While the rest of the MLB is infatuated with the trade market for pitching, the Los Angeles Angels just want a solid outfield bat. Luckily for them, that market is beginning to materialize and recent rumors suggest some big names could be available in the next 10 days.
The most recent addition to the trade market could be Detroit Tigers outfielder Yoenis Cespedes, who would fill a much-needed void for the Angels in left field. Cincinnati Reds' outfielder Jay Bruce has been available for a while and the Angels have already expressed interest in him, considering their left-handed hitting deficiency.
"The Angels would prefer a left-handed hitter who can play left field, but are open to right-handed options at other positions as well," writes Alden Gonzalez of MLB.com. "More important to the Angels is that the player be controllable past this season, considering the team projects to have to fill as many as five everyday spots -- catcher, third base, second base, left field, designated hitter -- over the offseason."
Gonzalez notes the team has considered Bruce (among other options), which makes sense because he can be controlled through 2017 and can bring more power to their stacked lineup.
"The Reds might be able to get Sean Newcomb from the Angels for [Bruce]," writes ESPN Insider Jim Bowden. "That'd be a good trade for them."
However, the Tigers' potential willingness to sell if all goes wrong before the deadline could pique the Angels' interest in Cespedes.
"Mike Trout is the best player in the world and Kole Calhoun is rock solid. Then there's left field," writes Mike Axisa of CBS Sports. "Matt Joyce (71 OPS+), Efren Navarro (80 OPS+) and Dan Robertson (62 OPS+) have all seen time there and, uh, it has not been good. The Angels are averaging 5.61 runs per game during their current 15-3 stretch, so they aren't desperate for offense, but left field is a major black hole and Cespedes would be a substantial upgrade."
"Like Price, Cespedes is having a good season, hitting .289 with 13 homers and a .796 OPS, and he now could be the most attractive slugger available instead of Justin Upton, who has slumped the past couple of months and now has an oblique issue," ESPN Insider Buster Olney added. "Cespedes could be a fit for the Royals or the Angels."
Bowden said Cespedes would be a good option for other clubs who can't land Upton or Milwaukee Brewers' outfielder Carlos Gomez - both of whom are the best available and will likely cost more in a deal. The departure of Josh Hamilton and the acquisition of Matt Joyce have not helped the Angels at all and it appears the front office is looking to bolster as much as they can before the trade deadline to avoid having issues down the stretch in the competitive American League.
After all, the Angels did struggle in nearly every offensive category earlier in the season before their recent surge (leading MLB with 88 runs and second in OPS this month), so acquiring another bat could help them avoid a possible recurring slump.
Los Angeles has a few dollars coming off the books in the offseason and Bruce at $12.5 million for 2016 isn't anything that would handicap them financially. However, Cespedes is due for a big raise once he hits the free agent market, so the Angels know they'll have to keep in mind the risk of surrendering a prospect for a potential two-month rental. Or they can just give him a lucrative contract.
We'll see if the Angels' front office sans Jerry Dipoto is ready to make a big deal before the deadline.
