As the Los Angeles Angels mine the market for starting pitching, these five guys should be on their radar.
With the hiring of Joe Maddon and the big signing of third baseman Anthony Rendon, the Los Angeles Angels seem to be done wasting what’s left of Mike Trout’s prime. The lineup looks solid, and the additions of Julio Teheran and Dylan Bundy are at least a start toward addressing the notable weakness of the starting rotation.
But the Angels appear to not be done. Jon Morosi of MLB.com reported they have had interest in Cleveland Indians starter Mike Clevinger, but balked when the Indians asked for top prospect outfielder Jo Adell in return. A couple other teams have had rumored interest in Clevinger, but the three years of team control he has left are surely driving up Cleveland’s asking price.
Angels general manager Billy Eppler will be dealing from a lackluster farm system as he shifts toward the trade market in search of rotation reinforcements. That stands to dampen who they can legitimately get, coupled with the proper stance to not part with Adell or perhaps fellow top outfield prospect Brandon Marsh.
Including Clevinger, here are five starting pitchers the Los Angeles Angels should be trying to trade for.
CHICAGO, IL – MAY 02: Boston Red Sox starting pitcher David Price (10) looks on after the inning against the Chicago White Sox t on May 2, 2019 at Guaranteed Rate Field in Chicago, Illinois. (Photo by Quinn Harris/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)
5. David Price, Boston Red Sox
As the Red Sox apparently look to go into a frugal phase and unload salary, Price has surfaced as a trade candidate. Looming large for any potential trading partner are the $96 million he’s owed over the next three seasons ($32 million each year), his advancing age (35 in August) and the mileage on his arm. He also didn’t pitch particularly well last season, with a 4.28 ERA over 107.1 innings as he was limited to 22 starts due to a wrist issue, and he has made less than 25 starts in two of the last three seasons.
But when has been on the mound over the last three seasons, Price has an ERA+ of 122 and a 3.59 strikeout-to-walk ratio. He is one of 29 starters who have pitched more than 350 innings over that span with an ERA+ over 110 and a strikeout-to-walk ratio over 3.00.
The Angels would have to give up a top prospect to get Price, and perhaps Boston would even include a decent prospect as a sweetener in a deal. Price also pitched for Joe Maddon in Tampa Bay, so that could push some interest in him directly from the manager’s office in Anaheim.