Angels News: Insider Pegs Halos as Winners of MLB Trade Deadline

The Halos got a much needed off-field victory.

The Los Angeles Angels had a significant decision to make in the week leading up to MLB's August 1 trade deadline -- a decision that could very well have franchise-altering implications for the Halos.

The Angels went on a notable run to start the second half of their season, going 7-3 to vault themselves suddenly into firm wild card contention. But the Halos could either go for the playoffs, or trade two-way superstar -- and impending free agent -- Shohei Ohtani. That latter would but likely put an abrupt end to their now very real playoff hopes, but they would likely receive one of the biggest hauls in baseball history in exchange for one of the most skilled players the game has ever seen.

The franchise chose to be buyers in the week leading to the trade deadline, adding Chicago White Sox ace Lucas Giolito and reliever Reynaldo Lopez in the most meaningful sign that the Angels would firmly try to snap a nine-year playoff drought.

They dealt for Randal Grichuk and CJ Cron over the next few days, in moves that put the Halos in a great spot to snap that drought.

Bob Nightengale of USA Today rewarded the Angels' moves by naming them as winners of the trade deadline, and said that those deals could help the team this winter as well.

"Well, now that the New York Mets would seem to be out of the running for Shohei Ohtani and the San Diego Padres are still stuck with all of their bloated contracts for their bunch of underachievers, the Angels have a better chance than ever to retain Ohtani.

They traded away their top prospects for a starter (Lucas Giolito), reliever (Reynaldo Lopez), first baseman (C.J. Cron) and outfielder (Randal Grichuk) and now are squarely in the hunt for their first postseason berth since 2014.

Even if they don’t make the playoffs, Ohtani can at least see they’re trying, and why leave when he’s seeing first-hand that money can’t guarantee even a winning record?

The trade deadline eliminated a few of Ohtani’s suitors in one glorious afternoon." (via USA Today)

Nightengale is fully correct in his assessment. And that show of faith that general manager Perry Minasian showed in his team may just see his superstar return the favor this offseason.

The Halos are certainly a more complete team than they were just two weeks ago. And combine that with the probability that two potential suitors are out of contention for Ohtani, and the Angels have a huge opportunity to win both now and become the biggest of all winners this winter.