LA Angels Roundtable: Halos Trade Deadline Edition

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.