Angels Rumors: Insider Thinks Halos Could Trade for Top Lefty Reliever on Trade Deadline Market

A move like this would definitely help the Angels.

Things have shifted dramatically for the Los Angeles Angels over the past few weeks.

At this time last month, the Angels were languishing in mediocrity, far away from playoff contention. It appeared a near certainty that Los Angeles would be sellers at the trade deadline, and again have another season ending in disappointment.

Fast forward to the present day, and the Angels have won six of their last eight games -- minus center fielder Mike Trout -- and have jumped to within four games of a playoff spot in the American League.

Not only does trading Shohei Ohtani to the highest bidder seem like it may not happen anymore, but the Angels role ahead of the August 1st trade deadline may have switched to them becoming buyers with the playoffs suddenly within reach.

Speaking of being buyers, the Angels bullpen could stand to improve, as they rank 24th in MLB with a collective 4.24 ERA as of Tuesday afternoon.

And Mark Feinsand of MLB.com believes a notable reliever could be on the move during the sport's deadline shuffle, and he listed the Angels as one of his top fits.

Another of Colorado’s impending free agents, Hand has been far more effective against lefties (.499 OPS) than righties (.999 OPS), while his numbers on the road have been better than at Coors Field. The 33-year-old is owed just $500,000 this season and would be a nice complementary piece to a contending bullpen. (via Mark Feinsand)

Colorado Rockies left-hander Brad Hand could be a solid add to the Halos bullpen, and he's performed well on the road as Feinsand said, putting together a 3.71 ERA in appearances outside the hitter's paradise that is Coors Field.

While he wouldn't singlehandly transform the Angels bullpen, Hand is certainly a candidate that the team should look into, and he'd provide quality depth to an at times inconsistent group.

It remains to be seen what the Angels will do ahead of the deadline, but the team is in position to bolster their roster during the sport's annual trading extravaganza, something that certainly didn't look possible just a few short weeks ago.