We’re running a series of articles this summer on trade candidates on teams who look to be sellers at the deadline. Now up: the Los Angeles Angels.

 

Another MLB season brings another Angels disappointment, as the club’s quest to reach the postseason for the first time since 2014 once again looks hopeless. The departure of Shohei Ohtani, another prolonged injury absence from Mike Trout, and an overall lack of quality talent at the major-league level have all added up to give the Halos a woeful record to start the season.

Los Angeles currently sits miles away from a wildcard spot, and look to be multiple years away from truly competing for a playoff berth. Angels shot-caller Perry Minasian should already be fielding offers on the team’s trade assets, and looking to stockpile young talent for a brighter future. Let’s fire up BTV’s Value Matcher tool to see what the Angels could get back at this year’s deadline.

 

High-Value Pieces

 

Taylor Ward

Surplus Value: $13.6 Million

It took Ward until his age-28 season to break out at the major league level, but once he did, he proved to be the best non-Mike Trout player on the Angels. Since the beginning of 2022, Ward slashed .262/.344/.448 across 1,314 plate appearances, piling up 109 extra base hits and 155 RBI in that span. The 30-year-old outfielder is under team control through the 2026 season. 

Our Value Matcher tool shows Ward being worth fringe Top-100 prospects Luisangel Acuna of the Mets, Miguel Bleis of the Red Sox, or Jaison Chourio of the Guardians in a one-for-one swap. However, if the Angels decide to move Ward, they’ll likely opt for a quantity-over-quality approach in hopes of improving their dismal farm system. The Phillies, who are in need of a powerful outfield bat, could work out a deal including top-100 pitching prospect Mick Abel, slugging outfielder Carlos de la Cruz, and fleet-footed outfielder Emaarion Boyd.

 

Luis Rengifo

Surplus Value: $12.9 Million

27-year-old Rengifo has been quietly one of the more productive players on the Angels in recent years, bouncing around the diamond while slashing .254/.313/.398 across 1,919 career plate appearances. Before his recent wrist injury (which appears to be minor), he was on an absolute tear this year, posting a .315/.358/.442 clip over 269 trips to the plate thus far. The switch-hitter has suited up at second base, third base and shortstop this year, and also handled all three outfield positions in 2023. 

Rengifo is under team control for one more season after this, and could bring back a well-regarded prospect should the Angels decide to flip him at the deadline. A team like the Mariners that lacks infield depth could acquire him in exchange for second baseman Ryan Bliss, or right-hander Logan Evans.

 

Griffin Canning

Surplus Value: $7.2 Million

Right-hander Canning has been solid, if unspectacular, in his five years with the Angels, notching a 4.60 ERA and 4.69 FIP over 430.0 lifetime innings. It’s been more of the same this year, as the 28-year-old has logged a 4.87 ERA in 98 innings of work. Canning is in the midst of his penultimate year of team control, and is only making a modest $2.6 million this season. A team in need of rotation help could offer up a high-value prospect like shortstop Cooper Pratt of the Brewers or the Braves’ JR Ritchie.

 

Lower-Value Players Who Could Fill Needs

 

Carlos Estévez

Surplus Value: $2.6 Million

Burly right-hander Estévez has been rock solid in his two seasons as an Angel, racking up 47 saves while posting a 3.63 ERA and 3.64 FIP in 89.1 innings pitched. This year he’s worked to a 2.89 ERA and 2.99 FIP over 28.0 frames. The 31-year-old impending free agent could allow the Halos to snag 2021 first-rounder Maddux Bruns from the Dodgers, or fireballing right-hander Alex McFarlane from the Phillies.

 

Kevin Pillar

Surplus Value: $1.8 Million

Longtime Blue Jay Pillar made a name for himself as a defensive wizard in center field. However, the 35-year-old has never been anything special at the plate, slashing .259/.296/.412 across 4,214 lifetime plate appearances. 

