3 teams the Angels could rescue by taking an expensive staff of their hands

The Los Angeles Angels have a new owner with deep pockets, and a roster with a lot of holes to fill heading into the 2027 season. One modus operandi for the Angels front office, that was not available for them previously under Arte Moreno, could be acquiring players on large contracts for a minimal prospect return.

There are several teams coming off of disappointing seasons that might want to deal an ineffective player or two to any interested suitors who are simply willing to swallow the rest of a giant contract figure. One team's mistake could be an Angels' prime buy-low trade target!

The Angels are in a position to buy-low on several win-now trade candidates

Toronto Blue Jays: IF Andres Gimenez; three-years, $57.9M remaining

The Blue Jays books are a mess after an incredibly disappointing 2026 for their team and superstar in Vladimir Guerrero Jr. -- who is signed through the 2039 season at $35.7M a year. Not only do the Blue Jays have a massive financial commitment to a player who slashed .260/.332/.356/.688 last season, but they are also on the hook for $10+M next year for Dylan Cease, Andres Gimenez, Jose Berrios, Kazuma Okamoto, Anthony Santander, Tyler Rogers, Alejandro Kirk and Cody Ponce.

Of all the expensive Blue Jays players, adding Gimenez is the most likely and appealing option for the Halos. The Angels' defense has been a giant issue for years now, and trading for Gimenez would be a massive upgrade at an infield position up-the-middle. Gimenez is a preeminent defender at both shortstop and second base, which could allow the Angels to move Zach Neto to second or third base semi-permanently moving forward. Neto's -8 outs above average (OAA) ranked in the sixth percentile of players in 2026, while Gimenez's 19 OAA ranked in the 99th percentile.

The Angels could look to sign a player like Jazz Chisholm Jr. who has a higher offensive upside or roll the dice with a defense-first player like Gimenez instead for what should be less money. Toronto would demand a semi-intriguing prospect or two as well as Stan Kroenke taking on the entirety of Gimenez's contract, but the Angels need to seriously consider taking a risk on an iffy offensive player if it means stabilizing the worst facet of their team in their defense.

Chicago White Sox: SP Luis Castillo; two-years, $45.1M remaining

The Angels know the former Seattle pitcher Castillo well, as he is one of the many pitchers who has dominated them for years. Castillo, who was dealt from the Mariners to the White Sox midseason, is coming off of the worst season of his career. He posted career-lows across the board in 2026, and the soon-to-be 34-year-old is clearly past his peak.

However, say what you want about Castillo, but the guy has a rubber arm. Despite the outlandishly bad production, the guy still threw 130.2 innings in 29 games in 2026. Buying low on a durable pitcher who will be looking for a new contract after the 2028 season is not the worst idea in the world for the Angels, who should be looking for one more starter to slot in next to Reid Detmers, Walbert Urena, Yusei Kikuchi and Grayson Rodriguez.

A Castillo bounce-back would be reminiscent of what Aroldis Chapman has been able to accomplish in his mid-to-late 30s in that both have otherworldly arm-talent and just need to find the right situation in order to have a late-career surge.

New York Yankees: SP Carlos Rodon; two-years, $54M remaining

The Yankees have a surplus of starting pitchers in Cam Schlittler, Max Fried, Gerrit Cole, Ryan Weathers, Clarke Schmidt, Luis Gil, Will Warren and Elmer Rodriguez. The soon-to-be 34-year-old Rodon could be an odd-man out heading into 2027, especially given that Aaron Boone did not throw him once in the postseason. Perhaps that was the writing on the wall for his standing in the organization?

The southpaw posted a stellar 2.67 ERA in 84.1 innings pitched last season. Despite the quality production, the Yankees would definitely consider selling-high on the oft-injured, aging starting pitcher in the form of dumping his remaining years and money in return for some depth pieces given the state of their rotation.

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