Angels Biggest Needs As We Approach the MLB Trade Deadline

What direction will the Angels go this deadline?

As we are about to start the second half of the 2023 MLB season, the Los Angeles Angels are in an interesting spot. They are just a few games back of a potential American League Wild Card spot, but they will have to manage the next few weeks without some real talent from their roster.

Star outfielder Mike Trout will be out for the foreseeable future with a fractured left hamate, third baseman Anthony Rendon could miss time after the break and others are out, as well.

The Angels have to decide how to manage things before the trade deadline. They still have a few weeks, but these may be some of the biggest in franchise history. If the team struggles out of the gate from the break, the team could be forced to be sellers and with the impending free agency of two-way superstar Shohei Ohtani, that could be catastrophic.

If the team can hang in there and win some games, they may go the buying route. This is a team that was very solid at one point, but injuries and inconsistencies doomed them as the first half winded down.

The team has a few needs including adding to their starting rotation, but they could also benefit from upgrading at some position spots as well.

Let’s first start with the position players.

Cody Bellinger

One name that could make some sense is Chicago Cubs outfielder Cody Bellinger. Bellinger is having himself a strong bounce back season and could be on the move at the deadline. He could give them another strong option in the outfield, especially with them not knowing when Trout is coming back. Bellinger could also shift over to first base if need be as he has experience playing there.

The team did acquire Mike Moustakas shortly before the All-Star break, but he is pretty up and down with his bat and Bellinger would be a big upgrade. On the year, he is hitting .298 with nine home runs and 29 runs batted in. He is going to be a free agent at the end of the season so it wouldn’t be a major risk to acquire him, and he could help them down the stretch as they go for a postseason spot.

Belli 💣 brings us within one run!@Cody_Bellinger pic.twitter.com/b0ba29u1Tz

— Chicago Cubs (@Cubs) July 6, 2023

The Angels could look at other names to upgrade spots, but I like the fit of Bellinger with them personally.

Now onto the pitching. They desperately need to get Ohtani some help in the starting rotation. Reid Detmers is having a solid second season, but can he really be relied upon in a big moment? That remains to be seen.

If the Angels are truly intent on being aggressive and actually trying to reach the playoffs, they need to get some starters. The market may not be the best and they will be competing with other teams, but they need to make something happen. 

Lucas Giolito from the Chicago White Sox, Jack Flarethy from the St. Louis Cardinals, Marcus Stroman from the Chicago Cubs and Eduardo Rodríguez from the Detroit Tigers are all options if they wanted to go after a starter.

Jack Flaherty's fastball yesterday

Stuff+: 117 (Season best)
Location+: 103 (2nd best)
Pitching+: 107 (2nd best)
MPH: 94.5 (Season best)
VAA: -4.5º (Season best)

Very encouraging if they want to get a solid return at the deadline for him pic.twitter.com/WMy0bWAidY

— Reek (@CardinalsReek) July 7, 2023

The Angels bullpen has surprisingly been decent, led by Carlos Estévez who is 21 for 21 in save chances. It helped him earn his first ever All-Star appearance this season. Now they can still look for some upgrades here as well but I believe that the starting rotation is more of a need for the stretch run.

No matter what the Angels do, Ohtani must be on their minds. Every move they make must be with him in mind otherwise they have already lost. LA has a chance to turn things around but they need to do so quickly to avoid this season becoming lost.