There are few more evident trade candidates than Carlos Estévez. Rental relievers on non-contenders are the likeliest players to move at the deadline. Estévez fits the bill, making it all but inevitable that he’ll be on the move barring injury over the next few weeks.
Robert Murray of FanSided wrote on Wednesday that the Angels are already gauging interest from contenders on their closer. Estévez is fresh off being named the American League’s reliever of the month in June. He tossed 10 scoreless innings while striking out 10 hitters. Estévez retired 26 consecutive batters at one point and allowed only two baserunners (both on singles) in 31 plate appearances.
That might have been the best month of the hard-throwing righty’s career. The 31-year-old isn’t a one-month wonder though. He has been a generally effective late-game arm throughout his time in Los Angeles. The Halos signed him to a two-year, $13.5MM free agent pact during the 2022-23 offseason. Estévez had spent the entirety of his career with the Rockies before hitting the market. He’d been inconsistent during his stint with the Rox, but he flashed closing stuff at his best.
The Halos plugged him into the ninth inning. Estévez saved 31 games in 35 attempts a season ago, working to a 3.90 ERA over 62 1/3 innings. He earned an All-Star nod with a 1.80 ERA during the first half. Estévez struggled down the stretch, posting a 6.59 mark through his final 27 1/3 frames.
Aside from a handful of rocky outings between the middle of April and early portion of May, Estévez has put that slow finish behind him. He carries an even 3.00 earned run average in 27 frames. He’s punching out 27% of opposing hitters while walking just 3% of batters faced, by far the lowest rate of his career. He is 16-19 in save opportunities.
Estévez probably won’t maintain this level of pristine command. He’d walked nearly 10% of opponents during his final season in Colorado and posted an 11% walk rate last year. Even if he hands out a few more free passes, he should remain a quality high-leverage arm. Estévez has fanned nearly 28% of batters faced as an Angel. He has gotten swinging strikes on more than 12% of his offerings in each of the past two seasons. He’s not going to rack up strikeouts at a Mason Miller or Josh Hader level, but Estévez has better than average bat-missing ability. He pairs a 96-97 MPH fastball with a slider that checks in around 89 MPH.
Signing Estévez has been one of the better moves of Perry Minasian’s GM tenure. It hasn’t stopped the Angels from falling towards the bottom of the American League, though. A terrible August killed their chances of competing for a playoff spot in 2023. After losing Shohei Ohtani in free agency and dealing with another extended Mike Trout absence, the Halos will be clear sellers at the deadline this time around. Tonight’s shutout loss to the A’s dropped them 13 games below .500.
Estévez is making $6.75MM before returning to free agency next winter. He’s owed just under $3MM for the rest of the season. That’d drop to roughly $2.18MM in remaining commitments by the deadline. Most teams should be able to accommodate that salary for arguably the best rental reliever available. Every contender could be a realistic suitor — even teams with an established closer could push Estévez into the seventh or eighth inning — but teams like the Yankees, Royals, Padres, Mets and Cardinals could be especially motivated to add late-inning help.
Better known as Charlie Sheen
Dream
But without the VD
Wild thang
You make my heart sang
You make everything
Groooooooovy
Never was the same after meeting that glamour girl who took away his fastball, had him nicknaming his pitches, and led him down the path when he became a jingle writer supporting his leeching younger brother. It was hard to believe that he became a children’s songwriter, then after losing that life, became an anger management counselor.
Underrated post
WINNING!!!
But has the tiger blood left his system?
I really don’t know what to think of the Chuck Sheens, but he is a Reds fan like me… so he must be crazy.
Mariners mariners mariners mariners
Actually no probably orioles or Yankees or Phillies
Royals please god helps this heinous bullpen
Hoping the halos can net a couple of decent prospects for Estevez.
@orange Trading him to the orioles might be the best bet that we don’t get a popcorn vendor in return.
He is a 3 month rental and not a top 30 reliever in ERA, FIP, or WAR. He will get some prospects in trade, but you will probably be disappointed in what they get in return. If we are talking about from the Padres, maybe something like Jayvien Sandridge and Matthew Batten or Jay Beshears.
