The Los Angeles Angels have placed multiple stars on waivers. Starting pitcher Lucas Giolito, relief pitchers Matt Moore and Reynaldo López, and outfielders Hunter Renfroe and Randal Grichuk are all on waivers now. The multiple stars on the Angels can all be claimed by other teams in the league for free on Thursday.
BREAKING: The Los Angeles Angels have placed starter Lucas Giolito, relievers Matt Moore and Reynaldo López, and outfielders Hunter Renfroe and Randal Grichuk on waivers, sources tell ESPN. Huge potential playoff implications: All can be claimed by teams for free on Thursday.
— Jeff Passan (@JeffPassan) August 29, 2023
Angels Stars on Waivers
Five players on the Los Angeles Angels have been placed on the waivers by the team. Giolito and Lopez were both acquired from the Chicago White Sox. At the same time, the Angels received Grichuk as recently as August from the Colorado Rockies.
This has enormous implications for the nearing playoffs, as the Angels essentially give key players away and call it quits. Giolito pitched in six games for the Angels, with a 6.89 ERA with a 1-5 record. Lopez might be the first to leave the board; since he joined the Angels, he has a stellar 3-0 record, acquiring a 2.31 ERA. Moore was 3-1 with a 2.30 ERA.
Both Giolito and Lopez are free agents when the season comes to a close. Any team that picks them up must pay their salary for the rest of the year.
Outfielders Renfroe and Grichuk were also waived. Renfroe is hitting .239 this season, with 18 home runs and 52 RBI. Grichuk batted .261, where he had 34 RBI and 11 homers.
MLB teams with the lowest record will get first rights. If they continue to get passed, possible playoff teams will have their crack at them. The Angels, now 11.5 games back of the last Wild Card spot, have seemingly given up hopes for the rest of the season. After not getting any value in exchange for superstar Shohei Ohtani before the trade deadline, they are now at a severe risk of losing him this off-season.
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