Guardians Claim Lucas Giolito After Angels Waive Starter, per Report

Cleveland added three players in total on Thursday.

The Angels made waves on Tuesday when they put six different players on waivers, essentially giving up on the season just a month after going all in at the trade deadline. That group of players was headlined by Lucas Giolito and Reynaldo Lopez, two players who were part of a huge trade from the White Sox to the Angels in July.

With many players available for nothing, the Guardians took advantage. According to multiple reports, Cleveland claimed both Giolito and Lopez off waivers, along with reliever Matt Moore, taking on the remaining contracts of all three players.

With a month left in the season, Cleveland is 64–70 but just five games out of first place in a weak AL Central, behind the Twins. Los Angeles, meanwhile, is also 64–70 but sits 12.5 games out of first place in the powerhouse AL West behind three different teams.

Over in the National League, he Guardians’ in-state rival was also active on Thursday, as the Reds claimed Hunter Renfroe from the Angels and Harrison Bader from the Yankees, while Los Angeles reliever Dominic Leone is headed to the Mariners. Randal Grichuk was the only Angel on waivers to not be claimed.

Big day for Ohio in the waiver world.

Cleveland claimed right-handed starter Lucas Giolito, left-handed reliever Matt Moore and right-handed reliever Reynaldo Lopez.

Cincinnati claimed outfielders Hunter Renfroe and Harrison Bader.

— Jeff Passan (@JeffPassan) August 31, 2023

Cincinnati is currently 69–66 and six games back of first place in the NL Central, while Seattle is in first place in the AL West at 76–57.