Angels Rumors: 2 trade scenarios that will put Halos in the playoffs

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Mike Trout , Los Angeles Angels (Photo by Lindsey Wasson/Getty Images) /

For three years in a row, the Angels have finished fourth in the AL West. One playoff appearance in the last 11 seasons has left fans upset, and the baseball’s best player is wasting his prime years.

On Monday, Mike Trout made his desire to get to the postseason abundantly clear.

“We’re trying to make the postseason. If that’s not the mindset, you shouldn’t be there,” Trout said. “It’s definitely weighing on me. I hear it every year. The only way to change that is get to the playoffs.”

Trout gave the Angels front office a gift in 2019, signing a 12-year, $426.5 million extension to stay with the Halos for the better half of his 30s rather than starting a bidding war in free agency. The franchise has done little on the pitching front to reward Trout for his loyalty, signing and trading for nothing but bottom-tier starting and relief pitching in the past three offseasons. These moves have given Trout and Angels fans nothing but a slim chance at postseason berths.

Mike Trout has made it abundantly clear that he wants to get back to the postseason in 2021, these two trades could help the Angels odds.

This offseason, the Angels have once again avoided a big pitching splash, leaving question marks in the bullpen and starting staff as opening day approaches and Trout’s prime continues to near its end.

Still, with over a month left in spring training and flexibility in the payroll and farm system, the Angels can show Trout that they are dedicated to surrounding him with a winning roster. With more teams than ever in sell mode, the now barren free-agent market isn’t the only place the Angels can look to bolster their roster. Here are two moves the Angels need to make to rectify their underwhelming off-season.

Luis Castillo (Photo by Brace Hemmelgarn/Minnesota Twins/Getty Images) /

The Angels are in need of an ace to lead their staff; that has been clear for the past five-plus years.

Who would the Angels turn to in an AL Wild Card game to match up against Chris Sale, Lucas Giolito, or Tyler Glasnow?

As it stands right now, the Angels would likely turn to Andrew Heaney or Dylan Bundy, both of which would be no better than a No. 3 or No.4 on any of those three teams.

Luis Castillo is the ace the Angels have lacked in recent years.

Luis Castillo broke into the majors in 2017 and has done nothing but improve, throwing 70 innings to the tune of a 3.21 ERA in the shortened 2020 season. In addition, 11.44 strikeouts per nine innings and 0.64 home runs per nine proves he has elite stuff that spins a lot and keeps hitters guessing, something that cannot be said about any of the Angel’s current arms.

The Reds have been sellers this offseason, rumored in multiple potential trade scenarios, as well as non-tendering their setup man Archie Bradley, trading their closer Raisel Iglesias, and being quiet on the free-agent market.

Dangling last season’s No.5 overall prospect in baseball, Jo Adell, might be enough to pry Castillo and his three years of remaining control from the Reds. Adell had an abysmal debut in 2020, hitting .161 in 132 plate-appearances across 38 games, including an eye-popping 41.7 strikeout percentage and .212 on-base percentage.

Despite the lousy sample size, Adell still has an incredible set of tools and very impressive raw power, enough to make teams potentially look past his 2020 season. Including another top-15 Angels prospect in OF Trent Deveaux and INF Matt Thaiss’ promising bat could complete a prospect package worth considering for the Reds.

Scott Barlow (Photo by Ron Schwane/Getty Images) /

The Angels performed a complete bullpen overhaul this offseason, letting go of long-time Angels relievers Cam Bedrosian, Keynan Middleton, and Justin Anderson, in addition to losing Hansel Robles, Matt Andriese, and Jacob Barnes.

Retooled with some new and consistent faces, the Angels are still missing a piece or two to make their bullpen one they can rely on. The perfect piece to fill that gap could be Royals pitcher Scott Barlow.

Barlow’s 4.20 ERA in 2020 certainly won’t make any heads turn, but his whiff and strikeout rates, along with exponential growth since 2018, certainly will. Barlow posted a 37.6 percent Whiff and 31.2 strikeout rate in 2020, both career highs. This was all while dropping his walk rate down to 7.2 percent.

Scott Barlow is an affordable option that will round out the Angels bullpen.

Although the Angels have added steady, veteran arms, they do not have a truly dominant, electric arm in their bullpen, and Barlow is flashing every sign that he could be on the verge of becoming one of the league’s elite arms.

Two uncharacteristic outings against the Indians and the Brewers caused the inflated ERA from Barlow, but his other numbers tell more of the story of his progress as a pitcher.

As someone who hasn’t fully broken out yet, a group consisting of Jaime Barria, Franklin Barreto, and Orlando Martinez, all young, controllable pieces who have shown promise in the past, could be of enough interest to the Royals to pry Barlow away for a reasonable price.

This could turn out to be a case of underpaying for potential future performance, rather than overpaying for previous performance as so many MLB front office continuously do.

Next. Future of Angels outfield is bright

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With a promising reinforcement to solidify the bullpen, and a young electric spark plug slotting in as the ace of the rotation, the Angels would have all pieces necessary to make a run at the Angels first postseason in seven years.

Otherwise, it’s just another wasted season for the best talent on the team.

Home / LA Angels News

Mike Trout has made it abundantly clear that he wants to get back to the postseason in 2021, these two trades could help the Angels odds.

Luis Castillo is the ace the Angels have lacked in recent years.

Scott Barlow is an affordable option that will round out the Angels bullpen.

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