Grading reader-submitted trade proposals for the Angels

The Los Angeles Angels have been the league's most active team this offseason, already making three moves in an effort to improve from a 73-win team and make the postseason for the first time in eight years.

The Halos have made two trades in this time, acquiring Gio Urshela from the Twins and Hunter Renfroe from the Brewers. With not so much money to play around with before entering the luxury tax, Perry Minasian might have to continue to wheel and deal and get creative.

I asked on Twitter earlier this week for readers to submit their trade proposals (with thanks to Redbird Rants for the idea). We got some fun ones and also some crazy ones. We saw crazy things like swapping ownership groups with the Dodgers and making a trade with the Mariners (Seattle GM Jerry Dipoto has made 137 trades as Mariners GM and not one has been with the Angels).

I'll be grading the trades looking at whether it makes sense for both sides. As much as I'd love the Angels to acquire Julio Rodriguez for Anthony Rendon, it just won't happen.

I couldn't get to all of them, but will definitely circle back at some point. Without further ado, let's grade some trades!

Grading fan-submitted trade proposals for Tyler Glasnow

Trade #1

Submitted by @MookieButts

The Rays are the Rays, so we really don't know what they'll ever do, but I can say pretty confidently that they won't do this. Tyler Glasnow when healthy is an ace and the Angels would be giving up two question marks here.

It's very possible the Rays do trade Glasnow, but I wouldn't count on it. They just extended him, so he won't be a free agent until after the 2024 season. It's likely he ends up on another team before then, but I'd bet on the Rays trying to compete with him right now.

If they do trade him, this just isn't enough. Jared Walsh was having a disastrous 2022 before having his season-ending surgery. Of course the injury is a big reason why he struggled but who's to say he'll be the hitter he was before the injury? His value is a lot lower right now than it was a couple years ago.

Rengifo again had a solid season but doesn't carry much value because he doesn't get on base. If Glasnow wasn't extended and was a free agent at the end of 2023 maybe the Rays consider but with the extra year added to his deal I don't think there's any way this happens.

Grade: C-

Trade #2

Submitted by @LeadoffHalos

To me, this trade makes a lot more sense than the first Glasnow proposal. Jose Suarez in my opinion has more value than Rengifo. Suarez is under control through the 2026 season and ended 2022 with a very good second half.

I think Tampa Bay can do a lot better than this proposal, but if the Angels added another player or prospect maybe it'd make sense?

They'd be getting Walsh and a pitcher with two extra years of team control. They'd be shedding payroll and banking on Suarez's second half transfering over to 2023 and beyond.

I think Tampa turns it down, but Suarez is a better piece than Rengifo.

Grade: B-

Grading other fan-submitted trade proposals

Trade #1

Submitted by @sportsguy06

Lucas Giolito heading into the 2022 season was considered one of the better pitchers in the American League by most people but really struggled this past season. He's projected to make $10.8 million dollars this season and if the White Sox don't want to keep him long-term he could be a good buy-low trade target for the Angels.

This deal has the Angels giving up a bit too much in my opinion. They're trading two players with at least three years of team control to the White Sox in exchange for Giolito coming off a very down year on an expiring contract.

The White Sox played guys like Andrew Vaughn and Gavin Sheets, who are both first basemen, in the outfield because they had too many first basemen and wanted their bats in the lineup. For that reason, I don't think a Giolito deal would involve Walsh.

Suarez is a guy who could intrigue them as he had a very good second half and has an extra three years of team control. If I'm the Angels I'd probably do that one for one, but not the two for one.

Grade: C

Trade #2

Submitted by @Classic_Cards_

This trade is incredibly intriguing. In terms of the talent received, the Angels win this trade. Devin Williams is one of the best relievers in baseball. Christian Yelich is a decent outfielder right now. The Angels are giving up three position players who haven't proven much and a reliever prospect.

While the Angels clearly win in terms of the talent acquired, I think there's no shot they'd ever do this trade. This user did say the Brewers would eat Yelich's contract in 2023 and 2024 but that's not good enough for me.

Even taking the 2023 and 2024 seasons out of the equation, Yelich is set to make $26 million dollars annually from 2025-2028. He then has a vested option for $20 million dollars in 2029.

Christian Yelich is only 30, but his contract will be one of the worst ones handed out ever, which is surprising to say after the player he was before signing it.

Yelich is an outfielder with back problems. He hit just 14 home runs this past season despite playing in 154 games. He hasn't been good since 2019 and much like Cody Bellinger, I don't really see him randomly boucing back to the player he once was.

Arte Moreno is looking to sell and it'd be a lot harder to find a buyer if they have Christian Yelich's contract on the books. It's hard enough with Anthony Rendon's money on the books.

In fairness this proposal was submitted before the Renfroe deal, but if this trade were to go down now Yelich would have nowhere to play. Devin Williams would be an awesome get and if the Angels offered those players for him without Yelich included the Brewers might honestly accept as they might be trending towards a rebuild.

The Angels should want no part of Christian Yelich. The Brewers would be incredibly happy if a team would take him off their hands.

Grade: D+

This was a very fun exercise to do and I will be doing it again this offseason to keep your eye out for that! Thank you all for participating and if I did not get to yours be sure to comment down below and I'll grade it!