Angels Trade Deadline: Grading each of the Halos deals

Angels Trade Brian Goodwin to the Reds for Packy Naughton, more

As the 1 PM deadline loomed for the MLB Trade Deadline, it appeared that Billy Eppler and the Los Angeles Angels were likely to stand pat on Monday. They had completed two trades over the weekend and didn’t appear too keen on flipping Dylan Bundy at the deadline.

However, Eppler found at least one more deal to his liking and it was perhaps his best strike of the deadline.

Just before the clock struck one, the Angels agreed to a deal with the Cincinnati Reds that sent outfielder Brian Goodwin to Ohio in exchange for pitching prospect Packy Naughton and a player to be named later. That player is also expected to be a pitcher.

Goodwin, who became a solid everyday player in Anaheim, ultimately was made expendable due to the rise of Jo Adell and the expected arrivals of Brandon Marsh and/or Jordyn Adams in the next season or two. Likewise, the contract for Justin Upton makes him a tough move as well. As such, the Angels opted to strike while the iron was hot and trade Goodwin at the peak of his value.

A team bereft in pitching volume in the upper minors, the Angels acquire a pitcher who was slated for Triple-A in 2020. In 2019, the left-hander went 5-2 at High-A Daytona with a 2.63 ERA, a 2.45 FIP, and a 8.77 K/9. That earned him a midseason promotion to Double-A Chattanooga, where he produced a 6-10 record with a 3.66 ERA, a 3.54 FIP, and a 6.9 K/9. Ultimately, he channeled that into being named the 2019 Reds Minor League Pitcher of the Year.

While not an arm that can help the Angels in 2020, Naughton profiles as a potential rotation piece in late 2021 or early 2022. That makes him a solid pick-up in exchange for two seasons of an outfielder that arguably didn’t have a good fit in the Angels outfield moving forward.

Trade Grade: B+