The Los Angeles Angels should be looking at trade options for Tyler Anderson toward this year’s trade deadline. There are more than a few reasons the Angels must sell at the trade deadline, but the only one that matters is that they’re not a competitive team. They’re in fourth place in an underachieving American League West. They are 9 1/2 games out of the final Wild Card spot, with six teams between them and the Kansas City Royals. In preseason farm system rankings, they had the worst farm system in baseball. Simply put, the Angels need to blow it all up and start from scratch. With the deadline buzz intensifying as the calendar turns to July, their best approach would be to acquire prospect capital through their valuable trade pieces. Tyler Anderson is a great trade candidate for the Angels to acquire meaningful young talent.
Tyler Anderson… IMMACULATE 💪 @Angels l #RepTheHalo pic.twitter.com/bQMMoatqIS
— Bally Sports West (@BallySportWest) June 4, 2024
Trade Options for the Angels’ Tyler Anderson
It becomes redundant to mention that everyone needs pitching…but everyone needs pitching. How about the current MLB leader in bWAR? Anderson has bounced back from a difficult first year with the Angels to post a 2.63 ERA over 16 starts. His peripheral numbers might scare some teams away, as he has a career-low 5.9 K/9, but Anderson wouldn’t be traded as a playoff team’s ace. He’d be a solid mid-rotation starter who can eat up innings. Plus, he’s signed through the 2025 season for a paltry $13 million. That salary is a bargain for a pitcher of his caliber. Despite being 34, Anderson has only exceeded 1,000 career innings this year. He is basically a fresh arm.
Baltimore Orioles
The Baltimore Orioles lost Kyle Bradish for this season if not more with Tommy John surgery. John Means and Tyler Wells were Orioles starters ruled out for the season at the end of May. Dean Kremer returns from rehab but doesn’t move the needle like the previous starters. Unless the team’s #9 prospect, Cade Povich, shows another level, he’s not the answer either. As a result, the Orioles will need a starter to compete for the AL East title with the New York Yankees. Anderson slots in perfectly for the playoff-bound O’s. Then again, the Orioles could make a bigger splash with someone like Garrett Crochet. The prospect cost would be significantly more.
Seeing that the Orioles don’t need an ace with Corbin Burnes holding that spot, a trade for Anderson works better short and long-term. In spite of the top prospect callups of Colton Cowser and Heston Kjerstad, the Orioles still have a top farm system in baseball. Since the Angels have few impact prospects, they should look to acquire a few Top-30 prospects. Someone like Coby Mayo probably isn’t available. Connor Norby and Dylan Beavers might be. The Angels need quality and quantity given the state of their organization. In light of Baltimore’s rotation injuries, this might be the best Tyler Anderson trade option for the Angels.
Baltimore gets: LHP Tyler Anderson
Los Angeles gets: OF Dylan Beavers (#7 BAL prospect), 2B/3B Mac Horvath (#11 BAL), LHP Luis De León (#17 BAL)
The Orioles gave up their #16 and #18 prospects and another minor league player at last year’s deadline in a trade for Jack Flaherty. Flaherty had a 4.43 ERA at the time and was a free agent at the end of the season so the Angels should be able to get more for Anderson.
Cleveland Guardians
The Cleveland Guardians currently lead the Minnesota Twins and Kansas City Royals by seven games in the AL Central. Even so, their starting pitching has been the worst in baseball, based on FanGraphs WAR. Fortunately for them, they have one of the best offenses and bullpens in baseball. Tanner Bibee and Ben Lively have been excellent in the rotation so far this season. Everyone else has struggled. Shane Bieber is out for the year because he underwent Tommy John surgery after two strong games to begin the year. If the Guardians hope to do anything in the playoffs, or even hold onto a playoff spot, they will have to shore up their rotation.
The Guardians were ranked #19 in the MLB Pipeline preseason rankings. Chase DeLauter is currently ranked #19 in all of baseball; Kyle Manzardo is #35. The Angels should look to move to the next tier of Guardians prospects. Daniel Espino has lost some of his shine having fallen out of the Top 100. Nevertheless, he’s a perfect target for the rebuilding Angels. As a little bonus, the Angels might be able to squeeze out another mid-tier prospect by adding outfielder Kevin Pillar to the deal. The Guardians certainly could use an outfield bat who is producing this season.
Cleveland gets: LHP Tyler Anderson, OF Kevin Pillar
Los Angeles gets: RHP Daniel Espino (#5 CLE prospect), SS/3B Angel Genao (#11 CLE)
Milwaukee Brewers
The Milwaukee Brewers are in a similar position to Cleveland. They have an excellent bullpen, top-tier offense, and a lackluster starting rotation. The Brewers have a 6 1/2 game lead in the NL Central over the St. Louis Cardinals. After trading away Corbin Burnes in the offseason in a trade that benefited both Milwaukee and Baltimore, and losing Brandon Woodruff for the year due to a shoulder injury, the Brewers have struggled to find starters who can produce. Freddy Peralta has been slightly better than the league average. Rookie Tobias Myers has exceeded expectations by posting a 3.12 ERA over his first 10 starts (11 games). Colin Rea has a 3.61 ERA, but his 4.80 FIP means he’s been lucky so far. Wade Miley, Jakob Junis, DL Hall, and Joe Ross are all currently on the injured list.
MLB Pipeline preseason rankings ranked Milwaukee #3. Their ranking was greatly helped by rookies Jackson Chourio and Joey Ortiz, who are both helping Milwaukee this season. As a result of their promotions, as well as that of prospects Tyler Black (#3 MIL), Robert Gasser (#4 MIL), the Brewers have only two Top-100 prospects currently in the minor leagues.
Milwaukee gets: LHP Tyler Anderson
Los Angeles gets: SS Cooper Pratt (#8 MIL prospect), OF Yophery Rodriguez (#9 MIL), 2B/3B Jadher Areinamo (#22 MIL)
Houston Astros
The Houston Astros and Angels don’t seem like perfect trade partners, given that they reside in the same division. Nevertheless, the Astros need a starting pitcher and a left fielder. The Angels have quality players at both of those positions. Justin Verlander is on the injured list. Cristian Javier and Jose Urquidy are out for the season. Luis Garcia gets his first rehab start this weekend. Lance McCullers Jr. has just begun throwing in rehab. The Astros need a veteran pitcher they can count on if they want to get back in the AL West and AL Wild Card races. Currently, they are 5 1/2 games behind Seattle in the West and 4.5 games back of Kansas City in the Wild Card. This makes them a viable trade option for Tyler Anderson
The Astros have a weak farm system, rating 27th in the MLB preseason rankings. Unsurprisingly, they had zero Top-100 prospects. Outfielder Jacob Melton is currently ranked #69 in the MLB after a strong start to his season. Still, the Angels will only trade both Anderson and Ward if they can acquire a high-quality prospect.
Houston gets: LHP Tyler Anderson, LF Taylor Ward
Los Angeles gets: OF Luis Baez (#2 HOU prospect), SS Brice Matthews (#3 HOU), RHP Andrew Taylor (#16 HOU), RHP Alimber Santa (#25 HOU), RHP Jesus Carrera (Unranked)
If this seems like it’s a lot to give up for Anderson and Ward, it is. Yet, there are a few things that make them incredibly valuable trade chips. Anderson is signed through 2025 and Ward starts arbitration this season. So, he has three seasons of control. Ward’s 114 wRC+ is a huge upgrade at left field for the surging Astros. Lastly, none of the prospects the Astros are giving up are expected to be star-tier players. The combination makes for the perfect storm.
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