The “it” for which the Angels are going is not necessarily the same as other deadline buyers. Even with Giolito and Lopez, they do not look like a title contender. They do not even seem likely to surpass the Texas Rangers or Houston Astros to win the American League West.
In Giolito, the Angels acquired one of the top starters available, a right-hander who also happens to be a Southern California native. The 29-year-old has a 3.79 ERA in 21 starts. He will be a free agent after this season. Lopez is also entering his free agent winter. The righty has late-inning stuff and is averaging more than a strikeout per inning, and he improves the depth of the Angels’ bullpen.Funnily enough, Giolito and Lopez have been traded together once before. At one point, they were supposed to be the future of the Washington Nationals’ rotation. But, along with current Rangers starter Dane Dunning, to the White Sox in the winter of 2016 for outfielder Adam Eaton.
But the Angels might need some help. Both the New York Yankees and Boston Red Sox stand between them and the final wild-card spot. The Red Sox dealt Kike Hernández to the Dodgers this week but are not necessarily selling. The Yankees, who will soon get Aaron Judge back after months on the injured list, are probably not giving in, either. The Toronto Blue Jays, Astros and Tampa Bay Rays are also in contention for the three available wild-card spots.
Not all of those teams would do what the Angels are doing in similar circumstances, pulling from a still rebuilding minor league system to help their big league team with two players that may stay for only a few months. But those teams are not desperately trying to prove to one of the best players of this generation that they can win enough to keep him. The Angels are going to try.