The Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim have realized how quickly their championship window is closing and decided to do something about it.
The Angels have the two greatest players of our generation on their active team. It is mind-boggling how they have had no success in the six years since Mike Trout and Shohei Ohtani teamed up.
Five days ago, the Angles traded for pitching support in Lucas Giolito, but they weren’t stopping there. They add two more everyday bats to their lineup in Randal Grichuk and CJ Cron.
The trade broke just minutes after reports of outfielder Taylor Ward being placed on the 60-day injured list after being struck in the face by a fastball.
CJ Cron came up into the league with the Angels. He played his first four seasons in Anaheim before bouncing from team to team. He landed on the Rockies and used Coors Field to his advantage. Over the past three years, Cron has been one of the most underrated power hitters in the entire league.
Grichuk has been a career defender, jumping from teams that need a fourth outfielder. His outfield highlights have always been a spectacle. But this year, Grichuk has made strides at the plate, He is currently batting .308 with a 121 OPS+.
The Angels are going all in with their possible last season with Shohei Ohtani. They are four games over .500 and in fourth place in the AL West. Fangraphs is currently giving the Angles a 15% chance to clinch the playoffs.
The Rockies received two minor league pitchers, Jeff Madden and Mason Albright. The Rockies are continuing their ‘quest of never contending.’ As a Colorado resident and someone who grew up at Coors Field, the lack of effort from the front office is heartbreaking. In such a great sports city, the Rockies should be a team that is contending every year.
Instead, the last-place Rockies are 41-64 and have a -148 run differential.
