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 Pablo Lopez

Trade #1

Submitted by @celop7219

In this trade, the Angels would be acquiring Pablo Lopez from the Marlins. He's a guy who'd slot right into the middle of this Angels rotation and would definitely make them better.

He went 10-10 with a 3.75 ERA in 32 starts. He threw 180 innings which is outstanding for 2022. My issue with Lopez is this was his first fully healthy season. He had never started more than 21 games in a season before and never threw more than 111.1 innings. This happened in 2019.

Lopez was outstanding in the first half posting a 2.86 ERA. He really struggled in the second half, watching his ERA balloon by over two runs to 4.97. Could that be because he never threw this many innings in a season before?

This is a lot for the Angels to give up. In this trade, the Angels will be trading their number six prospect in Bachman, their number 20 prospect in Adams, and Orlando Martinez who's an outfielder who ended the season in AAA to Miami. They'd also be sending David Fletcher to Miami who I don't think the Marlins would even want.

With that being said, I'd do this trade if I were Perry Minasian. They're trying to win right now, and Bachman doesn't help with that. I do like him but would really hope he ends up being as good as Lopez is right now.

I'm not sure if the Marlins do it. They'd probably be looking for a bat to be the headliner in a Pablo Lopez trade. They already have a ton of pitching. The value does make sense though.

I don't think Miami takes David Fletcher and his three years of bad money. They already have their middle infield set. If you took him out, this is a pretty solid proposal in my opinion.

Grade: B

Trade #2

Submitted by @offtheoutlaw

This is another trade I'd do if I were the Angels but think the Marlins say no. They could use a bat and that's definitely what they'd target if Lopez were to be traded. I just don't think this is enough.

Luis Rengifo had his best MLB season by far, hitting 17 home runs with a 103 OPS+. The problem is he only drew 17 walks and had an OBP below .300 which is abysmal. The Marlins have Joey Wendle as their third baseman right now, they'd probably bank on a bounceback season from him before trading a really solid pitcher with Rengifo as the best player in return.

Mickey Moniak has very little value right now. He hasn't hit in the limited opportunity he's gotten in the majors and has dealt with injury problems. All the Angels had to give up to acquire him was an underwhelming Noah Syndergaard on an expensive expiring contract.

The Marlins can definitely do better than this in a Lopez trade.

Grade: C

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!