LA Angels Roundtable: Halos Trade Deadline Edition

2.) Who, if any pitchers, would you be willing to trade Jo Adell for?

Mark: Syndergaard absolutely. I would also possibly be willing to part with Adell in a one-for-one deal for Trevor Bauer.

David Rice: I would not trade Jo Adell period.  Unless it was for two strong controllable arms in the deal.  However, I don’t know if it’s possible to do that. Point being while I don’t think Jo Adell is the second coming of Mike Trout, but I think he is too important to get rid of, especially for just making the playoffs.  Even with another good arm we are not a World Series team and especially for a wild-card spot that could be only one-game.

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Vincent Page (@VincentPage74): My stance on Jo Adell is that I would try to make any trade without him, and if I was Billy Eppler, I would not trade him. However, given the state of the rotation and names available across the MLB, I would not be too heartbroken if he was dealt. The Angels have enough names on paper to make deals without their top prospect, but if they get caught in bidding wars, the idea of trading Adell becomes much more likely. And, to an extent, it makes some sense given the current landscape of the Angels’ organization.

David Peng: No one. Jo Adell is untouchable.

3.) Are you in favor of buying, selling, or standing pat?

David Peng: I’m selling. As well as the Angels have been playing lately, they’ve been doing on the backs of the offense. They don’t have the starting pitching to realistically compete. I would make Kole Calhoun available. He’s having a tremendous bounce back season, his value won’t ever be higher. The Angels should see what the Red Baron can fetch.

Mark: Anything but standing pat. I’m hoping there’s a plan to buy controllable players who will contribute beyond this year, and to offset it, there may be some light selling. But with other fringe teams like the Giants rising up with similar plans, the Angels could be priced out of the market unless they do out their biggest trade chip, Jo Adell, on the table.

Ryan: The Angels have a great chance to shore up their starting rotation for 2020 far in advance of the coming offseason. The team clearly desires to compete now with Mike Trout in his prime and to do that they need to secure the rotation for years to come.

The Angels may have the tools to offer a lights out package that doesn’t involve Adell and secure Marcus Stroman or Noah Syndergaard, but the chances on that aren’t too likely. Mike Minor is the easy option, but if the Angels really want to shore up the middle of their rotation with controllable youth than Robbie Ray would be the way to go.

4.) Besides pitching, what is one position you’d like to see improved at the trade deadline, and who catches your eye?

David Rice: The only position I really want to see improved is starting pitching.  Our bullpen is fine, just overworked.  Maybe if the Angels could get a frontline catcher which is unlikely or a defensive specialist like Martin Maldonado.  Our catching defense is not good at all. Maybe Wilson Ramos of the Mets.

David Peng: Catcher. Last winter’s best free agent catcher, Yasmani Grandal, signed for a mere $18.25 million with the Brewers, and is currently slashing .373/.503 while playing excellent defense. The Angels went cheap with Jonathan Lucroy and a series of random warm bodies, and it shows.

Grandal’s playing well enough that he could opt out of next season and go free agent again, but if he doesn’t, there’s not going to be a catcher on the market worth a long-term investment. If Grandal doesn’t make himself available,  Angels will desperately need to trade for someone.

Mark: There’s nothing that really seems like an urgent and doable move to me for a position player. The lineup produces and much of the club’s resources have gone to it. It’s time to address the absolutely barren rotation.