Los Angeles Angels Remove Bubble Status, Become Buyers

 

A few hours after Tom Verducci of Sports Illustrated announced that the Los Angeles Angels were keeping two-way star Shohei Ohtani, the team soldified themselves further as a buyer leading up to the August 1st Trade Deadline. The Angels acquired right-hander Lucas Giolito and right-handed reliever Reynaldo López from the Chicago White Sox in exchange catcher Edgar Quero and left-hander Ky Bush.

At the beginning of play today, the Angels have a 8.4% chance of making the postseason with a 0.3% chance of winning the World Series. With such low odds, one could have made the argument that the Angels were better suited to sell and should have traded their highest commodity in Shohei Ohtani to replenish the farm system. However, after a playoff drought that has extended nearly a decade, Los Angeles is all-in now to making it back to the postseason. 

With the acquisition of Giolito and López, the Angels have shown that they are in full win-now mode. The Angels payroll sits over the soft luxury tax line and is slightly above $223 million which is the fifth highest amount in all of baseball. For a team that never exceeds the luxury tax threshold, that shows a commitment to building a winner around Shohei Ohtani and trying to convince the two-way star to sign there long-term come this offseason when the 29-year old will hit free agency.

Earlier this season during the wrath of injuries the team experienced, the Angels traded for infielders Eduardo Escobar and Mike Moustakas. Both have provided a high level of veteran leadership to the team and a depth to help them through shortstop Zach Neto and infielders Brandon Drury and Gio Urshela being on the Injured List. However, besides depth always being a potential question, the bigger question for the Angels has always surrounded their pitching staff. 

This trade helped to provide some clarity on that front especially within the starting rotation.  Going into play today, the Angels pitching staff had a middle-of-the-pack ERA at 4.44 and had allowed the fourth most earned runs (442) in the American League, tied with the Detroit Tigers. Giolito will now slot behind the aforementioned Ohtani and ahead of left-hander Patrick Sandoval. Meanwhile, López will provide some clarity for the Angels bullpen in the seventh and eighth innings leading up to closer Carlos Estevez. Both Giolito and López will be free agents at the end of the season.

The return heading to the White Sox was a hefty one for the Angels. Quero ranked as the White Sox No. 2 prospect and No. 65 overall in the MLB, according to MLB Pipeline. Quero batted .245/.385/.332 with 13 double, three home runs, 35 RBI, 54 walks, and 53 strikeouts through 69 games at the Double-A level. He is switch hitter who shows more power from the left side of home plate, but does have the potential to barrel up the ball on both sides. 

According to scouts, they believe that Quero ultimately has the potential to become an above-average hitter with his tremendous plate discipline and ability to draw walks. They note that the 20-year old still needs to improve his pitch calling. However, the White Sox are getting a very talented catcher and a true pillar to build around for the future. 

Ky Bush, who was the Angels No. 3 ranked prospect, has pitched to the tune of a 5.88 ERA so far this season with 33 strikeouts through six starts also at the Double-A level. The results have been better for Bush as of late as he posted a 1.84 ERA with 17 strikeouts over his three most recent outings. 

Ultimately, scouts believe that the 23-year old, left-hander has the potential to be an above average arm. Bush was able to keep his walk rate under 7 percent during his first full season and scouts note that he is able to control the game, while limiting damage at a higher than normal level. His changeup is his primary pitch and many believe that could ultimately set him apart from other left-handers in the future as it has a lot of sink. 

For the Angels, the next move need to be focused on adding another reliever to the bullpen mix. For any postseason team, the bullpen becomes extremely important come October and teams can never have enough depth in that area. However, the better news is that the Angels have shown that they are committed to building a winner and are in win-now mode at all levels. If they come away from the postseason with a World Series Championship, then it will mean so much for the Angels franchise, Angels fans, fans around baseball and the two biggest stars in the sport - Shohei Ohtani and Mike Trout.