The 2023 MLB trade deadline is fast approaching. Time is running out for teams to figure out if they are going to be buyers, sellers, or stand-pat. That question has been answered for some teams, but not all as MLB rumors continue to swirl.
As all teams head into the final weekend of games before the official deadline on August 1, here is the weekly Stock Up, Stock Down, a trade deadline edition.
Stock Up: Los Angeles Angels have become trade deadline buyers
For weeks, the talk around baseball has been about Shohei Ohtani and will the Los Angeles Angels move him at the trade deadline. After numerous rumors, Wednesday night, Sports Illustrated‘s Tom Verducci reported that they have taken their All-Star pitcher and hitter off the market.
In the overall picture, it was hard to see them trading him, but their recent success has reinforced the front office that they will go all-in at the trade deadline to add. They are behind three teams for the final Wild Card spot, but with Mike Trout coming back at some point, anything is possible.
One reason for the Angels deciding to keep Ohtani is to show him that the organization is committed to winning this year and beyond. It still doesn’t mean that he won’t leave in free agency over the winter, but they have no choice at this point to go all-in and make a run.
The Angels acquired pitcher Lucas Giolito and relief pitcher Reynaldo López from the Chicago White Sox Wednesday night in the first of what should be multiple moves before the deadline.