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Revisiting Worst Trade Deadline Move In Angels History
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- Revisiting Worst Trade Deadline Move In Angels History
(USA TODAY Sports)
The Los Angeles Angels are going on their 12th consecutive season in which they don't get a taste of postseason baseball, meaning they'll be sellers at this year's trade deadline. This season more than most, the higher-ups look to be more willing to part ways with some of its most talented players in an effort to build for the future, already trading away young players Logan O'Hoppe and Chase Silseth just last night .
There's likely to be bigger moves coming the Angels' way before Monday's deadline, as rumors continue to swirl around Reid Detmers , Jose Soriano, and Zach Neto . Players a tier lower, such as Jo Adell and Jorge Soler , could also be on the move, with reports indicating a move for either could come at any moment.
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All that said, the Angels haven't had a history of being thieves on the trade market. In their last few trade deadlines , the Angels failed to make a huge difference in either direction, whether the goal was to buy or sell.
But let's dive into what Bleacher Report's Joel Reuter calls the worst trade deadline move of all time for the Halos: the Mike Clevinger - Vinnie Pestano swap in 2014. It may not be the biggest of trades, largely due to the Angels not often going into deadlines as strong buyers or sellers, but it could have impacted the club's outlook in the late 2010s and early 2020s.
Clevinger was selected by the Halos in the fourth round of the 2011 draft, but never got the chance to make his major league debut for the club. Instead, he was shipped to the Cleveland Guardians franchise at the 2014 deadline in exchange for right-handed reliever Vinnie Pestano.
Pestano was a hometown kid, being from Newport Beach, California, but he only pitched in 21 ⅓ innings for the Angels after the deal. After the 2015 season, Pestano played one season of Triple-A ball in the New York Yankees organization before moving to Independent leagues until his retirement in 2018.
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In the second half of 2014, the trade looked good for the Angels as Pestano allowed just one run across 12 appearances. He appeared in relief twice during the Angels' 2014 postseason run, in which they lost to the Kansas City Royals in three games. Pestano allowed just one baserunner and struck out one batter.
While the Angels got limited production from their acquisition, Clevinger played a huge role in Cleveland's success in the mid-2010s to the turn of the decade.
Making his major league debut in 2016, Clevinger established himself as a full-time starter the next season, posting a 3.11 ERA across 121 ⅔ innings. He followed that up with a 3.02 ERA in 2017 and a 2.71 ERA in 2018, becoming a key piece in a powerful rotation that included Corey Kluber , Trevor Bauer , and Carlos Carrasco .
After 42 wins in 88 starts with Cleveland in five seasons, Clevinger was traded to the San Diego Padres in 2020. He went on to miss the 2021 season recovering from Tommy John surgery, and his production has declined ever since. At 35-years-old, Clevinger is currently in the Pittsburgh Pirates organization fighting for another MLB shot.
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The Angels got just over 20 innings from Pestano while Cleveland got a key starter to contribute during their relentless postseason pursuits year after year. A lack of pitching talent has plagued the Angels for years, and an arm like Clevinger during the Trout/Ohtani era in Anaheim could have gone a long way. Instead, they had to watch their former prospect perform at the highest level for another club.
It's not the most tragic trade ever made, but it's one that stings. With the deadline in just a few days, the hope is that the moves the Angels make this year will end up in a 'best trades' article some years down the line.
