Huge Boost: Angels Set Their Rebuild Back With Quiet Trade Deadline

As the final minutes of the 2024 MLB trade deadline approached on Tuesday, the Los Angeles Angels traded relief pitcher Luis Garcia to the Boston Red Sox in exchange for four minor leaguers. The move was logical, as Garcia was set to become a free agent next season, and the new prospects could potentially contribute to the Angels in the future, injecting much-needed talent into the organization.

However, despite the reasoning behind that trade, not much else seemed to make sense from the Angels’ perspective on Tuesday.

By the time the deadline passed, the Angels still had Luis Rengifo, Tyler Anderson, Taylor Ward, and other potential trade candidates on their roster. The explanation for this, according to Angels general manager Perry Minasian, was straightforward when he spoke to reporters in Anaheim.

Angels GM Speaks on Quiet Deadline

“We evaluated what was offered, and based on what made sense for us, we made our decisions,” Minasian said. “We have talented players, and I understand the questions about those with one or two years left on their contracts. They’re productive and valuable, but any move we made had to offer the right return. It’s not easy to find the right match, but we managed to do so with Philadelphia.”

Checked with two other execs about what the Angels didn't do today. Both agreed that Anderson had very little value. One said that Rengifo and Ward had some value, but clearly not as much as Minasian had hoped.

— Jeff Fletcher (@JeffFletcherOCR) July 31, 2024

Minasian was referring to the Angels trading reliever Carlos Estevez to the Phillies earlier in the week. Estevez was an ideal trade piece, being a free agent at season’s end, and in return, the Angels acquired two top 10 pitching prospects from the Phillies, a promising long-term gain for the team.

However, Minasian appears more focused on the near future, which explains why players like Anderson and Rengifo (free agents in 2026) and Ward (a free agent in 2027) remain with the Angels. Another reason? Their trade value reportedly didn’t meet Minasian’s expectations.

Still Aiming for Contention

Minasian and manager Ron Washington believe the Angels have a shot at contending for a postseason spot in the next season or two. Washington noted that the team will likely have a busy offseason, working to add key pieces, as the young players are developing and should be ready to compete next year.

Instead of completely dismantling the team, the Angels opted to remove certain parts while keeping the core intact. It’s a bold move, and fans are eager to see if it will pay off.

Despite injury concerns, Anthony Rendon and Mike Trout are still under contract for next season and beyond, providing star power. Young players like Logan O’Hoppe, Zach Neto, and Nolan Schanuel have gained valuable experience this year, which is encouraging. However, the team will need to make several significant moves this offseason if they are to be serious contenders for a playoff spot.

Closing Thoughts

As it stands, it’s evident that the Angels’ leadership still sees potential for the near future. However, considering how aggressively the Halos approached last season’s trade deadline as buyers—with disastrous results—it’s not entirely surprising that the franchise opted to be more cautious this year.

Instead of swinging for the fences, the Angels settled for a few solid base hits in their trade deadline moves this time around.

From the fans’ perspective—those who have seen the franchise falter at crucial moments before—Tuesday’s single trade led to immediate questions about what might follow. When nothing else materialized, these supporters were left with the realization that the much-anticipated rebuild wasn’t happening, adding to a series of recent disappointments in Southern California.