The Cleveland Guardians went wild on the waiver wire Thursday, claiming three pitchers, including a pair of former All-Stars.
The Guardians claimed right-handed starter Lucas Giolito and relievers Reynaldo López and Matt Moore off waivers from the Los Angeles Angels.
Giolito, a 2019 All-Star, has struggled since being acquired from the Chicago White Sox at the trade deadline. In six starts, he has a 6.89 ERA. López, picked up by Los Angeles in that same deal with the White Sox, has been better, posting a 2.77 ERA and two saves with the Halos.
It’s a terrible look for the Angels, who went all-in at the trade deadline in a long-shot bid to make the postseason, only to quickly fall flat. The Angels traded two top prospects, catcher Edgar Quero and left-hander Ky Bush, to land Giolito and López.
The 34-year-old Moore, a 2013 All-Star, has bounced back this year with a 2.66 ERA in 41 games.
Baseball fans brought out the memes and some snarky comments to evaluate the Guardians’ moves.
Watching the Guardians’ pitching lab fix Giolito and Lopez pic.twitter.com/051tkUNOC8
— BetMGM 🦁 (@BetMGM) August 31, 2023
Cleveland Angels
— not IcyVert (@IcyVert) August 31, 2023
I never have the slightest idea what this franchise is doing and honestly I kind of love it
— Conor White for some reason (@conorjwhite) August 31, 2023
Wonder if the Guardians make these moves if they lose yesterday. Twins left the door open. Tito on his final legs; Cleveland has something to play for. Central will be interesting in September.
— Geoff Kim (@geoff_kim) August 31, 2023
Guardians have done more today then they have ever done in free agency
— Sharbel Dekelaita (@SDekelaita) August 31, 2023
Damn Guardians got a whole new pitching staff off waivers
— Uncle J (@coolhandluka77) August 31, 2023
