Angels Trade Deadline: Grading each of the Halos deals

The Los Angeles Angels made a few moves before the MLB Trade Deadline, each with a different level of success for the team.

The Los Angeles Angels came into the 2020 MLB Trade Deadline as one of just a few obvious sellers. As such, they figured to be one of the more active teams at the deadline. That trophy ultimately went to the upstart San Diego Padres, the Angels pulled off just enough to make you think they had a plan.

Entering the deadline, everyone expected the Halos to field offers for both a slew of players, mixed between veterans on expiring contracts and controllable arms that could bring back solid returns. While the team ultimately decided not to move either of those arms, holding on to Dylan Bundy and Andrew Heaney, and also opted to keep Andrelton Simmons around, they did find a few deals to their liking.

The activities got started on Saturday, when they finalized a trade that sent infielder Tommy La Stella to Oakland. They continued on Sunday, when the San Diego Padres swung by to pluck Jason Castro from the roster. And when everything looked like it would ultimately be quiet on Monday, the Angels found a deal with the Reds for outfielder Brian Goodwin.

All and all, the Angels came away with two pitchers, an infielder, and a player to be named later.

With that said, not all trades are created equal. On the surface, some of these look better than others, and two of them are obviously longer-term gambles.

Let’s take a look at each of the three deals and assign some grades, shall we?!

Angels Trade Tommy La Stella to the Athletics for Franklin Barreto

The Angels got their 2020 trade season rolling with a surprise deal that sent infielder Tommy La Stella to the divisional-rival Oakland Athletics. It wasn’t that rumors about La Stella weren’t flowing freely, it was that up until the trade, Oakland hadn’t even been mentioned in a possible move for Tommy Boy.

We should have seen it coming.

From a team standpoint, the A’s have been starving to solve their issues at second base. At the keystone, the A’s rank 17th in fWAR (0.2), 19th in wRC+ (72), 21st in wOBA (.271), and 26th in ISO (.077). Meanwhile, La Stella is slashing .265/.361/.461 with a wRC+ of 127, a wOBA of .355, and a .196 ISO.

As far as the Angels return goes, Franklin Barreto feels a little underwhelming, especially considering the need for arms. Moving a desirable piece for another middle infielder that needed a change of scenery seems like a bit of a backwards move.

A former top prospect, Barreto came to Oakland in the 2014 trade that sent Josh Donaldson to Toronto. Still just 24-years-old, Barreto is a career .289/.352/.482 hitter and has shown flashes of power (86 home runs in 2458 at-bats) in the minor leagues. However, he’s seen limited playing time in the majors and received only 219 plate appearances, resulting in a .180/.210/.360 slash with nine home runs and 27 RBI.

Still under 25-years-old and with four seasons of team control, Barreto could still become a solid player under the right tutelage and may serve as some protection should Andrelton Simmons not return in 2021. However, this seems like a missed opportunity for the Angels.

Trade Grade: C-

Angels Trade Jason Castro to the Padres for Gerardo Reyes

While one trade went down without landing a pitcher, the Angels were able to complete one that did. On Sunday, the Halos flipped catcher Jason Castro to the San Diego Padres in exchange for catcher Jason Castro.

Perhaps no team has been busier at the trade deadline than the Padres, who acquired Castro, Mitch Moreland, Mike Clevinger, Austin Nola, and more in several different trades over a three-day span. In doing so, the Padres signaled to the baseball world that they intend to be contenders in 2020 and beyond.

In Castro, San Diego picks up a competent defensive backstop that can deliver the long-ball at times. The 33-year-old catcher is a career .231/.313/.390 hitter with 88 career home runs over his 10-year career. The Angels signed him to a one-year deal this past winter, and in turn received a .192/.323./385 slash line, two home runs, and six RBI for their investment.

A free agent at the end of the season, the Angels will take a little bit more away than excellent pitch framing and some meager offense.

In return, the Halos will pick up right-handed reliever Gerardo Reyes. The 27-year-old made his MLB debut in 2019, throwing 26 innings over 27 appearances. In that span, he owns a 4-0 record, with a 7.62 ERA, a 3.41 FIP, and a 13.2 K/9.

While the ERA may be a bit scary, the FIP indicates that it may be a bit of a misnomer. The inflation is largely due to a rough start to his career, where the right-hander surrendered 16 runs over his first 11.2 innings (12 appearances). However, he was much better over his last 15 outings (14.1 innings), when he worked to a 3.77 ERA and struck out 22.

Reyes had yet to appear in a 2020 game for the Padres, but certainly stands a chance to help a bullpen in Anaheim that has been hit and miss this season.

Trade Grade: B-