So far, the 2022 MLB season has been another disappointment for the Los Angeles Angels.
After a strong 24-13 start to the year, the Angels began regressing, and they’re now several games under .500 with a 37-44 record.
Of course, the team’s ugly 14-game losing streak played a big role in how L.A. got here.
For a team that entered the season with playoff aspirations, the Angels have certainly not lived up to expectations.
Should they consider selling at this year’s trade deadline?
A Big Month Ahead
This year’s trade deadline falls on August 2.
That means teams have a little less than a month to figure out how they want to approach things.
When it comes to the Angels, selling can’t be ruled out.
After all, the team simply does not look like a contender, and that’s with three months of baseball in the books.
However, if the Angels were to put together a dominant month of July, that would at least give L.A.’s front office something to think about.
As things stand now, the Angels are 16 games back in the AL West, so it’s safe to say that they’re not going to be challenging for the division crown.
But in the Wild Card race, things are more interesting, which is a product of the newly expanded playoffs.
With three Wild Card spots up for grabs in each league, there’s more hope than usual for teams that have mediocre records.
In the Angels’ case, they’re currently 6.5 games back of the AL’s final playoff spot.
That’s still a pretty big deficit, but again, if the team can string some wins together over the next month or so, selling at the deadline won’t be a forgone conclusion.
What Would Selling At The Deadline Look Like For The Angels?
So, as mentioned, the next month or so will likely determine how the Angels approach things at the deadline.
Fans can hope for the best, but if L.A.’s deficit in the Wild Card race grows or ends up being roughly the same by the time August 2 arrives, the Angels will probably ship some pieces away in trades.
In that case, who would be dealt?
Players on expiring contracts are usually the top candidates for deadline trades, and the Angels have a few players who fit that description.
Perhaps the two most notable such players are Noah Syndergaard and Michael Lorenzen.
Syndergaard is having a solid 2022 campaign.
In 12 starts, he has posted a 3.86 ERA, 3.74 FIP, and 1.18 WHIP.
Noah Syndergaard threw his slider nearly 40% of the time last night against the White Sox. His previous season high 23%
The pitch generated 6 whiffs on 12 swings and 5 more called strikes. He could have a dominant stretch in him if this adjustment sticks pic.twitter.com/bTGoKetfBG
— James Schiano (@James_Schiano) June 28, 2022
He could serve as a solid rotation piece for a contending team.
Of course, if the Angels want to potentially re-sign Syndergaard in the offseason, they probably shouldn’t trade him away, but it’s unclear if L.A. does indeed see a long-term future with the righty.
As for Lorenzen, he isn’t having a terribly impressive season, but he could serve as a nice depth piece for a contender.
So far this year, he has pitched to a 4.94 ERA, 4.46 FIP, and 1.35 WHIP across 13 starts.
If the #Angels continue to struggle, keep an eye on SP Noah Syndergaard as a potential trade candidate. 3.86 ERA supported by his advanced numbers and a free agent after this year.
In a seemingly weak SP market, he’ll be in high demand.
— MLB Trade Deadline (@MLBDeadlineNews) July 4, 2022
Time will tell what the future holds for both of these players and the rest of L.A.’s roster.
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