Studies earlier this month indicated that the Angels had been planning to maneuver solely their impending free brokers on the deadline, and had been seeking to retain gamers managed by way of the 2025 season or past. The Halos have caught to this plan up to now by shifting solely Carlos Estevez to the Phillies, however it looks as if the membership is making ready to deal some longer-term belongings, as rival executives inform MLB.com’s Mark Feinsand that each Luis Rengifo and Taylor Ward are anticipated to be dealt. “The Angels are listening to presents on” the duo, Feinsand writes.
The Purple Sox and Dodgers are each reportedly in on Rengifo, the Pirates have had talks about Ward, and the Royals have beforehand been linked to each gamers in commerce hypothesis. With some curiosity percolating across the league, it stood to cause that the Angels would possibly again down from no matter rentals-only stance they may’ve held earlier in the summertime, if such a stance was even something greater than a negotiating tactic.
It’s onerous at this level to see the Angels returning to competition as early as subsequent season, and due to this fact there appears to be little cause why the group wouldn’t be open to shifting two of their higher commerce belongings. Rengifo is underneath arbitration management by way of the 2025 season and Ward gained’t be a free agent till after the 2026 season, so this additional management would solely add to their commerce worth, fairly than maybe act as a cause why Los Angeles ought to attempt to hold them with so many different obvious wants on the roster.
By way of the Halos’ rental gamers, the New York Put up’s Jon Heyman writes (X hyperlink) that Kevin Pillar is getting “lots of curiosity” from rival groups. Enjoying in a part-time capability 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 11 earlier Main League seasons.
It counts as going out on a excessive observe for a participant who’s planning to retire at season’s finish, and becoming a member of a contender can be a pleasant strategy to maybe add a championship ring to Pillar’s resume. Even when some regression might be inevitable given how Pillar is hitting to date above his profession norms, the veteran can nonetheless present outfield depth together with no matter he can do on the plate.
The Orioles are identified to be on the lookout for right-handed hitting outfielders, and Heyman writes in a separate X put up that Pillar is without doubt one of the names on Baltimore’s record of doable targets. The Orioles added Cristian Pache as a part of the Austin Hays commerce with the Phillies, however the 2024 model of Pillar would convey much more pop than a defensive specialist like Pache.
The Estevez commerce obtained the ball rolling on the Angels’ strikes and likewise created a gap behind the bullpen. Supervisor Ron Washington informed The Athletic’s Sam Blum (X hyperlink) and different reporters that Luis Garcia will shut video games until Garcia is himself traded, and Ben Joyce would then be subsequent in line for save conditions. Garcia is one other pending free agent and there may be loads of curiosity in his companies, so since he’ll possible be in one other uniform inside a day’s time, thus opening the door for Joyce. A traditional flame-throwing reliever, Joyce has garnered “nearer of the longer term” buzz ever since he made his MLB debut final season, and he has a 2.11 ERA over 21 1/3 innings this yr, albeit with loads of subpar superior metrics.
In non-trade information in regards to the Angels’ largest star, Washington informed the Related Press and different reporters that Mike Trout hadn’t but restarted his working program after a setback together with his surgically-repaired knee halted Trout’s minor league rehab task. Trout performed two Triple-A innings final Tuesday earlier than leaving the sport, and an MRI taken on Friday was clear, with Trout telling MLB.com’s Rhett Bollinger and different media that the knee difficulty was associated to some breaking scar tissue.
“It’s an enormous aid for me. I simply have to ensure it feels good and I’ll be again on the market. Scar tissue breaking apart is a bizarre feeling and I’d by no means skilled that,” Trout stated.
Trout was hitting .220/.325/.541 with 10 homers over 126 PA when his knee issues arose on the finish of April, and the three-time MVP hasn’t performed since, other than his temporary Triple-A look final Tuesday. Whereas neither Trout or Washington held a lot concern over this newest setback, there gained’t be a lot consolation till Trout is again onto the sphere, given how a number of accidents have plagued the outfielder over the previous few years.
