LA Angels Weekend News Crash: All In

I felt like one of Jordan Belfort’s employees during his “I’m not leaving” speech Wednesday night when the Angels announced they are holding onto Shohei Ohtani. Now I just pray he makes that speech this off season.

While my brain fully understands that trading him is the smart, practical thing to do being a fan isn’t always about being smart and practical. It is about throwing your heart out there and hoping some things break right for once. Honestly, I haven’t been this emotionally involved in a season since 2009.

The calendar is turning to August. We have a winning record, a playoff berth within striking distance, and the best player in the world on our roster with what feels like a chance to keep him if we can deliver October baseball. Let’s buckle up and go for the ride.

Seemingly 30 seconds after that news broke Perry Minasian pulled off the biggest trade thus far, landing the top rental starter arm on the market and a much needed reliever.

That’s a steep price to pay. Quero is a guy I really like. A 20 year old switch hitting catcher who is already in AA. Ky Bush was the second round pick of the all pitcher 2021 draft and a guy the far more informed Turk’s Teeth thinks has upside. If either of us are correct, this trade will sting. If we are both right, yikes.

But the early returns seem very postive:

This game deserves more than one link.

And we won’t have to wait long to see our new toy. The two new additions did mean a couple of roster moves needed to be made.

My first reaction was to wonder why Walsh was DFA’d when guys like Squid and Webb stuck around. But, Walsh is getting paid $2.65 million this year meaning he’s owed about a million bucks this year. And he’s arbitration eligible and guys almost always get raises. This is a less expensive replay of the David Fletcher scenario earlier this year.

Not long after Walsh, Tucker Davidson was designated for assignment.

Speaking of guys getting paid, we might have to retire the Cheap Arte meme.

And there’s more. The team appears to be targeting Nationals third baseman Jaimer Candelario. Third base has been an albatross for the Halos this year. Rendon has been hurt or suspended most of the year. His insurance policy Gio Urshela suffered a freak injury (hey, we’re the Angels) and Mike Moustakas makes a far better first baseman than third. Candelario, Neto, Drury, Moose makes for a solid and pretty powerful infield.

Third and short have been problems for a lot of teams. Fangraphs took a look at some pieces that could be moved to solve those problems.

On the same day, the Houston Astros activated Yordan Alvarez and Jose Altuve. I know we laugh at GM and manager speak when they say getting a guy back from the IL is better than a trade. But in this case it rings true.

From around baseball:

The Dodgers shipped what is left of Thor to Cleveland for Ahmed Rosario. Shortstop has pretty much been the Dodgers version of third base for the Angels this year. Earlier in the week they reacquired Kike Hernandez from Boston to give them more depth. They might be trying to really get the band back together as they are also looking at Joe Kelly.

I wonder if they’d like Tyler Anderson too?

One thing I greatly respect is guys who sign for kids during Spring Training. And Kike Hernandez signed for my nephew and others years ago when he was quite popular. My nephew is a Dodgers fan and Kike was his first Dodgers autograph. It really made his trip.

Second base is a position of need for many clubs. FanGraphs took a look at some likely trade pieces at the keystone as well.

The Brew Crew acquired Carlos Santana, who the Angels just saw as a member of the Pirates.

Folks, this is the time of year when moves and Twitter move faster than we do. Please link developments on the trade front when you see them. We do our best to publish pieces on meaningful trades quickly but this is a community and it works best with your help.