3 buy-low trade candidates for the Angels to target

If the Los Angeles Angels want to compete in 2023, they'll likely have to make some quality trades. Arte Moreno is looking to sell the team and likely won't want to go into the luxury tax. With that in mind, plus a weak farm system, the Angels will have to find some undervalued names on the trade market.

Here are three players I believe can be acquired at a lower price due to bad seasons in 2022.

1) Angels buy-low trade target: Tyler O'Neill

Tyler O'Neill came out of nowhere in 2021 and helped the Cardinals go on a big run down the stretch to reach the postseason. He was hitting third consistently in between their two superstars Paul Goldschmidt and Nolan Arenado and was having tremendous success.

He slashed .286/.352/.560 with 34 home runs and 80 RBI. He also stole 15 bases and won a Gold Glove. He finished eighth in the NL MVP balloting.

2022 was a different story as he struggled mightily and battled through injuries as well. It's possible St. Louis could look to move on and O'Neill would be available for cheap.

The Angels have a big hole in left field as Jo Adell and Mickey Moniak should not be starting there on Opening Day. O'Neill should be someone the Angels look into.

Even with his struggles this past season, O'Neill did hit 14 home runs in 98 games played. If his bat isn't going, his speed and defense will always be assets.

O'Neill ranked in the 98th percentile in sprint speed according to baseball savant which is very good especially for a left fielder. He strikes out a ton, but even at his worst he's a sizeable upgrade over Adell and Moniak.

He has two more years of team control so St. Louis won't just give him away, but he can be acquired for cheaper than he should be.

3) Angels buy-low trade target: Ramon Laureano

Ramon Laureano's stock cannot possibly be lower. He was suspended during the second half of the 2021 season due to PED's. Once he returned from the suspension he had just a 92 OPS+. Lastly, he's on an Oakland Athletics team that has traded virtually every veteran of value outside of Laureano and I'm sure has no willingness to have him on their roster come Opening Day.

With that in mind, the Angels should trade for Laureano while his price is at an all-time low.

I get the concern about productivity after the suspension, but he's been productive even before 2021.

In 2019 he slashed .288/.340/.521 with 24 home runs and 67 RBI. He also stole 13 bases that year.

He's been a mostly league-average hitter since, but that's still a massive upgrade over what the Angels have in left field right now. He's also played a lot of center field so the Angels could use him there if there's a need.

In addition to his fine bat, Laureano has a cannon of an arm. Adell is not great defensively, and neither is Laureano, but his arm makes the Angels' defense better.

Look at this throw he made to complete a double play in Anaheim in 2018:

Laureano has three years of control left still and should be cheaper now than he has been ever. He's a guy the Angels should keep in mind for left field.