The Los Angeles Angels should consider trading Tyler Anderson before this year’s trade deadline. The Angels must sell at the trade deadline for a variety of reasons, but the most important is that they are not a competitive team. They are fourth in the American League West, an underachieving division. They are 9 1/2 games back of the final Wild Card place, with six teams separating them from the Kansas City Royals. They had baseball’s weakest farm system according to preseason rankings. Simply said, the Angels must destroy everything and start over. With the deadline noise rising as the calendar turns to July, their best strategy would be to obtain potential capital.
Trade Options for Angels Tyler Anderson
It’s a given that pitching is necessary for everyone. What about the current MLB leader in bWAR? Anderson has rebounded after a rough debut season with the Angels, with a 2.63 ERA in 16 starts. Some teams may be put off by Anderson’s peripheral figures, which include a career-low 5.9 K/9, but he would not be traded as a playoff team’s ace. He’d be a capable mid-rotation starter who can rack up innings. He’s also signed until the 2025 season for a measly $13 million. That compensation is reasonable for a pitcher of his level. Despite being 34, Anderson has only surpassed 1,000 career innings this season. He is essentially a new arm.
Baltimore Orioles
Kyle Bradish will be out for the rest of the season, if not longer, due to Tommy John surgery. Orioles starters John Means and Tyler Wells were ruled out for the season at the end of May. Dean Kremer returns from rehab but does not produce the same results as the prior starters. Unless Cade Povich, the team’s #9 prospect, performs at a higher level, he is not the answer. As a result, the Orioles will require a starter to fight for the AL East championship with the New York Yankees. Anderson fits in perfectly with the playoff-bound Orioles. However, the Orioles may make a bigger impact with someone like Garrett Crochet. The prospect cost would be substantially higher.
Given that the Orioles don’t need an ace with Corbin Burnes in place, a deal for Anderson makes more sense in the short and long run. Despite the callups of top prospects Colton Cowser and Heston Kjerstad, the Orioles still have one of baseball’s top farm systems. Because the Angels have few impact prospects, they should look to add a few top-30 prospects. Someone like Coby Mayo is probably not accessible. Connor Norby and Dylan Beavers may be. Given their organization’s current status, the Angels require both quality and quantity. Given Baltimore’s rotation issues, this could be the best Tyler Anderson trading option for the Angels.
Last year, at the deadline, the Orioles traded their #16 and #18 prospects, as well as another minor league talent, for Jack Flaherty. Flaherty had a 4.43 ERA at the time and was a free agency at the end of the season, so the Angels should be able to obtain a better deal for Anderson.
Cleveland Guardians
The Cleveland Guardians are currently seven games ahead of the Minnesota Twins and Kansas City Royals in the American League Central. Despite this, their beginning pitching has been the worst in baseball, according to FanGraphs WAR. Fortunately, they have one of baseball’s finest offenses and bullpens. Tanner Bibee and Ben Lively have performed admirably in the rotation thus far this season. Everybody else has struggled. Shane Bieber is out for the year after undergoing Tommy John surgery following two good games to start the year. If the Guardians want to compete in the playoffs, or even keep their postseason berth, they will need to strengthen their rotation.
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