LA Angels Trade Market: Making A Trade With Every NL West Team

San Diego Padres

While he didn’t spend too much time in Anaheim and ultimately got a World Series ring by being traded, it did seem like Ian Kinsler’s time with the Angels was cut short. This trade resumes their partnership, and would be smart if the Angels are truly in “win-now” mode going into 2020.

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Obviously, parting ways with Luis Rengifo would be tough. The youngster showed a lot of promise last season and has five years of team control left. A one-for-one swap wouldn’t be fair from the Angels side, so I went ahead and added a mid-level prospect in Joey Cantillo (more on him later).

The theory in this swap is that the Padres need a bench piece who can play multiple infield positions. Their infield is set with Manny Machado, Fernando Tatis Jr., the recently traded for Jurickson Profar, and Eric Hosmer. Kinsler can only play second base, so adding versatility (and financial flexibility) with Rengifo makes a lot of sense for this team moving forward.

For the Angels, Tommy La Stella and David Fletcher can play multiple infield positions. Matt Thaiss can also play first and third base. They’re in the opposite predicament from the Padres. Adding Kinsler for this season would solidify their middle infield, and they have the flexibility with their starters to always have Kinsler playing second base. He’s also only owed $4 million this year, so won’t restrict the team in free agency.

The sweetener in this deal is Joey Cantillo, a left-handed pitcher selected in 16th round of the 2017 MLB Draft. There’s a pattern in Cantillo’s development, as he has struggled each time he makes a jump up to a higher level of baseball. However, he has come back each time and proven himself. The southpaw finished 2019 with a 2.26 ERA across two lower levels, and projects as a mid-rotation piece in a year or two.