The Los Angeles Angels are putting their money where their mouth is.
Just after a report said that Shohei Ohtani was off the trade market, the Angels proved they were buyers as the MLB trade deadline approaches, making a deal with the Chicago White Sox for some pitching help.
Is it to prove to Ohtani that they’re serious and want to win now, so that he’ll feel differently about the organization? Perhaps. But this was also a smart move to, well, win now. And maybe they’re not done.
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So let’s hand out some grades here:
First, the details
Angels acquire: SP Lucas Giolito and RP Reynaldo Lopez
White Sox acquire: Minor league catcher Edgar Quero, minor league pitcher Ky Bush
Los Angeles Angels
It’s hard not to grade this one in a vacuum, honestly. Should the Angels NOT make the playoffs and then lose Ohtani in free agency, it’ll look really, really foolish.
But on paper? If you’re a team that thinks it can contend — and with Ohtani, if you make the playoffs, you’re dangerous! — then grabbing a former All-Star with a sub-4.00 ERA makes complete sense. He’s immediately the second starter behind Ohtani and an upgrade for sure.
Lopez has been OK, although the team hopes to see the pitcher who had a 1.93 ERA in 2022.
It’s a risk, though, to deal two top names from your farm system if you’re not a top contender, so that’s baked into the grade.
GRADE: B
Chicago White Sox
An easy call here. The Angels acquired the Angels’ No. 2 and 3 prospects, and Quero is considered a top-100 name. No notes here — the White Sox are in fire sale mode and got a lot of value out of dealing Giolito and Lopez.
GRADE: A
