate Adell at the end of 2024 after he’s played a full 162.
Miguel Sanó, 3B/1B/DH
.230/.310/.351/.661 OPS
After being out of MLB for the 2023 season, Miguel Sanó returned on a minor-league deal to ensure the Angels’ infield depth, slimmer, trimmer, and eager to prove he still could make it in the Bigs. Sanó made the roster out of Spring Training, as manager Ron Washington hoped that the power he displayed as a Minnesota Twin would add some oomph to Halos’ lineup.
Sanó was adequate in the month of April, finding himself in 18 contests as a starter with a slash line of .262/.352/.361/.713, while also playing decent third base for an injured Anthony Rendon. It was shortly after that Sanó had an injury of his own; a knee injury kept him out until the end of June, prolonged by a burn to his knee due to Sanó not knowing why there is a protective cover on his heating pad (insert facepalm emoji).
With the emergence of Luis Rengifo, Sano’s playing time since returning has not been much, with Washington even commenting that they just don’t have a spot for him even though Sanó was playing well in AAA.
Even though trading him would be a “nice-to-have” for the Angels, there probably aren’t a lot of teams out there chomping at the bit to trade away anything significant for Sanó right now. Unless he builds up his trade value before the deadline, it’s very likely Sanó is unable to be moved. With only 2 HRs this season, he hasn’t exactly demonstrated the power the Halos hoped he would have, and his 40% strikeout rate isn’t worth the potential for power, either.
Willie Calhoun, DH/OF/1B
.283/.333/.408/.741 OPS
Willie Calhoun was another call-up designed to help support an Angels team finding themselves without Mike Trout for the 4th year in a row. Calhoun’s left-handed bat made quite the impression upon his arrival, slotting in at DH and hitting 10 doubles while scoring 14 times in May.
At worst, Calhoun has gone hitless in four-straight games twice in a row, and, at best, he’s been one of the best high-leverage hitters for the Angels, slashing .278/.391/.333/.725. As an Angel fan, you certainly feel comfortable with Calhoun’s ability to keep an inning alive with a hit or a walk.
The once highly-touted prospect has built up some value for himself during his Angels tenure, and if the Halos are so inclined to make the most of a player who likely won’t be part of the team next season, they could perhaps net a decent lottery ticket or address an area of need in their farm system if they find a suitor who could use a role player like Calhoun.
Great article! Hope the angels actually do some of this this year 😂
I just hope we get a lot in return for the trade dead line. Hopefully pitching that we need and finally a third baseman. Good article.