Smaller trading pieces from angels add value

The Los Angeles Angels have a decision to make regarding how they approach the trade deadline. It’s clear to most that the Angels should sell at the deadline, but the club has smaller trade targets that shouldn’t be forgotten. Los Angeles is fourth in the American League West, 10 1/2 games behind the Seattle Mariners. They are 11 games behind the Boston Red Sox for the final Wild Card spot. They were just swept by their division rivals, the Oakland Athletics, which also means they haven’t conceded a goal in their last two games.

Things don’t look much better when we evaluate the strength of the organization. The Halos’ four minor league clubs have a combined record of 133-185 for a winning percentage of .418 on the season. Worse, they were rated the worst farm system in baseball in MLB Pipeline’s preseason rankings.

In short, the Angels need to fundamentally rebuild their organization. There’s no better time to do that than the trade deadline. However, the Angels have big trades available and should pursue them to begin the long process of rebuilding. Tyler Anderson would help a competitive team solidify its rotation. The left-handed starter is an excellent trade option for anyone who needs pitching help. Taylor Ward would provide a huge return if the Angels truly want to rebuild. The trade market for Carlos Estévez will be incredibly competitive given his recent resurgence. Luis Rengifo would be the deal breaker for a competitive team.

To be competitive in the future, the Angels will need to attract young talent to their valuable trades. With that in mind, the Angels’ smaller trades will be just as important as the bigger ones going forward.

Breakdown of the Angels’ smaller trade pieces

The Angels will still be far behind the other teams in their division. The Texas Rangers are the defending World Series champions. The Houston Astros have been a model of success for the past decade. Now the Seattle Mariners are here too. The AL West will be competitive for the foreseeable future. Given these facts, the Angels must realize that Mike Trout cannot do it alone, even when he is healthy. Young players like Logan O’Hoppe, Zach Neto and Jose Soriano are building blocks that General Manager Perry Minasian should build around.

Veterans like Griffin Canning, Kevin Pillar and Matt Moore are smaller trade items that can bring value back. The same goes for Hunter Strickland and even Brandon Drury. With so many players available, the Angels need to find the right buyer.

Griffin Canning Market

The Angels’ right-hander never managed to put it all together. Still, Canning is still valuable in the current trade market. Canning’s 2024 numbers are slightly worse than his career average, but his lower K/9 is what depresses his trade value the most. Any team looking to sign Canning would do so in the hopes that he can contribute innings in the regular season, as he likely wouldn’t be part of a postseason rotation.

Teams that see the higher prices for pitchers like the Angels’ Garrett Crochet, Jack Flaherty, Zach Eflin and Anderson could decide to fill their pitching needs with a less expensive alternative like Canning. Of course, the Angels could decide to keep him for the same reason.

Best fit: Cleveland, Minnesota

Kevin Pillar Trading Market

Kevin Pillar has been a top-15 offensive outfielder since joining the Angels on May 1. His defense has a negative rating, although Pillar still puts in some stellar performances. Additionally, Pillar is not outstanding due to an abnormal BABIP that is sure to get worse. The Angels should try to trade the 35-year-old, as he would be the perfect injury replacement or fourth outfielder for a competitive team. Pillar will be a free agent after the season. Of all the Angels’ minor trade items, he may be the easiest to trade.

Best suited: Kansas City, Atlanta

Matt Moore Trading Market

Matt Moore hasn’t had much fun in May. The left-hander pitched in 11 games and posted an ERA of 8.10 over 10 innings. Outside of that miserable stretch, his ERA is 3.09 over 23.1 innings. The left-hander has struggled with strikeouts this season, which could worry teams. Still, he can be an excellent left-handed bullpen pitcher in the right situation. A handful of contending teams should jump at the chance to sign him. The Yankees currently have the lowest fWAR in MLB for left-handed relievers. Arizona has the highest ERA at a horrific 6.22.

Best fits: New York Yankees, Arizona, Kansas City

Hunter Strickland Trading Market

Strickland is one of the Angels’ smaller trade pieces that could fit perfectly into a larger deal. On the other hand, Strickland should be enough to snatch a top-30 prospect from a desperate team. Arizona and Kansas City have major problems with their bullpen. Texas could look to improve their bullpen if they are serious about making the playoffs and defending their title. Of course, other teams will ask, because you can never have too many arms in the bullpen.

Best fits: Arizona, Kansas City, Texas

Brandon Drury Trading Market

Brandon Drury has not enjoyed the 2024 season. Of course, Drury has struggled with injuries. But the soon-to-be free agent has accomplished nothing when he’s been healthy. Drury’s batting average is a mediocre .174/.241/.231/.472, which ranks him 331st out of 335 batters with 130 at-bats. The Angels are paying Drury $8.5 million this season, so if they hope to get anything back in a trade, they’ll have to absorb a large portion of his remaining salary. Still, the versatile 31-year-old can be valuable. A team like the Boston Red Sox or New York Yankees could use him as a change of pace for several members of their struggling infields.

Best combination: Boston, New York Yankees

All these values ​​can make a difference

The Angels’ front office needs to take advantage of the desperation that rival teams often feel during the MLB trade deadline. At every deadline, there are one or two trades that involve trading a top talent for a rental or league-average player. This year will be no different. On the one hand, the Angels’ smaller trades may not seem valuable at first glance. However, they can compensate for the weaknesses of several contenders. That gives them value. The Angels need to make sure they are in the right place at the right time to capitalize on their trade value.