Angels swing deal for starting pitcher Giolito, affirm buyer status
Just hours after a report surfaced that the Angels won’t be buying and selling two-way famous person Shohei Ohtani previous to the Aug. 1 Trade Deadline, the Halos struck a cope with the White Sox to amass right-handed pitchers Lucas Giolito and Reynaldo López in trade for catcher Edgar Quero (the Angels No. 2 prospect per MLB Pipeline) and left-hander Ky Bush (No. 3).
The Angels haven’t reached the postseason since 2014, after they have been swept within the American League Division Series by the Royals. With Ohtani scheduled to change into a free agent following this season, and fellow famous person Mike Trout nonetheless and not using a postseason victory in his stellar profession, it seems Los Angeles is making a giant push to finish its playoff drought this fall.
Giolito, who turned 29 on July 14, completed among the many high 11 in AL Cy Young Award voting annually from 2019-21 and threw a no-hitter towards the Pirates on Aug. 25, 2020. Last season, he struggled to a 4.90 ERA in 30 begins for Chicago, however thus far this yr, he’s bounced again — in 21 begins, he has a 3.79 ERA (116 ERA+) and a 1.22 WHIP. He’s given up two runs or fewer in seven of his final 9 begins.
The beginning rotation is definitely an space of want for the Angels. Outside of Ohtani, the rotation has been mediocre. None of the opposite 4 starters — Reid Detmers, Patrick Sandoval, Tyler Anderson and Griffin Canning — have an ERA underneath 4.16 this season.
The Halos bullpen hasn’t fared any higher, posting a mixed 4.18 ERA that ranks twentieth within the Majors. That’s the place they hope López will assist. The 29-year-old had a really poor begin to the season for the White Sox, however he has recovered since then. In 24 appearances since May 14, he owns a 1.75 ERA and opponents are batting .148 towards him.
In trade, the Angels needed to half with two of their high three prospects. Quero, 20, is a switch-hitting catcher with energy and a complicated strategy on the plate that has resulted in a excessive on-base share early in his professional profession.
Quero remains to be adjusting to the Double-A degree this season (.718 OPS in 70 video games for Rocket City), however final yr, he belted 17 homers whereas posting a .965 OPS and taking dwelling California League MVP honors with Single-A Inland Empire.
Bush, 23, is a 6-foot-6, 240-pound left-hander who posted a 3.67 ERA over 21 begins for Double-A Rocket City final season. So far in 2023, he has a 7.20 ERA over eight begins between the Arizona Complex League Angels and Rocket City.
The Angels chosen Bush within the second spherical of the 2021 Draft out of St. Mary’s College. He has an assortment of stable to above-average pitches in his arsenal, together with a high-whiff-rate slider, a sinking changeup and an bettering curveball.
