LA Angels: 3 players team could trade and still remain competitive
![Tony Watson, LA Angels. Mandatory Credit: Joe Nicholson-USA TODAY Sports](https://images2.minutemediacdn.com/image/upload/c_fill,w_752,ar_16:9,f_auto,q_auto,g_auto/shape/cover/sport/https-3A-2F-2Fhalohangout-com-2Fwp-content-2Fuploads-2Fimagn-images-2F2021-2F07-2F16390725-850x560-0c98b601c298a7fd80dfe48f2d288101.jpg)
![Andrew Heaney, LA Angels. Mandatory Credit: Gary A. Vasquez-USA TODAY Sports](https://images2.minutemediacdn.com/image/upload/w_480/shape/cover/sport/https-3A-2F-2Fhalohangout-com-2Fwp-content-2Fuploads-2Fimagn-images-2F2021-2F07-2F16380556-1ab1d37f931741a8e5ae8b60fe3f3e05.jpg)
The LA Angels aren’t quite sure if they’ll buy or sell at the deadline yet.
Many of the names brought up in the trade discussion when it comes to the Halos are similar. You’ll hear about a lot of their arms, and maybe Jose Iglesias too.
Some of those pitchers, like Raisel Iglesias, could really crush the Halos’ chances this year. Some, however, wouldn’t have those types of major effects.
No. 3 player the LA Angels could trade and still remain competitive: Andrew Heaney
It’s safe to say that Andrew Heaney has been disappointing for the LA Angels this year.
Heaney has been fine for the Halos in the past, but this year he’s posted a 5.38 ERA. He at least hasn’t walked a lot of batters, only walking an average of three every nine innings, but his WHIP still has room for improvement.
His WHIP is sitting at 1.351, and has allowed a .257 batting average against him this season.
He has some trade value, however, because there are always teams looking for starters with veteran experience, and it’s not like Heaney hasn’t ever been good before.
Also, he’s still finding the zone. It’s not just that he hasn’t walked many, but he’s also struck out 11 batters per nine.
There will be teams interested in giving him that change of scenery that he needs, and all the Angels would be losing is a starter that hasn’t performed well at all this season.
![Tony Watson, LA Angels. Mandatory Credit: Gary A. Vasquez-USA TODAY Sports](https://images2.minutemediacdn.com/image/upload/w_480/shape/cover/sport/https-3A-2F-2Fhalohangout-com-2Fwp-content-2Fuploads-2Fimagn-images-2F2021-2F07-2F16373513-3218fe36fb2f88fb9ab60dbe4845c459.jpg)
No. 2 player the LA Angels could trade and still remain competitive: Tony Watson
Tony Watson has been inconsistent for the LA Angels this season.
He’s had plenty of moments where he’s looked great, but he’s also had some where he’s looked atrocious.
One that comes to mind was June 16th against the Oakland Athletics where he gave up six earned runs without recording a single out.
All in all this year, he’s pitched to a tune of a 4.60 ERA, and he’s only struck out 6.1 batters per nine innings as a reliever. He’s also walked too many guys per nine innings (3.7).
If the Angels tried to unload Watson, they could get a decent return due to the fact that Watson’s good days have outnumbered his bad ones.
They should look into it, because while his good days certainly have outnumbered his bad ones (especially as of late), he’s nowhere near their best reliever and has been a major contributor to some key close losses this year.
They can play well without Watson. He’s not a bad pitcher, and the numbers don’t really tell the full story. They can win without him, though, and should pull the trigger if they can get the right return.
![Steve Cishek, LA Angels. Mandatory Credit: Robert Hanashiro-USA TODAY Sports](https://images2.minutemediacdn.com/image/upload/w_480/shape/cover/sport/https-3A-2F-2Fhalohangout-com-2Fwp-content-2Fuploads-2Fimagn-images-2F2021-2F07-2F16358984-6549fcb33923788c001371893911a3a3.jpg)
No. 1 player the LA Angels could trade and still remain competitive: Steve Cishek
Steve Cishek has been a great pitcher for the LA Angels, make no mistake about it.
But, has he been so great that the Angels can’t win without him?
I don’t think so. If Cishek were pitching like this in a closer role, then the Angels would need to keep him.
Cishek’s role doesn’t provide that much value to the team, and they can likely get a haul for him if they want to try to deal him.
There are going to be many teams interested in a reliever like Cishek who has a 2.88 ERA, and has had seven other seasons where he’s had a sub-three ERA.
Despite last year in a pandemic asterisk season, Cishek has been very consistent. He walks too many guys (5.3 per nine) to be too valuable to trade, though, and the Angels can absolutely make a playoff run without him around.
3 relievers to target at deadline. Next
They can achieve their season goals without any of these guys. If they want to buy, they’re likely going to have to part ways with some of these and get a lot in return. They certainly can, and need to be open to parting ways with these pitchers.