Los Angeles Angels interested in trading for Mike Clevinger
The Los Angeles Angels have one more area where they need to improve their roster and it’s the starting rotation. Mike Clevinger of the Cleveland Indians seems to be their primary target.
The Los Angeles Angels were able to convince free-agent third baseman Anthony Rendon to join their team, but unfortunately, he was the only free agent they could get. Their more glaring need now is their starting rotation. The Cleveland Indians‘ Mike Clevinger is a very intriguing trade target.
Unfortunately, the Indians asking price may be too high for the Angels to meet. According to Jon Paul Morosi, the Indians initial asking price included the No. 5 ranked prospect in baseball, Jo Adell, and an additional player.
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This is more than the Indians asking price for Francisco Lindor as they are asking for Gavin Lux, the No. 2 rated prospect and nothing more. One of the potential reasons the asking price is so high is because Clevinger is under team control through 2022.
The ironic piece of this potential trade is that Mike Clevinger was once a member of the Angels organization. He was traded to Cleveland for reliever Vinnie Pestano. Vinnie, unfortunately, has been out of baseball since 2015.
Clevinger was money the second half of this past season. He finished the season 13-4 with a 2.71 ERA and 169 strikeouts in 21 starts. He was limited in the first half of the season to 5 starts because of upper back and ankle strains
The great thing about Clevinger is he is just about to hit his prime. He turns 29 this season, only his 5th season in the big leagues and should only get better the next couple of years barring any unforeseen injury.
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With a staff at the moment that includes Shohei Ohtani, Andrew Heaney, Dylan Bundy, and Julio Teheran, they need all the help they can get. It remains to be seen if the Angles will part with such a high prospect and another player to improve this rotation.