@padsfans he’s one of the best on the market with alot buyers. His price is going to high. Not saying it’s going to be worth it. Angels traded a prime clevinger for Vinnie Pestano that was dfa’d shortly after or bradish for bundy stuff definitely happens.
Give them a call Mo. Gallegos has to go. Just release him.
We have better options than Gallegos in the minors. But Gio has the golden ticket. He was handed an extension by Mo. He will get more rope.
Get er done Perry!
Here’s where a smart team would pay the rest of his salary (minus the minimum) and aim for the best possible return.
Arte will eat none and get a lottery ticket his minor league staff can’t coach up.
What do you think would be a fair return?
Halos could be right that they get a lottery ticket. I think its more likely that Minasian opts for a couple of guys that are pretty close to the majors, but a step back from a high ceiling lottery ticket.
That is Arte’s M.O. “Perry, Get me low cost guys that I can throw on the field sooner rather than later so fans see that we did something that impacted the major league roster. Even if they are mediocre players.”
So who are you saying are that kind of players on the Padres?
They spend unwisely under Arte, but he is not a miser.
Retaining 1.4 million is not gonna get you much of an upgrade
Clubhouse attendant in suits will trade him to the Braves and get nothing valuable back. As usual!
Mmmm not sure what to make of your post scratching head
What grade are you in?
Masters in engineering.
Minasian has had no college degrees in math or anything else. He was a clubhouse attendant with the Rangers and an assistant GM of the Braves. He seemed to prefer the Braves as a trade partner and never got much back the last time he traded a late inning reliever.
Easy enough even for you to understand?
Wow……….Masters in Engineering.
And thus the term “stay in your lane” came to be.
@aragon the goal of the Iglesias trade, from the Angels perspective, was to get out of his contract, not to get a high return.
Good dude.. seen him in Oakland tonight and he signed my daughter’s hat.
No. You “saw” him in Oakland tonight.
What would the world do without you?
@Redstitch108 I was going to say something about your grammar skills, but then I noticed the posters name. What the dog?
Rad!! Baseball rules
Padres had a couple of scouts here for the Detroit series. Seems like they may be one of the teams that are interested,
There are probably scouts from at least half the teams at every game. You just happened to have seen/saw the Padres scout.
There were 4 scouts total at that series, 2 were from the Padres and they were there for the first 3 games of the 4 game series. Estevez pitched in 2 of those games and was not likely to pitch in the final game, so I took that to mean they were mainly there to see Estevez. .
In case you never sit in great seats, the scouts all sit in the same area and are easy to spot. Taking notes and using a radar gun is a dead giveaway. .I talked to the Padres scouts because they were sitting directly across the aisle from me. One said his name was Josh and I didn’t catch the name of the other guy. .
I’d like Os to get Tyler Anderson and Estevez if the price is right. Anderson has been a little shaky lately but would slot in nicely to the back of the Orioles rotation
What would be a fair return in your eyes? (Fans opinions obviously differ lol)
I’ve seen people say norby and mayo going off what the Astros sent to the Mets for Verlander. Angels might need to send some money this year to get it done. Both players are blocked and angels could use a 2nd and third baseman.
The Mets sent nothing even close to that. Those are two major league ready players that would be starting for 15 to 30 teams right now. Just look at Joey Ortiz.
Plus Estevez is NOT Verlander.
That’s way too much, and I’m an angels fan. If we got 1 of them and had to pay the rest on both guys, I’d do it.
I was thinking more like Beavers
@tuck didn’t clarify but I was commenting on the poster above about Tyler Anderson. Plus you right the Mets didn’t give up anything because they traded Verlander, and paid alot of the contract down if the angels give them money back it would get the deal done.
Beavers or Seth Johnson is prob realistically in the ballpark for what the Angels would want.
@Rexhudler86 if the Orioles trade Norby and Mayo they’re getting Crochet, not Anderson. If the Angels send Anderson, Estevez and $13M, maybe they’ll pry Norby from the Orioles, but I doubt that’ll happen.
@socal crochet doesn’t have a very strong track record for staying healthy and innings. That’s a red flag for a team that has alot of injured pitchers. Anderson might even do better in Baltimore with the defense behind him. Probably had alot to do with the angels pitching coach for Anderson’s bad year. He’s still #2 or 3 available He’s going to get a decent return.
