You have to respect the Angels for trying, but not everyone is complimenting the team for its blockbuster trade bringing Lucas Giolito and Reynaldo Lopez to Los Angeles.
The team has been stuck between a rock and a hard place, attempting to compete for a World Series with high-priced stars littered throughout its roster and Shohei Ohtani’s impending free agency with plenty of suitors.
The Angels’ front office decided to go all-in with its two transcendent superstars in Ohtani and Mike Trout, rather than trade Ohtani for a massive haul before free agency.
The Post’s Jon Heyman made it clear that Ohtani’s trade fate rests with owner Arte Moreno, who never wanted to trade the likely AL MVP.
And they could still get crushed – gloriously – as they are four games back of the Blue Jays for the final wild-card spot and own an 8.4 percent chance of making the playoffs entering Thursday, according to Baseball Reference.
Arte Moreno and Shohei Ohtani will be together for at least another few months.Getty Images
Mike Trout is expected to return around late August.Getty Images
Los Angeles moved its top two minor league prospects to the Chicago White Sox, according to MLB.com, in return for Giolito and Lopez, a price many have difficulty wrapping their heads around.
The hefty price tag becomes worth it if they make a playoff run that helps convince Ohtani to stay with the Angels in free agency.
Lucas Giolito goes to Los Angeles in a blockbuster tradeGetty Images
Today the #Angels acquired RHPs Lucas Giolito ($6.6M median trade value) and Reynaldo Lopez ($1.3M) from the #WhiteSox in exchange for C Edgar Quero ($20.3M) and LHP Ky Bush ($9.8M).
The deal is rejected by our model as an overpay by Los Angeles.
— Baseball Trade Values (@BaseballValues) July 27, 2023
Look the Angels gave up a lot but I am begging people to stop using team rankings to evaluate trades, one team’s no. 2 can be another team’s no. 9! You wouldn’t equate Jackson Holliday to Nick Loftin! https://t.co/QrdtmOtLDC
— Jon Becker (@jonbecker_) July 27, 2023
Moreno has tried to build a contender for years, but massive long-term contracts to past-their-prime stars like Albert Pujols, Josh Hamilton and Anthony Rendon have crippled the organization.
The Angels acquired reliever Reynaldo Lopez from the White Sox to help their playoff push.USA TODAY Sports via Reuters Con
I’m in the minority, but if the Angels waste their Troutahni window, it’s not like Quero and Bush would have made up for it. Literally trade every prospect for a .05-percent chance of a magical run that convinces Ohtani to come back. https://t.co/cnJnbA3MQ6
— Grant Brisbee (@GrantBrisbee) July 27, 2023
“Arte seems committed to making a run this season — the best way to do that is through addition not subtraction,” a source familiar with the situation told The Post’s Jon Heyman.
The decision not to trade Ohtani will be remembered in 10 years as a massive mistake or a magical moment in baseball history.
This likely won’t be the last trade you hear involving the Angels ahead of the Aug. 1 trade deadline.
