LA Angels Trade Market: Making Blockbuster Deals With Every NL Central Team

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In continuation of our LA Angels Trade Block series, we continue on from the NL West and move to the Central division, where blockbuster trade possibilities are aplenty.

Last week, we looked at trades the LA Angels could make with every team in the National League West. Most of those trades were to round out the edges of the Halos’ roster. This week, we’re going big time in the National League Central. Three of these five trades would qualify as blockbusters, and the Halos would be wise to consider each as they aim to contend in 2020.

Cincinnati Reds

We’re starting off with something Halo fans have been clamoring for for quite some time now: a Justin Upton trade! After a disappointing and injury-plagued 2019 season, Upton is hoping for a bounce back next season. However, being owed more than $20 million is a huge problem for this Angels team. This trade stops that.

Every move the Reds have made in the past year and a half points towards them looking to contend this season. They’re all in on 2020, and have an impressive team surrounding a great rotation.

The one hole they need to fill is outfield. This trade is great for both teams. The Reds need Upton and have the money to pay him. The Angels can get off his contract, and focus that extra money towards their rotation. The Halos don’t need Upton as desperately as the Reds given Jo Adell’s upcoming arrival in the MLB and Brian Godwin’s 2019 breakout.

Joe Kuhnel, the player coming back to the Angels in this trade, is the Reds 23rd ranked prospect. He has been elite in the minor leagues, but struggled some in limited MLB action. The right-handed reliever would be a candidate for the Angels bullpen.

But again, this trade isn’t about Joe Kuhnel. It’s about moving off Upton’s contract to refocus that money on building a winning rotation in Anaheim.

(Photo by Jonathan Daniel/Getty Images) /

Chicago Cubs

Another big time trade for the Halos here, as they address a position of real need. After non-tendering Kevan Smith, the only catchers they have on roster are Max Stassi (who might not be ready for Opening Day) and Anthony Bemboom (who has 54 career at-bats in the MLB).

So why not reunite Joe Maddon and his former backstop?

The Cubs are a team who are very stressed financially, and will be looking to offload at least one of their young stars this winter. Willson Contreras make the most sense, and the Angels need to make sure he lands in Anaheim.

It goes without saying how much of an impact Contreras would have in Anaheim. He’s elite both on offense and defense, and is still only 27-years old. The Angels would have club-control for three seasons, and could have their answer at catcher for the next 5-7 years if everything goes according to plan.

Obviously the price for this type of player would be steep. The Cubs would test the waters on Jo Adell, but would quickly be denied. Brandon Marsh is a rock solid fallback option though. He continues to exceed expectations, and could honestly find himself as a top 50 prospect in baseball at some point this season. His defense, power, and athleticism all pop. The Cubs could do much worse than Marsh in a return for Contreras.

Milwaukee Brewers

This trade is arguably for the most talented player available on the trade market this winter in Josh Hader. Obviously players like Mookie Betts and Francisco Lindor would provide more impact, but one can make the argument that Hader has the most pure talent.

This is a monster package from the Angels, but it’s what would be required to land the best relief pitcher in baseball over the past two years. While his personality is questionable, there is no doubting Hader’s talent on the mound. His numbers have been historically great since the start of 2018, and his move to Anaheim would give the team one of the best bullpens in baseball with Hader, Hansel Robles, Ty Buttrey, Keynan Middleton, and Cam Bedrosian.

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To get this type of talent though, would be pricy. Jaime Barria showed serious potential last season, and is the type of controllable arm Milwaukee craves. Two poor starts inflated Barria’s ERA in 2019, and with those remove he posted a 4.89 ERA. Still not a great number, but much-improved than the 6.42 number that actually represents his season.

Jeremiah Jackson is starting to look like a genuinely elite prospect at the plate, as he blasted 23 home runs in just 65 games in rookie ball last year. He’s a ways away, but has serious star potential. Brian Goodwin would give the Brewers another cheap, controllable contract to help them continue contending in the NL Central.

This package may not even be enough for Hader, but it’s probably the most the Angels would consider giving for the right-handed relieving ace.

Pittsburgh Pirates

Our first of two bounce-back pitcher candidates for the Angels is none other than Chris Archer. The trade Pittsburgh made for Archer looked worse and worse by the day in 2019, and as they consider a full rebuild, moving him could be their top priority.

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In 2019, Archer posted a 5.19 ERA and a career-low innings pitched. The interesting part is that despite an awful year, Archer’s underlying numbers didn’t change from his career averages all that much. His walk rate shot up, but other than that Archer was seemingly the same pitcher he was in the years prior.

The trade comes with the consideration that Pittsburgh will be rebuilding and selling off their scoring deals. Archer is signed through next year and has an $11 million team option for 2021.

Matt Thaiss would give the Pirates some much-needed pop in their lineup, and consistent at-bats could give him a chance to fully break out next year. Jose Suarez showed flashes of potential last year, but doesn’t look to be more than a back of rotation option.

Sending Thaiss and Suarez might not sound like a great deal for Halo fans, but the impact Archer could potentially have on this Angels team is huge, and well worth moving off of two prospects projected to average MLB players.

(Photo by Dilip Vishwanat/Getty Images) /

St. Louis Cardinals

If you’re reading this and don’t actually know who any of these three players are, I understand. However, don’t let that fool you into thinking that this trade couldn’t have some great value and potential for the Angels.

Alex Reyes is a former top ten prospect in all of baseball. In his first taste of pro ball in 2016, Reyes posted a 1.57 in 12 games (five starts). Then, he had Tommy John surgery. Upon his return in 2018, he only pitched one game before being diagnosed with a torn tendon. Back healthy in 2019, he disappointed with a 15.00 ERA in four games. The Cardinals optioned him quickly, and seem to have given up on the 25-year old.

This is just a classic buy-low trade for the Angels. Reyes has elite potential as a starter, and could even help out of the bullpen. His injury history is scary, but the talent he has on the mound is unmatched by anyone in the Angels organization right now other than Shohei Ohtani.

Next. Reason for Optimism with Dylan Bundy

Livan Soto and Garrett Stallings are both Top 30 prospects for the Angels, coming in at 16 and 29 respectively. Soto is a middle infielder with solid contact skills at the plate. Stallings is an older pitcher who could be brought up as either a starter or reliever. He has elite knowledge of how to pitch a game, and finds ways to deceive hitters consistently and play mistake-free baseball.

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