Angels place Lucas Giolito, other potential SF Giants upgrades on waivers
The Los Angeles Angels may have just shaken up the MLB postseason race and given the SF Giants an opportunity to make some valuable late-season additions. According to a report by Jeff Passan of ESPN, the Angels have placed starting pitcher Lucas Giolito, right-handed reliever Reynaldo López, left-handed reliever Matt Moore, outfielder Hunter Renfroe, and outfielder Randal Grichuk on waivers. Since the trade deadline has passed, any team can claim those players and will acquire them for nothing but a small amount of cash.
Angels starter Lucas Giolito pitches during the first inning against the Reds. (2023)
Kiyoshi Mio-USA TODAY Sports
Angels owner Arte Moreno has built a reputation over the years as one of the most penny-pinching (and involved) owners in the league, and this move will only increase that reputation. This move is one of the most blatant in-season cost-cutting moves by an MLB team in some time. It is even more notable given the presence of two-way phenom Shohei Ohtani on the roster, who has decided to play through a serious elbow injury.
Assuming no one from the commissioner's office intervenes, the Giants could have an opportunity to capitalize on Moreno's frivolous decision. Giolito has been an obvious fit with the Giants for several years, and has long been a rumored trade target for the organization. Despite the emergence of top pitching prospect Kyle Harrison, San Francisco could absolutely benefit from adding Giolito to the rotation. The righty has made 27 starts this season between the White Sox and Angels, recording a 4.45 ERA (4.45 xERA, 4.95 FIP, and 4.49 xFIP) with 165 strikeouts and 57 walks in 153.2 innings pitched.
While López and Moore-who played on the Giants from 2016-2017-may not carry the same reputation as Giolito, both pitchers could also upgrade San Francisco's bullpen. López has a 3.86 ERA (3.94 FIP) with 71 strikeouts and 28 walks across 53.2 innings pitched (55 games) this season. Moore has been even better, posting a 2.30 ERA in 43 innings (40 appearances) with 47 strikeouts and 12 walks.
Renfroe and Grichuk are two power-hitting outfielders who will almost assuredly be claimed by someone, but it's harder to envision a potential fit in San Francisco given the recent emergence of rookie Wade Meckler (Giants Top 22 Prospect) and the impending return of Mitch Haniger and Mike Yastrzemski from the injured list. Grichuk has hit .261/.317/.435 this season with 21 doubles and 11 home runs in 90 games. Renfroe has managed a .239/.300/.425 triple-slash with 30 doubles and 18 home runs in 124 games. However, both right-handed hitters have historically crushed left-handed pitching.
The biggest thing working against the Giants is their place in the standings. All five players are slated to be free agents at the end of the season and belong on big-league rosters. They are good enough, in fact, that even a non-contending team could place a claim on them. When multiple teams place a claim on a player, the player is awarded to the team with a worse record.
San Francisco does have a distinct advantage over contenders in the American League, who have a far better record this season. They also are in a position to block any players from going to rivals ahead of them in the standings, like the Los Angeles Dodgers and Arizona Diamondbacks. However, teams like the San Diego Padres, Cincinnati Reds, and Miami Marlins are all trailing the SF Giants in standings and view themselves as Wild Card contenders.