Pillar signed a one-year deal worth $1 million this offseason with the White Sox, but was cut loose at the end of April after posting a paltry .650 OPS in 17 games. He quickly caught on in Anaheim, and has found new life there, putting up a terrific 129 WRC+ over 175 trips to the plate. At the deadline he should hold some value to teams during the stretch run as an excellent defender at all three outfield positions. If Pillar can keep up his hot start, the Halos could net an interesting youngster from a team in need of outfield help, like Low-A hurler Jackson Humphries of the Guardians or slugging infielder Yunior Severino from the Twins.

 

Hunter Strickland

Surplus Value: $0.9 Million

Former Giants closer Strickland didn’t appear in the big leagues last year, but he’s made good on a one-year pact with the Angels this season, posting a solid 3.60 ERA and 3.64 FIP over 40.0 innings thus far. The ten-year veteran hasn’t missed many bats, only fanning 20.6% hitters he's faced, but would interest a team in need of some more right-handed bullpen help. Flipping the free-agent-to-be at the deadline could net the Halos a younger, controllable hurler like the Dodgers’ Jesus Tillero or the Phillies’ Tyler Phillips.

 

Luis Guillorme

Surplus Value: $0.6 Million

Infielder Guillorme was so bad with the Braves to begin the year that they cut him loose after only nine games of .440 OPS play. As was the case with Pillar, the Angels took a chance on the struggling veteran, and have been rewarded thus far for their efforts. In 114 plate appearances in Anaheim, Guillorme has slashed .238/.310/.317, while covering second base, third base and shortstop. The 29-year-old is controllable for one more season via arbitration, and could bring back a decent prospect from a team in need of infield depth. Trading Guillorme could net the Angels 21-year-old relief prospect Anyer Laureano from the Reds, or speedy utilityman Samad Taylor of the Mariners.

 

Luis ​​García

Surplus Value: $-0.1 Million

Veteran right-hander ​​García has been cromulent in 38 outings to begin the year, posting a 4.25 ERA and 3.50 FIP over 36.0 innings pitched. The Halos could snag a decent prospect come July by eating the remainder of his one-year, $4.25 million contract. Wildcard contenders like the Reds or Rangers could bring in ​​García in exchange for 20-year-old southpaw Adam Serwinowski or slugging outfielder Luis Mieses, respectively.

 

Brandon Drury

Surplus Value: $-1.8 Million

Utilityman Drury bounced around the majors after debuting in 2015, but finally broke out in 2022 with the Reds and Padres, slashing .263/.320/.492 across 568 plate appearances. That showing earned him a two-year, $17 million payday from the Angels heading into 2023, and he’s been decent during his time in Anaheim. Over 645 trips to the plate with the Angels, Drury has slashed .245/.291/.447 and racked up 2.0 fWAR. 

The 31-year-old has limped to a 39 WRC+ in only 39 games this year, but if Drury can return to form before the deadline, the Angels could land an interesting youngster from a team in need of infield help by retaining the roughly $3.8 million he’s owed through the rest of this year. Our Value Matcher tool shows the Reds parting with 23-year-old catcher Cade Hunter, or the Royals giving up Low-A shortstop Daniel Vazquez to acquire Drury.

 

Tyler Anderson

Surplus Value: $-4.5 Million

Left-hander Anderson toiled away in obscurity for the first four years of his career, pitching to a 4.69 ERA in the hitter-friendly confines of Coors Field. He didn’t make a name for himself until his marvelous 2022 season with the Dodgers, working to a sparkling 2.57 ERA across 178.2 innings of work. Anderson cashed in on his lone All-Star season, signing a three-year, $39 million pact with the Angels ahead of 2023. 

The first year of that deal was a disaster, as Anderson was torched to the tune of a 5.43 ERA in 141.0 frames. However, the 34-year-old has shown better results in 2024, posting an excellent 2.81 ERA across 104.0 innings. However, that's contradicted by numerous peripherals, including a 4.52 FIP, which shows that some negative regression is likely in order. But if Anderson can continue to capably eat innings he’ll surely draw some interest this July. His hefty contract will need paying down, but if the Angels are willing to absorb $9 million of Anderson’s remaining salary, they could land themselves a nice prospect like the Rangers’ Kumar Rocker, or the Diamondbacks’ Cristian Mena.