LAA Angels Trading Block: Blockbuster With Boston, Filling Holes in AL East

As the LA Angels go into the New Year, they still have some holes to fill in their clubhouse.

In this piece, we’ll look at some moves the LA Angels can make to fill those holes including catcher and rotational depth. At the end, we’ll make a blockbuster trade that would define the MLB offseason, and reunite with an old friend in Toronto on the way.

New York Yankees

Los Angeles Angels

We’ll start with arguably the least exciting move in this article. JA Happ was pursued by the Angels in free agency last season, and they could acquire him at a reasonable price if they desired to.

Happ had a poor 2019 season, and his $17 million contract makes him extremely cheap on the trade market. The Yankees will likely bite at the first suitor that offers to pay the majority of Happ’s contract to lessen the hit they’ll take from the luxury tax next season.

While Happ wasn’t the playoff arm the Yankees had hoped for, he could still be a valuable end-of-the-rotation arm for the Angels. There is only one year left on Happ’s contract, so it’s a low-risk trade for Billy Eppler and Co.

I have Michael Hermosillo going to the Yankees in this trade. He has a mix of youth and MLB-readiness that the Yankees need and should prioritize in any Happ trade. With the Angels organizational depth in the outfield, they won’t miss trading away their 24th ranked prospect.

Baltimore Orioles

Wait, you’re telling me there’s a player on the Baltimore Orioles worth three top 15 prospects for the Angels? That’s exactly what I’m telling you, and that player is Pedro Severino. The Orioles’ backstop was one of their few bright spots in 2019, and figures to be a solid player for years to come. However, the Orioles have top prospect catching prospect Adley Rutschman on his way to the MLB, making Severino dispensable for them.

Severino posted a solid batting line last season, hitting .249 with 13 home runs and 13 doubles to go with it. His defense isn’t going to win him a Gold Glove anytime soon, but it also won’t be underwhelming. Overall, he was worth 1.2 WAR last season, which would be a huge upgrade over the negative group the Angels had last year.

The best way I can describe Severino is that he is just a rock solid catcher in the MLB. He’s no star, but slotting him in as your #9 hitter and trusting him behind the plate makes this Angels team better than they are right now. Another attractive part about Severino is that he is under team control for four more seasons, which we know Billy Eppler will love.

Going back to the Orioles is shortstop Livan Soto and outfielder D’Shawn Knowles. Both have the potential to develop into solid starters in the MLB. However, exceptional outfield and infield depth could keep both planted in the minors for years to come.

Toronto Blue Jays

When the LA Angels non-tendered Matt Shoemaker last season and watched him go to the Toronto Blue Jays, it was a sad reality (especially considering he was replaced by Matt Harvey). However, as the Blue Jays go into the second year of their rebuild, the Halos may have a chance to bring back their old friend.

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Shoemaker’s 2019 season started off red-hot. Through his first five starts, he had posted a 1.57 ERA and was allowing fewer hits than he ever had in his career. It was likely an unsustainable rate from the 32-year old, however, we never got to find out.

In his fifth start, Shoemaker tore his ACL during a rundown, and thus ended his season.

While Shoemaker won’t be giving the Angels a sub-2.00 ERA if they trade for him, he’d offer solid pitching. He should be ready to pitch by the time Spring Training rolls around, and could be a piece as the Angels try to stabilize their rotation.

While it’s true Shoemaker has struggled with injuries over the years, perhaps the Angels’ six-man rotation could help him. He’s made just 26 starts over the past three seasons, but maybe this is the turning point for Shoemaker’s health.

It’s risky, but sending two lower-level outfield prospects that fit Toronto’s timeline could get Shoemaker back home in Anaheim. And if he stays healthy, the Angels could add another effective arm to a rotation that needs it.

Boston Red Sox

I promised a blockbuster trade to you at the end of this article, and I’m pretty sure this qualifies. This trade would not just be the biggest move of the Angels’ and Red Sox’s offseasons, but the entire MLB offseason.

The Angels and Red Sox have been linked about a David Price trade for some time, a move that makes a lot of sense. Boston wants to shed salary, and in this trade they’d get rid of a net $40 million. They’d have to take Justin Upton from the Angels for the trade to work, but they might like that move considering he’s a big time bounce back candidate.

This trade would likely take the Angels over the luxury tax. However, it’d also give them a complete rotation, three of the five best hitters in baseball, and a lineup that ranks among the MLB elite. While Mookie Betts has been adamant about hitting free agency, a year in Anaheim alongside Mike Trout and Anthony Rendon could go a long way in recruitment.

While losing Patrick Sandoval and Brandon Marsh would hurt, this trade would open a legitimate window for the Angels to win a World Series. When you have the opportunity to do that as a general manager while keeping your top prospect in Jo Adell, you have to pull the trigger on that type of move.