Just in case anyone believed the zany and reckless rumors that the Los Angeles Angels were remotely considering trading Shohei Ohtani, they put it all to rest Wednesday night by trading two of their prized prospects in an attempt to reach the postseason for the first time since 2014.
The Angels acquired starter Lucas Giolito and reliever Reynaldo Lopez from the Chicago White Sox for minor-league catcher Edgar Quero and pitcher Ky Bush, their No. 2 and No. 3 prospects, respectively, proving once and for all they will keep Ohtani for the rest of the season.
The Angels (52-49) still are four games out of a wild-card berth, but owner Arte Moreno mandated the front office go for it, believing this is their best shot at ending the longest postseason drought in baseball (shared with the Detroit Tigers).
Moreno refused to simply sit back and let the season go by and wasn’t about to trade Ohtani for unproven prospects while losing tens of millions of dollars and watching attendance plummet.
Moreno, who had placed the franchise for sale at the end of the 2022 season only to change his mind, didn’t stay in baseball simply to surrender. He ordered GM Perry Minasian to deliver him a starting pitcher and a reliever, even if it meant going over the luxury tax threshold.
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Minasian delivered with Giolito (6-6, 3.79 ERA) and Lopez (2-5, 4.29 ERA, four saves) after opening trade talks a few days ago. The Angels believe the players can take them where no Angels team has gone in nearly a decade.
The two pending free agents cost them two high-rated prospects in a thin farm system. Quero, 20, the 65th-rated prospect in baseball, is hitting .280 with 25 home runs in three seasons, and .245 with three homers and a .717 OPS at Class AA Rocket City this season. Bush, 23, is 8-10 with a 4.47 ERA in three minor-league seasons, and has produced a 7.20 ERA this year.
Now, after going 380-429 since three-time MVP Mike Trout and Ohtani became teammates six years ago — never finishing higher than third place — the Angels believe the time has come. They have won six of their last seven games with Ohtani leading the American League in homers (36), triples (7), slugging percentage (.668) and OPS (1.066).
Certainly, they could be scary if they reach the postseason, with Giolito sliding in as the No. 2 pitcher behind Ohtani and ahead of Patrick Sandoval.
We’ll soon find out if the Angels’ aggressiveness works.
If nothing else, they’ll go down fighting, showing their fans they have done everything possible — even if it means sacrificing the future for an uncertain present.
Follow Bob Nightengale on Twitter: @Bnightengale