Reports earlier this month indicated that the Angels were planning to move only their impending free agents at the deadline, and were looking to retain players controlled through the 2025 season or beyond. The Halos have stuck to this plan to date by moving only Carlos Estevez to the Phillies, but it seems like the club is preparing to deal some longer-term assets, as rival executives tell MLB.com’s Mark Feinsand that both Luis Rengifo and Taylor Ward are expected to be dealt. “The Angels are listening to offers on” the duo, Feinsand writes.
The Red Sox and Dodgers are both reportedly in on Rengifo, the Pirates have had talks about Ward, and the Royals have previously been linked to both players in trade speculation. With some interest percolating around the league, it stood to reason that the Angels might back down from whatever rentals-only stance they might’ve held earlier in the summer, if such a stance was even anything more than a negotiating tactic.
It is hard at this point to see the Angels returning to contention as early as next season, and therefore there seems to be little reason why the team wouldn’t be open to moving two of their better trade assets. Rengifo is under arbitration control through the 2025 season and Ward won’t be a free agent until after the 2026 season, so this extra control would only add to their trade value, rather than perhaps act as a reason why Los Angeles should try to keep them with so many other glaring needs on the roster.
In terms of the Halos’ rental players, the New York Post’s Jon Heyman writes (X link) that Kevin Pillar is getting “lots of interest” from rival teams. Playing in a part-time capacity since signing with the Halos in April, Pillar is hitting .287/.343/.481 over 199 plate appearances — this works out to a 130 wRC+, miles above the 86 wRC+ Pillar posted in his 11 previous Major League seasons.
It counts as going out on a high note for a player who is planning to retire at season’s end, and joining a contender would be a nice way to perhaps add a championship ring to Pillar’s resume. Even if some regression is probably inevitable given how Pillar is hitting so far above his career norms, the veteran can still provide outfield depth along with whatever he can do at the plate.
The Orioles are known to be looking for right-handed hitting outfielders, and Heyman writes in a separate X post that Pillar is one of the names on Baltimore’s list of possible targets. The Orioles added Cristian Pache as part of the Austin Hays trade with the Phillies, but the 2024 version of Pillar would bring a lot more pop than a defensive specialist like Pache.
The Estevez trade got the ball rolling on the Angels’ moves and also created a hole at the back of the bullpen. Manager Ron Washington told The Athletic’s Sam Blum (X link) and other reporters that Luis Garcia will close games unless Garcia is himself traded, and Ben Joyce would then be next in line for save situations. Garcia is another pending free agent and there is plenty of interest in his services, so since he’ll likely be in another uniform within a day’s time, thus opening the door for Joyce. A classic flame-throwing reliever, Joyce has garnered “closer of the future” buzz ever since he made his MLB debut last season, and he has a 2.11 ERA over 21 1/3 innings this year, albeit with a lot of subpar advanced metrics.
In non-trade news about the Angels’ biggest star, Washington told the Associated Press and other reporters that Mike Trout hadn’t yet restarted his running program after a setback with his surgically-repaired knee halted Trout’s minor league rehab assignment. Trout played two Triple-A innings last Tuesday before leaving the game, and an MRI taken on Friday was clean, with Trout telling MLB.com’s Rhett Bollinger and other media that the knee issue was related to some breaking scar tissue.
“It’s a huge relief for me. I just have to make sure it feels good and I’ll be back out there. Scar tissue breaking up is a weird feeling and I’d never experienced that,” Trout said.
Trout was hitting .220/.325/.541 with 10 homers over 126 PA when his knee problems arose at the end of April, and the three-time MVP hasn’t played since, apart from his brief Triple-A appearance last Tuesday. While neither Trout or Washington held much concern over this latest setback, there won’t be much comfort until Trout is back onto the field, given how multiple injuries have plagued the outfielder over the last few years.
Would think that the Braves need to get one of these outfielders
Arte Moreno is captain of a ship that clearly has no specific destination.
Is going down a direction?
Where are the trades? The Angels have sought after trade chip and are sitting on their hands. I hope I am wrong, but this wreaks of Moreno. Arte’s “unfinished business? is to do everything possible to make the Angels the worst team possible.
Just makes zero sense. Moreno gives the fans zero hope for the future, present, or past.
Trade Moreno
DFA Moreno!
More money into scouting and the Minor Leagues in player development is something that is lacking in the Angels system
Bingo Alex.
They need to do something about their scouting, drafting, and development.
Except for Schanuel, almost ALL of their draft picks from last year are batting .200 or have ERA’s around 6.00. It’s hard to have a 100% failure rate in the draft, but the Halos scouting is trying to achieve that.
A truly awful draft last year.
