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 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-