@socal they wouldn’t have to send all that for Norby. Hes a 50 grade prospect whos outside the top 100 and they dont have a position for him. I agree theyre not getting mayo with anderson and/or estevez, but Norby should be easier to obtain.
Estevez is exactly what the Os need. Whether they need two reliever depends on if/when Coulombe is coming back.
Challenge for Os is sellers will want them to overpay in prospects and you don’t give rope tier prospects for 2 months of a 31 year old reliever.
I also worry about picking a guy up on the tail end of the best stretch of his career. More downside than up.
Big Nose needs to make this happen for the Metsies.
I like the idea/fit of Estevez and Ward to the Royals
I like the fit, idk about the royals system though, seems pretty bare
Here’s how this typically goes for the Angels:
1) Moreno’s price tag is so high that no one will pay it and we lose him to free agency next season.
2) Moreno trades him for next to nothing
@prov yeah that’s how it was with raisel, but he was a gift from the reds. It’s hard to botch it if they take the bpa. We could probably use relievers, sp, utility player, 2nd, and 3rd base possibly out fielder if they trade ward. I’m not sure if you wait because a implosion is definitely possible. They got rengifo for Cron.the only trade perry did that was good was o’hoppe so ot could suck but why not roll the dice because we have free agency to reshuffle
Rex,
In March, other than bullpen arms, the Angels didn’t know what they needed.
O’Hoppe and Neto look like plus players. But Adell, Schanuel, Moniak have fallen on their face. Detmers and Cannon have pitched poorly, Rendon and Trout once again went on the IL.
Most every question was once answered in the negative. AND our farm system is a mess. There ii no short term answer. Trade everyone they can., but does anyone actually think Minasian has a clue how to do anything?
Minasian needs to go. That’s the short term answer. Moreno needs to go so a new owner can rebuild the infrastructure.
A “good” GM can start the process, a good owner can finish it. The Angels have neither.
The O’Hoppe/Marsh trade was a push. They both have the same bWAR this year. And the Angels need a CF just as badly as they need a catcher. And they traded a good catching prospect last year.
@halos11fan yeah you complained about the bullpen, I complained about the infield depth I guess we were both right. Do I say sell whatever absolutely, will perry make the right trades not sure he hasn’t had a bad track record as of now the draft is another story but that could be arte with his bare bones approach. I would say Anderson, and estevez can get something back. Ward and rengifo if they decide to pull the trigger also if rengifo comes back or ready by the deadline. After that it’s meh maybe moore, garcia, and pillar for something
I’d trade for Rick Vaughn.
I like Estevez a lot. He had a stellar 1st half last year then fatigue got to him. From what I’ve seen, when he misses the zone, it’s close or 50/50. When he’s on, he’s super sharp and hits the black constantly. I think he pitches better than his numbers. Curious if he’ll burn out 2nd half like last year.
I like Wild Thing but the Cubs are scuffling too much this year, and they should just stay pat this deadline. Hoyer needs to do a better job in the offseason to take care of that bullpen.
Let me guess – the Dodgers are in on him. Even with a $1B payroll (not this year but, you know) and a ton of stars coming back, he would fill a “need” (and that need is to keep the greedy spoiled fans appeased).
Jealous much?
Trade for Yankees Jasson Dominguez or 2 of Cardinals Top 5 pitching prospects and I will be ecstatic!
Free Mike Trout!
Two things would have to happen before Trout would ever be “freed.”
1. Mike would have to waive his no trade clause
2. Moreno would have to eat at least 50% of the $300M remaining on his contract; I suspect more $$$ than that once the potential trade partner comes to their senses and accepts that the once great Mike Trout will miss 60 games or more per season going forward (60 games missed is what he has averaged over the past 7 full seasons and he ain’t getting any younger).
In other words Trout isn’t going anywhere.
609
You can unlock the gate, swing it wide open and say you are free to go.
Trout is not going ANYWHERE!
Why does someone always have to bring up a trade trade after every story written about the Angels? They can write about how the Angels are selling Halo shaped ice cubes and inevitably some ones brings up Trout being traded.
The Angels will have an interesting dilemma in the next few weeks with Rendon due back in the next week and Trout in 2-3 weeks.
Who do you send down/ release once Rendon comes back?
