Angels Rumors: Dylan Bundy fueling trade deadline rumors

The Los Angeles Angels are fielding calls for a Dylan Bundy trade, but are there deals out there that would work for the Halos?

With the  Angels currently sporting an AL-worst 9-21 record at the halfway point of the 2020 season, speculation is running rampant that they will be selling at the trade deadline. As such, Dylan Bundy’s name has become a popular topic as the trade deadline approaches.

The Angels’ right-hander has been one of the best pitchers in baseball in 2020, somehow turning a reclamation project into the most sought-after starter on the market. Acquired for four minor prospects, Bundy went from a washout in Baltimore to an ace in Anaheim.

After going a combined 15-30 with a 5.13 ERA, a 4.96 FIP, and allowing a whopping 70 home runs over the last two seasons, Bundy has turned things around with the Angels thanks to a new approach. In six starts in Anaheim, he owns a 3-2 record with a 2.58 ERA, a 3.05 FIP, and career bests in both BB/9 (1.9) and K/9 (10.3). More importantly, he’s kept the ball in the yard, allowing just four home runs in 38.1 innings of work.

However, while that change makes him valuable to the Angels, that is precisely why other teams are calling on him. With the Halos out of contention, they become one of the few clear-cut sellers at the deadline. Bundy’s performance to date and his extra year of contractual control makes him an easy standout in a field missing obvious trade chips. As such, they are already fielding calls on the right-hander.

With the trade deadline approaching on Monday, August 31st, teams have limited time to assess needs and put together trades. Likewise, the Angels will need to determine whether Bundy is worth more holding onto for a run in 2021 or whether they need to cash in on his quick turnaround.

Let’s take a look at one rumor that is currently out there and one trade scenario that may actually benefit the Angels in the short-term.