Angles should of started the rebuild last year
If they traded Ohtani they could of got a return kinda like the Nats got from the padres and we would of kept our 2 prospects we traded away to Chicago our minor league system wouldn’t be so bad .Its really time to blow it all up
Fire Moreno
Halos playing hard ball
There’s a massive difference between “are listening to offers” and “are expected to be dealt”. Sounds like writers just trying to create news out of nothing.
What are you talking about? The Angels have to move these guys to build up their farm. Garcia, Moore, Strickland, Calhoun and Drury are all on expiring contracts. Regnifo started the season on the bench, just as he has his entire career. There is a sell high opportunity. Ward is turning 31– now is the time to move him– although if they don’t get what they want for either of these two they can move them in the off season– both are controllable assets. Anderson is 35– he is a great value to some team and should net the Angels two quality prospects.
There’s a difference between players who are free agents after this season (who should be traded) and players under team control through next season or longer (i.e., Anderson, Rengifo, Ward) who the Angels should *only* trade for the right deal. The Angels aren’t looking to trade the latter group of players, per reports, it’s other teams contacting the Angels about their availability. If they’re willing to overpay for them, then they can be had. Otherwise the Angels can decide to trade them in the offseason or at next year’s deadline, or two years from now. The Angels are in the driver’s seat.
And they’re driving drunk swerving with no sense of direction.
It’s 11PM eastern right now– Angels better get busy and complete some deals. They have a lot of players to move– Ward, Regnifo, Anderson, Garcia, Strickland, Moore, Drury, Pillar, Calhoun, Canning, Detmers– all are available.
@carllafong I would take Calhoun, and detmers off the list. Calhoun will stay on the team. You would be selling detmers at his all time low. I don’t care about canning because I’m fine with fulmer. Drury and canning might not have any suitors.
Drury and Moore have played and pitched so poorly, they have zero value and will not be traded.
Canning could have value, but the Angels might be best served to wait and see if Canning can increase his value by pitching better down the stretch.
@johnnyangel they might have to send money for moore to get something. Same with Drury but I would accept whatever. On the same boat with canning to open up a spot next year.
@Johnny, Canning has never pitched well. I highly doubt a contending team would find him an improvement over any of their current pitching staff.
I doubt Moore or Drury will be traded either, unless they let them go for peanuts. I was really excited to have Moore back, but my god have the wheels fallen off this season..
@kellin it’s going to be some international player 130 pounds soaking wet, but Yankees kept Gil for 5 years, and it worked out. Moore might get something if we send money back someone might take a bite and dfa’d if he continues to suck. I would accept anything.
“Canning has never pitched well.”
Canning has had the following ERA+ over his career.
2019 101+
2020 114+
2023 104+
Yes, I know he has pitched poorly this year, but to say he’s *never* pitched well is an inaccurate statement.
OK 11PM EST
How many trades will go down between now and 9AM Tuesday EST.
Flaherty, Tanner Scott, Finnegan, Erceg, Fairbanks, MIA starter maybe?
BAL needs another reliever, Co closer or Kimbrel becomes a set up man
I wouldn’t be surprised if Tarik and Crochet aren’t traded
I want to see at least one surprise trade like Tarik or vlad or an orioles player
The Dbacks just torched Finnegan for five runs in the bottom of the 9th to walkoff the Nats. Won’t hurt Finnegan’s value, but he threw 30’ish pitches so may to take a day or two off.
Torkelson for Rengifo?
Don’t the Angels have a 22 year old First Baseman? Who’s hitting above league average already?
Why would they trade for Torkelson? Or for that matter, trade Rengifo for him?
Let’s Go Peary!!!
first year with no all-star for trout (not counting 2020 of course) since his rookie year in 2011
Hope Pillar ends up with with whoever wins the world series this year. Dude is pure hustle.
I hereby authorize Perry to trade whoever he wants, except for Trout. In fact, if I were the real Moreno, I would trade myself for a bucket of spit.
I would think O’Hoppe, Neto, Joyce and Schanuel are the only Angel untouchables on the MLB roster at the trade deadline.
Let’s see if Arte “we don’t rebuild” Moreno allows his GM to rebuild.
This team having a plan would be a nice change.
Isn’t Moreno still “furious” at the Dodgers for the previous Rengifo deal falling through?
It was Moreno who killed that.
They’re gonna rebuild the outfield around Jo Adell.
Keeping Tyler Anderson is mind boggling to me.
If he were a free agent after the season, then I’d agree with you.
He’s a 34 yr having a close to career yr. Lets not fool ourselves and think that next season things are going to change and we’re going to be a contender.
I doubt that the Angels aren’t listening to offers.