The Angels are actively attempting to acquire another bat to bolster their offense, tweets Mike DiGiovanna of the L.A. Times, but the feeling among the front office team is that the asking prices of selling teams is currently too high. The Halos’ present plan is to wait until the market comes back down to Earth a bit, as the belief at this time is that there’s quite a bit of posturing among selling teams. The first-place Angels have received poor production at a number of spots in the lineup, most notably in left field, at DH and at catcher. Chris Iannetta, at least, is showing signs of life in July. After a dreadful April, he slashed .264/.328/.491 in May, but his production again tanked in June, when he hit .190 without an extra-base hit. He’s on the upswing in July, batting .250/.419/.542 through a tiny sample of 31 plate appearances. Matt Joyce, on the other hand, has struggled nearly all season long — a strange turn of events for a usually very strong platoon option in the outfield. It should be noted, of course, that following GM Jerry Dipoto’s abrupt resignation, interim GM Bill Stoneman (a former Angels GM himself) will be overseeing the team’s baseball operations this summer.
The trade market will heat up substantially in the coming two weeks, and here are a few more trade rumors from around the league…
- Though a report from Wednesday cast some doubt on the possibility, Marc Carig of Newsday hears from a source that the Mets haven’t ruled out adding an outfielder via trade (Twitter link). Michael Cuddyer’s knee isn’t healthy, notes Carig, nor is the throwing arm of Juan Lagares. Both have struggled this season at the plate and in the field, and a versatile outfielder would give the club some insurance should either player miss time.
- The Orioles, too, could end up trading for an outfielder, writes Dan Connolly of the Baltimore Sun. GM Dan Duquette admitted to Connolly that acquiring an outfielder is a consideration, though Connolly notes that there’s a very limited number of pieces the O’s would consider dealing. The lack of production from the team’s corner outfield, particularly left field (.223/.286/.352, collectively) underscores the fact that the contingency plans for the departure of Nelson Cruz and Nick Markakis haven’t worked, Connolly writes. When both players signed elsewhere, Duquette and skipper Buck Showalter noted that the Orioles had a good deal of outfield depth, including Alejandro De Aza, Delmon Young, Travis Snider, David Lough, Steve Pearce, Nolan Reimold and Dariel Alvarez. De Aza and Young have departed by way of DFA, while others have struggled. Alvarez, Duquette said, is a consideration for the second half. He’s leading the Triple-A International League in total bases at the age of 26 and has a strong arm, but as Connolly notes, he’s also walked just seven times this year.
- Diamondbacks chief baseball officer Tony La Russa spoke with the Arizona Republic’s Zach Buchanan about the upcoming trade deadline, and while many of his comments were vague (deliberately so, one would think, so as not to tip his hand), La Russa made it clear that his club had no interest in acquiring any type of pure rental player despite being just five games back in the Wild Card race. “It’s got to be somebody that fits in and is going to be a part of what we do going forward,” said La Russa of any possible trade addition. “The rent-a-player doesn’t work for us.” La Russa went on to say that adding a player with a significant financial commitment attached to his name probably isn’t a realistic option for the team either.
“Buck Showalter noted that the Orioles had a good deal of *OUTFIELD* depth”
Gracias. Fixing.
J.Upton to the Angels…….
What do they even have to offer that’s MLB ready which is what the Padres want?
Upton has many suitors calling which drive up the price of all deals. Astros Cubs Mets can all beat offers from the Angels.
Mike trout
The cubs dont want upton. They are looking for a lefty cf.
Charlie Blackmon vs. RHs works.
Not a great set of trade partners. The Angels don’t want to give up the necessary prospects and the Padres won’t let him go without getting equally valued pieces.
Jay Bruce is a pretty realistic target for the Angels. They’d have to take on the contract, but Tropeano/Ellis+ shouldn’t be too far away from an equal deal.
I agree that Bruce makes a lot of sense for the Angels, but I can’t imagine that is nearly enough of a return. Bruce is a 2.5-3 WAR player who is only owed 1.5/$19.5 or 2.5/$31.5. Using $6.5/WAR it gives him excess value of about $20-$25m. That is a lot more than two B-/C+ back end starters. For the Angels, a Bruce trade would be more like Newcomb and a C+ prospect. For anther team, two back end top 100 types or a top 100, a B level prospect and a wild card will be the type of return.
I doubt it’ll cost that much. Also, you’re underselling Chris Ellis’ ability. He has legitimate TOR upside.
This. Pick one of the two (Trop/Ellis) and add a C prospect. That’d be ideal.
If all it takes to get Bruce is what you propose, I’m shocked that 6 teams haven’t already traded for him. That’s a worse package than the Dodgers gave up for one season of Jimmy Rollins. I think you might have to adjust your thinking if there is any chance your Angels get Bruce in a trade.
I won’t pretend to have ever seen him pitch, but his stats and scouting reports aren’t stellar. I don’t see anything in either that says TOR.
What about Ender Inciarte for Zack Wheeler?
Mets get a very good versatile outfielder while the D’Backs get a pitcher who’ll top their rotation when healthy. I think you’d need some evening out pieces, but nothing significant.
I don’t think Inciarte would be the centerpiece of a deal like that. He’s a good player, but Wheeler’s potential makes him more valuable IMO.
I think David Peralta would be a better fit on NY. He has more pop, and that is what the mets need more then speed/defense. Wheeler would be an overpay, but the potential is there. Mets could also have interest in Pennington I would think, but only if they miss out on zobrist.
Couple things:
-Inciarte seems to be a defense-first outfielder with anything he gives you offensively being a bonus. Lagares already does this for the Mets. They need offense, Inciarte doesn’t fit that bill.
-If the Mets have learned anything over the last few years, it’s that you can’t have too much pitching depth. Harvey, Wheeler, and Parnell have all had TJ surgery. Montero has missed a lot of time. Matz just went down. I think they’re going to keep all of their pitching (Niese included), because they’ll probably need it all.
-Wheeler is out with TJ surgery. Can’t imagine anyone really trading anything of value for a guy who won’t pitch until June of next year at the earliest. Also can’t see the Mets selling low (or at all) on Wheeler.
Agree, teams don’t trade guys out with TJ, period.
Inciarte has a .619 OPS away from his hitter-friendly home field, that wouldn’t even bring in Jon Niese.
The Mets would be trading at rock bottom value. Wheeler is a controller arm w. #1 (more likely #2) potential. Sandy wouldn’t be dumb enough to even consider trading Wheeler to anyone (barring a ridiculous over-pay).
Inciarte is a 4th OF. Wheeler is a #3 with upside. Even with Wheeler out with an injury this deal doesn’t make a lot of sense for the Mets.
it’s strange, but Howard, Franceour, Revere and Ruiz from the awful Phillies could actually help the Angels. If Angels just took some of Howard and Ruiz’s salaries, Phils wouldnt need much back in return- Angels have $ and not many prospects so could make sense for both.
Ruiz and Franceour don’t make the Angels any better. Revere is the only one of the group who would really helps the Angels.
Phillies aren’t trying to cut payroll. They won’t trade players to get rid of salary.
Josh Reddick for Andrew Heaney works for both sides.
Heaney isn’t going anywhere, especially not anywhere in the division.
Too bad the Angels didn’t keep Mr. Three-Homers-in-a-Game Kirk Neuwenheis.
Gerardo Parra for Kaleb Cowart.
I would do this from an Angels standpoint.
Definitely, but I can’t imagine that being enough for the Brewers.