Reports earlier this month indicated that the Angels were planning to move only their free agents during the deadline, and were looking to retain restricted players through the 2025 season or beyond. The Halos have stuck to this plan so far by traveling only Carlos Estevez to the Phillies, but it appears the club is preparing to deal with long-term assets, as rival managers told MLB.com's Mark Feins that both Luis Rengifo again Taylor Ward expected to be worked on. “The Angels listen to what is offered” the two, wrote Feinsand.
The Red Sox and Dodgers are both reportedly in the running for Rengifo, the Pirates have had discussions about Ward, and the Royals have previously been linked to both players in trade speculation. With some interest sweeping the league, there was reason the Angels could back away from any lease-only situation they might have had earlier in the summer, if that situation wasn't a bargaining chip.
It's hard at this point to see the Angels returning to contention early next season, so there seems little reason why the team wouldn't be open to moving their two best assets in a trade. Rengifo is subject to arbitration control through the 2025 season and Ward won't be a free agent until after the 2026 season, so this extra control will add to their trade value, rather than possibly being the reason why Los Angeles should try to save it. and many other obvious needs in the list.
Regarding the Halos players, Jon Heyman of the New York Post writes (X link) that Kevin Pillar you get “lpoints of interest” to rival teams. Playing a temporary role since signing with the Halos in April, Pillar is hitting .287/.343/.481 over 199 plate appearances – this works out to a 130 wRC+, miles above the 86 wRC+ Pillar posted in his previous 11 . Major League seasons.
It counts as an exit on a high note for a player who plans to retire at the end of the season, and joining a contender would be a great way to perhaps add a championship ring to Pillar's resume. Although some decline is inevitable given how Pillar is hitting above his career norms, the veteran can still provide depth in the field and anything he can do at the plate.
The Orioles are known to be looking for right-handed hitters, and Heyman writes in a separate X post that Pillar is one of the names on Baltimore's list of targets. The Orioles added Christian Pache as part of Austin Hays trade with the Phillies, but the 2024 version of Pillar will bring more pop than a defensive specialist like Pache.
Estevez's trade got the ball rolling in the Angels' rotation and created a hole in the back of the bullpen. Manager Ron Washington told The Athletic's Sam Blum (X link) and other reporters that Luis Garcia will close the games unless Garcia is traded himself, too Ben Joyce could be the next in line to save the conditions. Garcia is another pending free agent and there is a lot of interest in his services, so since he will be wearing another uniform during the day, that opens the door for Joyce. A former flamethrower, Joyce has gotten some “closer of the future” talk since his MLB debut last season, and he has a 2.11 ERA over 21 1/3 innings this year, though he has more advanced metrics. .
In non-commercial news about the Angels superstar, Washington told the Associated Press and other reporters that Mike Trout had not yet resumed his running program after a setback with his surgically repaired knee stalled Trout's major league rehab assignment. Trout pitched two Triple-A innings last Tuesday before leaving the game, and an MRI taken Friday came back clean, with Trout telling MLB.com's Rhett Bollinger and other media that the knee issue is related to a scar tissue tear.
“It is a great relief for me. I have to make sure it feels good and I'll be back there. Scar tissue breaking is a strange feeling and I've never felt that,” Trout said.
Trout was hitting .220/.325/.541 with 10 homers over 126 PA when his knee problems flared up in late April, and the three-time MVP hasn't played since, except for a brief appearance in -Triple-A last Tuesday. . While neither Trout nor Washington harbors much concern about this latest setback, there won't be much comfort until Trout returns to the field, given how many injuries have plagued the outfielder over the past few years.
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