They Are The Best In Baseball But The Giants Want To Get Even Better

No Comments July 15, 2016 Angels By John Stellman

The countdown to the August 1 trade deadline is quickly shrinking.

Telephones in front offices from coast to coast won’t remain silent.

Rumors Galore

Trade gosip is running amok.

And Angel general manager Billy Eppler could be right in the thick of things.

Eppler has some attractive pieces that could put contending teams over the top.

And whether he says so or not publicly, the Angels need to build their farm system.

Four Suitors

There are four clubs that might be willing to help in that regard.

And guess who might have the best package of prospects? None other than the team with the best record in the major leagues. The San Francisco Giants.

With a mark of 57-33 and a 6 1/2 game lead in the National League West at the All Star break, the Giants .633 winning percentage is the best in baseball.

Giant Needs?

So what is San Francisco looking for?

Talk about playing right into Eppler’s hands. The Giants covet an elite closer and a third basemen.

San Francisco’s current closer is soon to be (July 25) 36-year old Santiago Casilla.

Pitching in 37 games, his resume includes a 1-2 record with 21 saves and four blown save opportunities. His earned run average is a respectable 2.86.

On the infield, Conor Gillaspie (17 games), Ramiro Pena (6) and Kelby Tomlinson (2) have shared the bulk of the work at the hot corner.

Hum!

What’s The Bait?

It just so happens that the Angels have both commodities whom they might be willing to part with.

You could argue however, that Huston Street hasn’t exactly had what you’d classify as an elite season this year,

Seventeenth on the all time save list (322), Street has struggled in his 21 appearances this summer. He has a record of 3-1 with seven saves. However, he also has two blown saves and has an inflated earned run average of 5.09.

Thrifty Contract

Street’s 2017 contract jumps from $4M to $9M and to $10M in 2018 which is at the team’s option. He can be bought out for $1M.

Third baseman Yunel Escobar has given the Angels everything they expected and then some.

Acquired during the winter in exchange for reliever Trevor Gott, who has pitched at Triple-A all season, Escobar has been an offensive spark and has been adequate defensively.

In 78 games the 33 year old lead off hitter has 100 base hits, has scored 37 runs, driven in 27 and has a slash line of .317/.365/.413.

Defensively. Escobar has committed 13 errors while handling 181 total chances covering 652 2/3 innings. He has a fielding percentage of .928.

Giant Offer Includes No. 1 Pick

So what might San Francisco be willing to part with for Street and Escobar?

Four minor leaguers, including the top prospect in their farm system.

That would be Double-A second basemen Christian Arroyo.

Selected in the first round of the 2013 draft, the 21 year old infielder is having a solid season at Richmond in the Eastern League.

In 81 games, Arroyo has a batting average of .275, an OBP of .312 and slugging percentage of .378.

San Francisco’s other prospects include 23 year old Triple-A left hander Adalberto Mejia, a projected No. 3 or 4 starter, Single-A first baseman Chris Shaw (22) and right handed pitcher Michael Santos (21).

Texas Wants Santiago

Another top of the division team, Texas, is interested in Hector Santiago. The Rangers package would include backup infielder Jurickson Profar, 23. But it is highly unlikely the Angels would deal with a divisional rival.

Cleveland is interested in Joe Smith and Geovany Soto.

The Indians package would include 25-year old right handed reliever Shawn Armstrong and and Single-A+ left handed pitcher Justus Sheffield (20).

Armstrong has pitched in nine major league games over two years and boasts a 3.00 ERA. He could shore up the back end of the Angel bullpen. Sheffield has good control and the potential to be a middle of the rotation starter.

Cleveland is also interest in perhaps swapping Double-A lefty starter Rob Kamisky for Soto.

The 21-year old was the 2013 No. 1 selection of the St. Louis Cardinals. He is currently pitching in Akron (Easter League) where he is 4-6 with a 3.86 ERA. Kamisky has mid-rotation potential.

Popular Guy

Washington and Baltimore also have interest in Soto.

The Nationals would deal Double-A second basemen Eilmer Difo (24) for Soto. Difo is hitting .251 at Harrisburg (Eastern League). He has good speed (26 steals in 34 attempts) and is solid defensively.

If the Angels were willing to part with Smith as well, Washington would add 19-year old Single-A+ outfielder Victor Robles to their package.

In 82 games at Single-A Hagerstown (Sally League) and Single-A+ Potomac (Carolina League) Robles is hitting .289.

The Orioles would send right handed reliever Oliver Drake to Anaheim for Soto.

The 29-year old nine year minor league veteran has a 33-31 record to go along with a 3.46 ERA. In 17 major league games spanning two seasons Drake is 0-0 with an earned run average of 4.64.

Baltimore would also be interested in dealing Single-A+ left handed reliever Tanner Scott, who turns 22 only July 22, if the Angels would include lefty reliever Jose Alvarez.

In 28 games at Frederick (Carolina League) Scott, who has hit 100 mph on the radar gun, is 4-2 with a 4.56 ERA.

Birds Aren’t Done

The Orioles aren’t finished. Not just yet.

In addititon to the aforementioned Smith, Soto and Alvarez, Baltimore is interest in adding Santiago to the mix.

The offer would include Drake, Scott and right handed pitcher pitcher Dylan Bundy.

In 41 1/3 innings covering 23 games, the 23-year old has posted a 2-2 record and an ERA of 3.70.

KC, Cubs Get Nowhere

Both the Kansas City Royals and the Chicago Cubs have had discussions with the Angels but those conversations weren’t productive.

However, scenarios change as the deadline approaches.

Contending teams are going to perhaps re-evaluate and sweeten their packages with August 1 on the horizon.

And as soon as that first big deal is consummated, the dominoes will begin to fall.

Hopefully, Billy Eppler will be a player!

AngelsWin.com Contributed To This Article

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John Stellman

I was born with sports in my blood. I began coaching little league baseball at 15. I was the sports editor of my high school newspaper. I did football play by play for the college radio station. I broadcast high school basketball for a local commercial station. But baseball was always my passion. During the 1970's I covered the Angels for the Orange County Register. And now I am back where I belong...