Rengifo needs to stay in the line up. Calhoun seems to be the new everyday DH. Guillorme has done a great job as a super utlility, Drury is too good to just cut ties with. To me that means you have to say good bye to the feel good story of Sano staying on with them Angels.
Who do you send down/ release when Trout comes back? It seems like it would be Pillar, but I am not at all enamored either Moniak nor Adell.
And yes I do realize the most obvious is to try and trade, especially since the trade deadline is looming, but I thought it might be a fun debate to see what all you think.
PLEASE….do not say trade Trout, don’t be that idiot.
Try and keep is somewhat intelligent, which I know may be a big ask for a few people.
@Angels Fan-I think Sano is the most likely to be DFA’d out of that group of player’s. As a Yankee fan, Everytime I see Willie Calhoun sign a minor league deal somewhere I get a chuckle. The Yanks were a very tough watch last year when most of their daily line ups included the likes of Calhoun, Jake Bauers, and Billy McKinney! Smh.But I would love to see them try and acquire Rengifo if the price is right. I don’t understand how Jo Adell is still on a major league roster? They should have traded him 2-years ago. He is the definition of a AAAA-Player. When he gets hot for a small stretch of games he looks like a potential AS, but those stretches are few and far between. He’ll never be more than a depth OF’er who you can stash in AAA and call up for a week or 2 if/when there’s an injury. As for the other player’s, I think they have to give Moniak a good look the rest of the year to see if he can possibly be a piece for the future or just another Jo Adell(white version of course). Someone will prob trade a low lotto ticket prospect for Pillar. Then your still left with Rendon, Trout, and Drury, and unfortunately, all 3 of those guy’s will probably be regulars in the starting 9 come Aug/Sept assuming they all get/stay healthy. Ewww!
@RShore- Good and fair take!
I like Willie but I am biased because I got to watch his incredible season at the JC he was drafted from.
I agree with how analysis of Adell and Moniak as well.
i hope they get a decent return on Pillar.
I hope if they unload Rengifo it is above market value, otherwise hang onto him.
“PLEASE….do not say trade Trout, don’t be that idiot.”
Yep, there are a lot of those idiots, but I’d trade Rengifo in a second.
He reminds me of Johnny Ray, who they eventually had to try in LF.
Here is something that I don’t understand, Rengifo has horrible feet, his sprint speed is at the 40th percentile, and he’s getting slower, but he has stolen all those bases.
By the way, his range is at the percentile That means 49 out of 50 infielders have more range.
Stolen bases aren’t purely about speed. There are plenty of speedsters who cannot figure out how to read the pitcher and can’t steal bases as a result.
In defense of Rengifo. If he can lead the league in hitting and get that many stolen bases. I would find a spot for him on my team. I would only trade him if I got over market value for him at this point.
It’s not about speed, but it’s almost always about speed and or quickness. Adell is fast, he’s not quick.
Rengifo has horrible feet. He has the worst cross-over step I’ve seen since Spiezio. Yet he steals bases.
To me, he’s unique. I don’t see how it can last.
Halo I get it, you dislike Rengifo. Your choice.
I am all about gritty players. I loved Erstad, Eckstein, and Willits.
Rengifo gets everything he can out of his ability. I respect that.
I don’t dislike him personally, I think he’s not a winning ballplayer.
Same with Willits. Same with Johnny Ray.
I’ve always wondered why Estevez doesn’t get a longer chain(necklace). It pops out of his jersey Everytime he throws a pitch and he has to put it back inside his jersey. I mean the guy has made some decent money in his career, so it can’t be a money issue! Maybe it’s become part of his “pitch routine” and it doesn’t bother him? Idk, but I can’t be the only person who has noticed this right??!
You think Carlos has it bad. What about Emilio? Runt of the litter
Angels need to Trade Estévez immediately before he get blown up and loses any value. Same with Ward and Anderson. They must go!!
If they can get a decent return, why not throw Pillar in that mix. Drury and Guillorme might fetch you a little as well. It is worth exploring I feel.
I think the Angels should trade anyone over 27 as long as they can get a younger prospect or asset to utilize in 2025 and beyond. BUT, I also think they should demand over market value for whoever they trade.
Charlie Sheen still going into his late 50s. Good for him.