With the trade deadline fast approaching, the writers at MWAH thought we’d all get together and do a roundtable of the trades we would like to see happen and call it our Angels Trade Wishlist. This was going to be one piece, but apparently we are all so amped for the deadline that each and every one of us wrote way too much, so instead, we’re unveiling one fantasy trade proposal each day. Keep in mind, these are just the trades our individual writer wants to see, so it doesn’t necessarily mean it is an existing rumor out there.
It wouldn’t be the sexiest trade deadline acquisition, but the Angels should seek some relief help. Last year the Angels closed the season with the best bullpen this side of Kansas City, trotting out Huston Street, Joe Smith, Kevin Jepsen, Jason Grilli, a pre self-immolating Mike Morin, and Cory Rasmus with expert spot starts/innings eating duty. Now, who do we trust? Street is battling an injury, because he’s Huston Street and that’s what he does. Smith is good but has regressed from his superb 2014. And that’s about it. Morin, for the moment, has lost his way. Cam Bedrosian never found his way. Trevor Gott has been good in a small sample but finally got got Sunday in Seattle. Cesar Ramos and Jose Alvarez are saved for left-handed batters or mop up roles. Fernando Salas isn’t the answer to any question
The Angels’ bullpen ranks roughly middle of the American League pack in park-adjusted ERA, FIP, and xFIP, but even that mediocrity feels tenuous. Rasmus’ impending return should help, as should Matt Shoemaker‘s presence assuming his one inning outing in Seattle wasn’t just a one-time thing. So, why not bring some of the Angel band back together and take a stab at Milwaukee’s Francisco Rodriguez? Michael Blazek and Will Smith are better options, but they still have years of team control and may cost the Angels a bit more to pry from the Brewers. Rodriguez is under contract through next year for $7.5 million, a price tag the rebuilding Brewers may find too expensive for a declining closer. (Rodriguez also has a $6 million club option for 2017 with a $2 million buyout.) He is expensive for a relief pitcher, but nothing the Angels can’t afford.
Rodriguez posted the worst season of his career in 2014, a minus-0.6 fWAR campaign that was undone by a 23.3% home run-to-flyball rate. That rate has, as expected, regressed back to a more normal 10% this season, his lowest rate since 2011; moving to Anaheim will theoretically help suppress his homers even further. His strikeout, ground-ball and walk rates are better than his career numbers, and though his 91.3% strand rate is probably due for some regression, he also managed to sustain plus-90% rates in 2013 and 2014. Maybe he found the secret sauce to stranding runners at a high rate, for some reason.
The appeal in trading for Rodriguez is that he should come relatively cheap. I don’t know as much about specific members of the Angels’ farm as many of my Monkey compatriots, but I can’t imagine it’ll cost more than a couple mid-tier prospects. If the Angels can coax a position player out of the Brewers like Gerardo Parra to take over as the everyday left fielder, that costs goes up a little. Switch out Parra for Adam Lind and that might then cost Nick Tropeano or another higher level prospect. At that point, the cost may be too much. The Angels have some recent in-season experience dealing with Doug Melvin, acquiring Zack Greinke in July 2012 for a trio of prospects highlighted by Jean Segura. Even though Jerry Dipoto was at the helm of the Angels’ front office then, a rapport could remain to complete a deal.
Even if Rodriguez is the only return in a trade with the Brewers, he will still be an upgrade as a bridge to Smith and Street. The bullpen may be even more important in the second half, too, if Hector Santiago reverts back to his short outing ways and C.J. Wilson completes his seemingly annual evolution into the worst pitcher in baseball. Mike Scioscia will need to give the ball to someone in high leverage spots before the eighth inning, and all the current options are ulcer-inducing. I don’t know if Rodriguez will accept a move to a middle relief role as he tries to climb up the all times save list, where he is 33 saves away from being the sixth pitcher ever with 400 saves. Perhaps a move to a contending team can convince him to take a less glamorous but equally meaningful role.
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