The Los Angeles Angels have a valuable trade piece as the Carlos Estévez trade market will be fierce for the righthanded closer. Because they are unlikely to compete for a playoff spot in 2024, the Angels should trade everyone not named Logan O’Hoppe. Starting pitcher Tyler Anderson should be one of the top lefty trade options on the market. Left Fielder Taylor Ward would be the perfect piece to improve the Atlanta Braves or Philadelphia Phillies outfields. To this end, the team should explore trade options for closer Carlos Estévez that brings back young talent.
The Carlos Estévez Trade Market Will Be Competitive
Estévez had a shaky start to the season but has bounced back over the last month. His 0.815 WHIP would entice any contending team needing another bullpen arm. For the Angels, an Estévez trade won’t bring back quite as much as a trade for Anderson or Ward, because he is a rental. But, for that same reason, he is far more likely to be traded. There are certainly a lot of teams looking for bullpen help and Estévez is near the top of their lists. He might end up at the top once other relievers have been traded.
Carlos Estévez Trade Market
The rumor mill has other closer options like Tanner Scott, Paul Sewald, Aroldis Chapman, and even Oakland A’s rookie sensation Mason Miller. Scott, Sewald, Chapman, and Estévez all would be rentals. Miller would cost the farm for a team looking to acquire the best closer in the game who is still on a rookie contract. The A’s seem unlikely to trade Miller unless they are blown away by an overwhelming package of star prospects.
Tanner Scott might be the only true competitor that Estévez has for top reliever billing. The left-handed reliever has been excellent for the Miami Marlins, posting a 2.3 bWAR. Estévez’s 0.815 WHIP outpaces Scott’s 1.139 by a healthy margin, but the Marlins use Scott far more often. Sewald is a bigger gamble as a trade option. His May return from an oblique injury cost him the first month of 2024. Since his return, he’s been amazing though. Sewald has posted a 0.54 ERA with a microscopic 0.480 WHIP.
Nearly every contending team will be looking to solidify their bullpen over the next month. But, certain teams will definitely be trying harder than others. The New York Mets, Texas Rangers, and Kansas City Royals are in desperate need of bullpen improvement. The Seattle Mariners, New York Yankees, Baltimore Orioles, Houston Astros and Minnesota Twins are right behind them. The Angels will be able to extract a little more value out of an Estévez trade due to this reality.
Trade Returns for Closer Rentals Last Season
It can be difficult to predict deals for closers due to the volatility surrounding the trade deadline. Even last season saw a wide difference in prospect returns in trades involving closers.
June 30: Texas traded for LHP Aroldis Chapman from Kansas City for LHP Cole Ragans and OF Roni Cabrera
The Rangers won a World Series so it’s hard to criticize them too much here. Chapman had posted a 2.45 ERA over 29 1/3 innings at the time of the trade. Ragans had struggled out of the bullpen for the Rangers, posting a 5.92 ERA. But, Ragans turned into an ace in Kansas City. This year, he is currently third in the MLB in FanGraphs WAR. Baseball Reference isn’t as impressed as he’s merely eighth in the American League. Cabrera wasn’t a Top-30 prospect for Texas.
July 28: Miami gets RHP David Robertson from NY Mets for INF Marco Vargas and C Ronald Hernández
The Marlins were a surprise team in 2023, and GM Kim Ng went for it at the deadline. Robertson had a 2.06 ERA over 44 IP at the time of the trade, but struggled with Miami. Vargas (#18) and Hernández (#21) were both Top-30 prospects in the Marlins farm system.
July 30: Toronto acquires RHP Jordan Hicks from St. Louis for RHP Sem Robberse and RHP Adam Kloffenstein
The Blue Jays swapped their #7 prospect in Robberse and Kloffenstein, a 2018 third-round pick, for roughly two months of Hicks. The flame-throwing Hicks had struggled to start the year in St. Louis, posting a 1.512 WHIP before the trade.
July 31: Arizona trades for RHP Paul Sewald from Seattle in exchange for INF Ryan Bliss, OF/1B Dominic Canzone, and INF Josh Rojas
Much like Chapman, Sewald is back in the trade rumor mill after going through it in 2023. He posted a 2.93 ERA, 1.023 WHIP, and 12.6 K/9 before the trade. Rojas was a struggling everyday player in Arizona, hitting to the tune of a meager .589 OPS. Canzone was Arizona’s #19 prospect and Bliss was rated #29.
