Missing the Deadline: When the Worst Trade Is No Trade

The Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim seem to enter every trade season with all the enthusiasm of a guy on the couch who's trying to reach the remote.

There it sits on the coffee table, begging to be snatched from its glass and wood plateau. All it takes is a little effort, just a slight twitch of the stomach muscles to pull that flabby upper body forward and a reach of that clammy palm to swipe at the little device.

In much the same way, the Angels had only to show the just a little resolve when trying to improve their ball club. 

The team had clear holes to fill leading up to the July 31 trade deadline, both in the starting rotation and in the bullpen. But alas, there sit all of those missed opportunities that could have, but for a lack of will, helped the Halos. Right next to the remote.

Somewhere, Bill Stoneman is smiling.

For years, it was his job to sit and stare at the remote, or as he put it, “take calls and have conversations.” Boy did he love that phrase. Not that those calls every amounted to anything, but apparently he had a great time talking since he did so much of it.

You can just imagine the phone bills.

Last year though, it looked like the Angels had finally freed themselves from Stoneman's frustrating reign as general manager.

Despite the fact that his replacement was also his protege, Tony Reagins spent his first season separating himself from his predecessor.

For the first time in God knows how long, the Angels stepped up huge at the trade deadline when Reagins succeeded in making a play for the biggest name on the market, Mark Teixeira. 

Now, it was ultimately an unnecessary trade—the Angels were already cruising to yet another divisional title, and Tex made no impact whatsoever in the playoffs—but at least it showed Reagins's willingness to do what it took to get this team to the next level.

No longer would fans be forced to deal with relentless postseason mediocrity.

Or so we thought.

Reagins appeared to establish himself last season as a can-do GM, but is on a dangerous track to become the next Stoneman, too weak to ever recognize and address his team's flaws.

Throughout Stoneman's tenure, the perpetual issue that plagued Anaheim was a lack of power.

With the exception of that magical 2002 squad, the Angels simply did not hit the ball with enough authority to ever be a threat in the playoffs. 

Post season success always comes down to strong starting pitching and the ability to drive the ball out of the park.

So while the Halos racked up AL West crowns, they were always exposed, and subsequently disposed, in the playoffs.

Now, the Angels will finish the season with at least three guys in the 20-30 home run range for the first time in years...and a team ERA that is dead last in the American League.

Once again, there is a clear and significant issue on this team that must be addressed, and once again the reigning GM has failed to do anything about it.

Making a trade just to make a trade is always a bad decision, and Reagins mentioned that on air during Saturday night's broadcast.

But that is not the situation here.

The Angels are not in the same comfortable position that they were last season, with a well-balanced team filled with speed, some power, and a plethora of dominant arms on the mound.

This year, starters have been getting smacked around for two months. Relievers are, quite literally, hit and miss every night.

No lead is safe for this team, and apparently that's just fine with Reagins.

He gave a typically diplomatic response to why the Angels hadn't made any moves, saying repeatedly  that the team had put together several “proposals” that were fair, but ultimately rejected.

Great, because negotiations are all about making yourself feel comfortable, right?

Wrong. 

It's been said that no deal of any sort should ever be considered complete unless both sides feel they've lost something. And there is no better realm to apply that notion to than baseball.

Reagins and the rest of the brass in Anaheim had one job to do at this trade deadline: Get. A. Pitcher.

Whether that was a reliever or a starter, the Angels absolutely had to address their issues on the mound. Unfortunately, that means parting ways with a few guys you'd otherwise like to keep. 

But when your team has significant needs, you offer those guys a nice pat on the back and give them the “Godfather” line: “Nothing personal. It's just business.”

Shortstop/second baseman Erick Aybar has been tearing it up this season, with spectacular defense and vastly improved hitting. But untouchable he is not. 

There are three guys on the big club who can take his place (Maicer Izturis, Chone Figgins, and Howie Kendrick), and at least one in the Minors who is ready to come up (Sean Rodriguez).

Brandon Wood, yet another middle infielder, is far more valuable as a prospect than he will ever be as a Major Leaguer. He's shown no improvement this season over last, striking out pitifully every time he gets called up. 

Yet, teams always mention his name in trade discussions.

He is also primarily a shortstop/third baseman, an area of the field where the Angels are obsessively deep at both the Major and Minor League levels. He has nowhere to play in Anaheim.

Letting Wood and a couple of other guys go should not be looked at as a long term loss for a short term gain. On the contrary, it is making the most of your situation as a team.

Besides which, that short term gain just might be a World Series trophy.

Isn't that worth a couple of prospects, and maybe a Major Leaguer or two?

Other teams were able to make major acquisitions at the deadline without sacrificing too much of their own futures.

The Philadelphia Phillies got a premiere starter in Cliff Lee without losing young studs J.A. Happ and Kyle Drabeck, two names associated with their proposed deal for Roy Halladay.

The Los Angeles Dodgers picked up lefty closer George Sherrill from the Baltimore Orioles for a couple of pitching prospects, far less than what the Angels could have offered.

So where were they in all these discussions?

Sitting on that couch, staring longingly at that remote, and shrugging at their own unwillingness to expend the energy to improve their situation.

I am thoroughly disappointed in this front office for not making a deal to fill perhaps the most obvious and potentially costly hole this team has had in 10 years. 

What do you think of the situation?