Zack Greinke Might Have Clinched the Pennant for Los Angeles Angels

According to Ken Rosenthal of Fox Sports, the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim just acquired Zack Greinke from the Milwaukee Brewers in exchange for Jean Segura and a pair of Double-A pitchers. The white flag has been waved by the defending National League Central Champions.

A different kind of flag could be raised in Anaheim (not Los Angeles) when this season is over. The Angels, who got off to a horrible start, rebounded by sharing the American League's best record after April with the New York Yankees.

The team that spent so lavishly on Albert Pujols now has to tell their legendary superstar that he is the third most exciting player on his own team. Mark Trumbo has out hit, out slugged and out homered Pujols, and 29-year-old Mike Trout could very well be the American League Most Valuable Player.

As dynamic as the lineup may be, pitching is king when it comes to winning titles. The addition of Greinke makes the Angels' position in the American League playoff hunt intimidating.

What American League team has a one, two and three punch in their rotation better than Jered Weaver, Zack Greinke and C. J. Wilson?

That depth in the starting staff is made even more impressive when one considers that Dan Haren has come off of the disabled list and won his first game back.

Starter Ervin Santana has been agonizingly inconsistent. According to the Los Angeles Times, he will be passed over in the rotation for at least one start.

But how many teams have a former All-Star with a recent no hitter in the number five spot of the rotation? Plus Ernesto Frieri has emerged as an unlikely bullpen ace who will not let any big lead slip from the Angels.

As of this writing, the Angels are five games behind the two-time American League Champion Texas Rangers. Ron Washington's starting staff is beginning to thin out. According to the Associated Press, Roy Oswalt will miss his next start due to back issues, and Colby Lewis will likely miss the rest of the year. Even with Alexi Ogando coming off of the Disabled List, the Angels will have the stronger rotation.

Their staff has more weapons than the Rangers, Tigers, White Sox, Athletics and even the Yankees. In a short series, a combination of three top starters, a solid closer and firepower in the lineup would make the Angels the favorite against anyone in the American League.

The Greinke deal all but wraps up one of the two Wild Card spots for the Angels, but they will be aiming for bigger titles.