Lucas Giolito trade: Angels deal for White Sox’s Lucas Giolito as they move into buy mode
In exchange for reliever Reynaldo Lopez, the Los Angeles Angels announced that they had acquired right-handed starter Lucas Giolito from the Chicago White Sox. Catcher Edgar Quero and left-hander Ky Bush are given to the White Sox in exchange.
Just hours prior to the trade deadline on August 1, it was made public that the Angels would not be moving two-way star Shohei Ohtani.
Giolito was recently regarded as the second-best player this deadline likely to trade by CBS Sports.Here’s what we said at the time:
Another upcoming free agent, Giolito, has improved after a disappointing season thanks to a few observable changes to his approach. First off, his throwing velocity is over a half mile per hour faster than it was during the previous season. Additionally, for the first time in his career, he is favoring his slider above his changeup.
Otherwise, Giolito’s pitching style generally doesn’t change: he throws a lot of high fastballs (and backspin changeups) followed by sliders that are down and away. In addition, he has been a workhorse since the start of the 2021 season, ranking among the top 15 pitchers in the majors in terms of both games started and innings pitched
Giolito, 29, has made 21 starts so far this season, recording a 3.79 ERA (116 ERA+) and a 3.12 strikeout-to-walk ratio. He was first traded to the White Sox by the Washington Nationals in December 2016 as part of a larger deal that sent outfielder Adam Eaton to the Nationals in exchange for a package that also included fellow right-handed pitchers Dane Dunning and the aforementioned López.
Giolito only participated in one All-Star Game while he was a White Sox. Nevertheless, he was considered for the Cy Young Award three times, most recently in 2021, when he placed 11th. Giolito joins an Angels rotation that has had issues this year, despite the fact that they are above.500 and in contention for the last AL wild-card place. In 43 appearances for Chicago this season, López has pitched out of the bullpen, recording a 4.29 ERA and a 2.36 K/BB ratio. He is similarly available for free agency in the upcoming offseason like Giolito is.
López has worked out of the bullpen for Chicago this season, notching a 4.29 ERA and a 2.36 K/BB ratio. He is similarly available for free agency in the upcoming offseason like Giolito is.
Bush, a second-round pick by Los Angeles in 2021, had a 3.67 ERA and a 3.48 strikeout-to-walk ratio in 21 Double-A starts last year. He is a 6-foot-6, 240-pound muscular southpaw whose above-average fastball and slider combo has attracted scouts since his college days. Bush will need to strengthen his command and consistency with the remainder of his arsenal. If successful, he might make it to the majors by the summer of 2023.
Bush has had trouble this season in eight starts, although he was limited earlier in the year by various injuries.
A recent Futures Game participant, 20-year-old Cuban prospect Quero was listed by Baseball Prospectus as one of the top 100 prospects overall heading into the current season. Despite being considerably younger than his Double-A colleagues this season, he has put up strong offensive performances and improved his defensive play.