On Tuesday, the Los Angeles Angels made some shocking moves.
At the trade deadline, the team was very busy and went all-in to build a contending ballclub around Shohei Ohtani in what could very well be his final season in a Halos uniform.
They added Lucas Giolito, Reynaldo Lopez, Randal Grichuk, and C.J. Cron in trades.
However, the team is now well out of postseason contention with a record of 63-70.
And with that in mind, the Angels put Grichuk, Giolito, Lopez, Hunter Renfroe, and Matt Moore on waivers to shed some payroll.
On Twitter, Jeff Passan of ESPN revealed this shocking update.
BREAKING: The Los Angeles Angels have placed starter Lucas Giolito, relievers Matt Moore and Reynaldo López, and outfielders Hunter Renfroe and Randal Grichuk on waivers, sources tell ESPN. Huge potential playoff implications: All can be claimed by teams for free on Thursday.
— Jeff Passan (@JeffPassan) August 29, 2023
These are certainly some shocking moves made by the Halos.
However, it’s clear that the team is punting on the rest of the season.
As Passan notes, these moves could have major implications for the postseason, as contending teams will likely be all in on these players in the coming days.
An interesting thing to note here is that whichever teams claim these players will be able to do it for free on Thursday.
The Angels attempted to build a contending ballclub at the trade deadline, but it ultimately did not work out for them.
They are now 12.5 games back in the Wild Card race and in the AL West.
It’s been a wild season to this point, and with August trades no longer allowed, it’s rare to see players put on waivers.
However, it’s clear that the Angels will not be going anywhere this season, and will shift their focus to the future.
NEXT: Joe Maddon Discusses Potential Rehab Journey For Shohei Ohtani
