Five Chicago White Sox pitchers the LA Angels should target at the trade deadline

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After a really disheartening three-game series in Colorado which saw the Los Angeles Angels lose two of three against a bad Rockies team, the Halos return home for a crucial seven-game homestand. It begins tonight with four games against the Chicago White Sox.

The Angels faced the White Sox in Chicago earlier this season and took two of three. Notably, this was the series in which Shohei Ohtani got his way out of a slump, and he's been unbelievable since. Since the Angels began the series at Guaranteed Rate Field, Ohtani has slashed .354/.444/.859 with 13 home runs and 28 RBI in 25 games. So yeah, thank you, White Sox.

Chicago was a team trying to make the postseason in 2023 but finished the month of April with a record of 8-23. While they've been above .500 since they still sit at 34-45 on the season. They're still in the AL Central race because of how awful that division is, but they're six games back and have shown nothing that makes you believe they'd go on a run. There's a good chance the Sox sell at this year's deadline. If they do, there're a bunch of pitchers the Angels should look to acquire.

1) White Sox trade target for the LA Angels to consider: Lucas Giolito

It feels almost certain that barring a big run, Lucas Giolito will be traded. Even if the White Sox are six back and somewhat within striking range, it feels like losing Giolito for nothing won't be a risk Chicago takes.

The free agent to be is enjoying a very nice bounceback season after a really rough 2022. Giolito had a 4.90 ERA in his 30 starts last season, and he now has a 3.41 ERA in 16 starts this season.

Giolito has been rather inconsistent in his time in the big leagues either pitching really well or really poorly, but he's always been durable and a guy that can eat innings. He's made at least 29 starts and thrown at least 170 innings in each of the last four complete seasons, and he's on pace to reach those numbers again this season.

Adding Giolito, a southern California kid, to this team would be great. The Angels have a clear rotation need, and he won't be absurdly expensive considering his expiring contract status. If the Angels can't swing a trade for him, I wouldn't be surprised to see them be in on him in free agency.

2) White Sox trade target for the LA Angels to consider: Kendall Graveman

While the Angels bullpen has been much better in the month of June, I think most fans would agree that adding another arm is something Perry Minasian should do. Enter Kendall Graveman.

Graveman is enjoying another really solid year with the White Sox, posting an ERA of 2.70 in 34 appearances. He's worked both as the closer and as a set-up man and has had success in both roles. Graveman has six saves and eight holds this season, and is a guy with some experience in both roles.

Since the 2021 season, Graveman has posted an ERA of 2.57 in 152 appearances. Among relievers with at least 150 innings pitched since the 2021 season, Graveman's ERA ranks fifth in the sport. He's been consistently effective for a number of years now.

The Angels bullpen has improved with a lot of help from young relievers like Sam Bachman and Jose Soriano. As much as I love what those guys in particular have done, adding an established veteran who has nine postseason appearances in his career and has been a dominant regular season performer would be a big lift.

3) White Sox trade target for the LA Angels to consider: Joe Kelly

Another reliever the Angels absolutely should consider is Joe Kelly. The right-hander would fit in well with this bullpen with hard throwers as he averages 98.9 mph with his sinker and can hit triple digits fairly often.

Kelly's ERA might be at 4.13, but he has an xERA of 2.45 and a FIP of 2.77. Kelly has been great, but unlucky pitching in front of a White Sox defense that ranks 29th in DRS.

Kelly missed time due to a groin injury which is why he's only made 25 appearances, but in his 24 innings of work, he's been dominant. 31 strikeouts to just seven walks and only two home runs allowed thus far. Walks have plagued him throughout his career, so to see Kelly cut his walk rate down from 9.6% in his career to 6.9% in 2023 is encouraging.

The veteran has loads of postseason experience with 40 appearances throughout eight seasons, and he has two World Series Championships as well.

The 35-year-old is an Anaheim native and has a club option for $9.5 million for the 2024 season. If the Angels acquire him and he pitches well they can keep him, if he doesn't pitch well, they can decline that option and pay just $1 million.

Kelly is the reliever I'd want the most from Chicago.

4) White Sox trade target for the LA Angels to consider: Liam Hendriks

It wouldn't be right to be listing White Sox relievers and not have Liam Hendriks listed as an option. When healthy, he's the best reliever on this White Sox team and is one of the best closers in baseball.

From 2019-2022, Hendriks posted a 2.26 ERA in 226 appearances pitching for Oakland and the White Sox. He struck out 13.5 batters per nine while walking just 1.8/9. He recorded 114 saves in those seasons, including a league-leading 38 in 2021.

As most fans know, Hendriks was diagnosed with non-Hodgkin's Lymphoma in December and missed the beginning of this season while undergoing Chemotherapy.

Hendriks made his triumphant return from Cancer in late May ironically against the Angels. He allowed two runs in his inning of work, but allowed just one run in his next four outings after that. Hendriks has two wins out of the bullpen and recorded his first save at Yankee Stadium, finishing off a narrow White Sox win.

While he might not be the dominant force he was, there's little risk in trading for a guy like Hendriks if he does become available. He has a club option next season worth $15 million so if the Angels determine he isn't worth keeping around, they don't have to.

Even if Hendriks isn't the closer, there's no doubt in my mind that he'd be a valuable arm to throw late in a game. He's on the IL right now with elbow inflammation, but assuming he comes back sometime in July, it's definitely something to look into.

5) White Sox trade target for the LA Angels to consider: Dylan Cease

This is the dream target. Whether the White Sox are selling or not, it feels very unlikely they'd trade Dylan Cease. Regardless, it's a call Perry Minasian needs to make.

Cease's 2022 season was dominant. He posted a 2.20 ERA in 32 starts and 184 innings pitched. He struck out 227 batters but also walked a league leading 78. Control has always been Cease's issue, but as long as he keeps the walks semi-manageable, he should be fine, as he was in 2022.

This season hasn't been nearly as good for this right-hander. Cease has an ERA of 4.22 in 16 starts and 85.1 innings pitched. His walks are up, the home runs are up, and the strikeouts are down. Nothing by much, but it's something to keep in mind.

What's also important to note is Cease got off to a brutal start, posting an ERA of 4.88 through May. In June, he has an ERA of 2.38 in four starts, and he's allowed two runs or fewer in all four.

The reason I'd be surprised if Cease would be traded is because he's under team control through the 2025 season. Even if the White Sox do sell, I'm not sure they tear the entire thing down, which is essentially what they'd do if they trade their ace, especially on a down year.

While it's improbable, the Angels should absolutely look into it. Having Ohtani and Cease at the top of the rotation would be unreal.

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