August 1: Atlanta lands LHP Brad Hand from Colorado for RHP Alec Barger
Brad Hand struggled before the Braves traded for him. The three-time All-Star had a 4.54 ERA and 1.430 WHIP at the time of the trade. Barger did not rank among the Braves Top-30 prospects at the time of the trade.
Most Likely Trade Possibilities For Carlos Estévez
The 2023 closer/reliever trades show us the value of an arm like the Angels closer. The Carlos Estévez trade market will likely be more profitable for the Angels than the Hand deal because of his struggles in Colorado. On the other hand, the Angels should not expect to land a Cole Ragans level talent. The St. Louis trade shows that a Top-1o organizational prospect is possible. Yet, the Angels would be better suited to follow the David Robertson or Paul Sewald trades by acquiring multiple Top-30 prospects from the other team.
New York Mets Trade For Estévez
The Mets might be the team that needs bullpen reinforcements the most. Their farm club was ranked #13 in MLB Pipeline’s preseason rankings so there’s plenty of talent for the Angels to acquire. Given that Estévez is a rental, a MLB Top-100 talent might be a reach. If MLB #98 prospect Brandon Sproat was a possibility, the Angels would certainly be open to a straight swap. Still, a lower-ceiling package with multiple players should be their goal.
Mets get: RHP Carlos Estévez
Angels get: SS Jeremy Rodriguez (#13 NYM prospect), RHP/IF Nolan McLean (#19 NYM)
Texas Rangers Acquire Estévez
If the Rangers decide that they are going for it, they’ll need at least one more bullpen weapon. The Angels should definitely look to maximize the value of trading within their division with the understanding that Estévez is a free agent at season’s end. If they are able to walk that fine line, they’ll weaken the defending World Series champions while improving their depleted farm system. The Angels could look to gamble on RHP Jose Corniell, who underwent Tommy John surgery and is out for 2024, to increase the potential ceiling of a deal.
Rangers get: RHP Carlos Estévez
Angels get: RHP Jose Corniell (TEX #7 prospect), RHP Winston Santos (TEX #15), OF Alejandro Osuna (Unranked)
Kansas City Swaps For Angels Closer
The Royals could certainly use some bullpen help as they try to keep their Wild Card through the second half of the season. Estévez definitely helps shore up the bullpen. Maybe the Royals look to go for a bigger splash and acquire left fielder Taylor Ward as well. A bigger trade would signal to KC fans that the team is definitely all-in this season. We’ll look at the possibility of a blockbuster trade with Ward and a smaller trade with just Estévez.
Royals get: RHP Carlos Estévez, LF Taylor Ward
Angels get: RHP Ben Kudrna (KC #3 prospect), RHP Blake Wolters (KC #6), C Carter Jensen (KC #10), OF Spencer Nivens (KC #30)
Or, Royals get: RHP Carlos Estévez
Angels get: RHP Will Klein (KC #18 prospect), LHP Hunter Owen (KC #21)
Other Carlos Estévez Trade Market Options
The other teams that will certainly be part of the Carlos Estévez trade market are Seattle Mariners, New York Yankees, Baltimore Orioles, Houston Astros and Minnesota Twins. The Angels have yet to trade with former GM Jerry Dipoto, so the M’s are out. The Twins certainly need a bullpen piece, but they seem more likely to call the Angels about Matt Moore given their need for left-handed help. For this reason, they are also out on Estévez.
Yankees get: RHP Carlos Estévez
Angels get: LHP Brock Selvidge (NYY #10 prospect), OF Jace Avina (NYY #28)
Orioles get: RHP Carlos Estévez
Angels get: RHP Jackson Baumeister (BAL #18 prospect), C Creed Williams (BAL #29)
A big part of the Yankees or Orioles trading for Estévez is that the other team doesn’t get him. That obviously goes for any trade, but is especially important given both teams’ need for bullpen help.
Astros get: RHP Carlos Estévez
Angels get: OF Kenedy Corona (HOU #11 prospect), RHP Andrew Taylor (HOU #16)
The Estévez trade market is certainly going to be an exciting thing to watch if the Angels do the right thing and trade him. That is a huge if, given the Angels track record. Either way, the big right-hander has seen his stock rise over the last month. While Houston has Josh Hader locking down the ninth inning, and a strong season from Tayler Scott, Estévez would fit perfectly as the setup man. Given the hole the Astros started the season in, they want to make sure they don’t throw away any games moving forward.
Main Photo Credits: Jayne Kamin-Oncea-USA TODAY Sports
