Angels News: Arte Moreno Told Perry Minasian to Go All In This Trade Deadline
The Los Angeles Angels made a move that goes fully against their usual mentality.
They really went for it.
The Halos pulled off the blockbuster trade of the season on Wednesday night, acquiring Chicago White Sox ace Lucas Giolito and reliever Reynaldo Lopez, sending away two of their top prospects in the process.
For the Angels, it was a clear move away from the status quo -- sitting content with two stars and failing to build around them -- and a message that they intend to be contenders in the American League this season.
And the Halos' biggest trade in years was reportedly executed under orders from owner Arte Moreno, per USA Today's Bob Nightengale.
That change in direction is a welcome change of pace for a team that had built of reputation of being anywhere from unable to unwilling to fill out a complete roster since superstar centerfielder Mike Trout arrived in Anaheim in 2011. That was still the case when two-way star Shohei Ohtani made his move stateside in 2018, but the Halos' hot stretch sans Trout -- they went 7-3 in the days preceding the blockbuster trade -- put a jolt back into the Angels' playoff hopes and apparently changed the organization's mindset from the top down.
Fast forward to Thursday afternoon and the Angels are just three and a half games out of a playoff spot with the two key pitchers slated to join the rejuvenated squad in short order.
No, the Angels aren't perfect with this deal -- they still could afford to add some depth in the lineup -- but they're certainly set up to contend right now.
No longer are the Angels just hoping that two stars and not much else of consequence can carry a team to the playoffs.
The team is at long last doing something they should've done over a decade ago: build out a complete team that is built to contend.
The future is now for the Angels, and it's just about time to see if the biggest deal they've swung in a generation works as is planned.
