The Los Angeles Angels have certainly embraced the concept of being a buyer at the trade deadline.
The Angels acquired two veteran bats from the Colorado Rockies Sunday night. First baseman C.J. Cron and outfielder Randal Grichuk are joining the Angels in exchange for minor league pitchers Mason Albright and Jake Madden.
Cron, 33, was an All-Star last season in Denver, with 29 home runs and a .783 OPS. He’s slashing .260/.304/.476 this season with 11 home runs in 56 games.
The 31-year-old Grichuk was the Angels first-round pick in 2009, although he never appeared for them in the majors. He has 183 career home runs with a .766 OPS and has eight homers with a .308 batting average this season.
The Angels also received cash to help offset Cron’s and Grichuk’s salaries.
Both Madden and Albright were among the Angels top 30 prospects, and are now ranked No. 20 and 21, respectively, on the Rockies list of top prospects, according to MLB.com.
After wavering on whether to be buyers or sellers at the deadline, with even superstar Shohei Ohtani’s name mentioned this summer as a possible trade candidate, the Angels are making a push for the postseason.They entered Monday five games out of the AL West lead, and four out of a Wild Card spot.
Angels fans aren’t so sure the trade is a good move.
Baseball needs Ohtani, Trout and the Halos playing in October 👏
— Talkin’ Baseball (@TalkinBaseball_) July 31, 2023
Usually, I’d agree but if you’re going to go for it while keeping the greatest player of all time, you just do it. No excuses.
— Brynn Legree (@legreebrynn2) July 31, 2023
Pretty good deal for both sides
— Kody Duncan (@KodyDuncanPGH) July 31, 2023
It won’t work. But they are one of like 6 teams in the sport that try.
— Mike Nash (@MikeNash15) July 31, 2023
I respect the last ditch effort to keep the greatest baseball player of all time, but… maybe put a few more chips in prior to being a 1 in 5 shot to even make the playoffs?
— Kevin Roth (@KevinRothWx) July 31, 2023
[Los Angeles Angels; Photo Credit: Angels]
