The Los Angeles Angels Haven't Made Many Blockbuster Trade Deadline Deals

Since the inception of the trade deadline in 1986, the Angels franchise as either the California, Anaheim or Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim have a history of not making the big trade deadline deal, especially during the Gene Autry and Disney ownership years.  They usually used the trade deadline to dump high contracts, or chose not to mess with team chemistry.

Some may think last season’s (2008) acquisition of first baseman Mark Teixeira before the trade deadline, beating out the New York Yankees and Boston Red Sox for him, would be considered the Angels best trade deadline move.  He is the biggest name picked up without giving up a lot for him. 

They traded first baseman Casey Kotchman and pitching prospect Stephen Marek to the Atlanta Braves for Teixeira.  The Angels first-year General Manager Tony Reagins can be credited for aggressively pursuing Teixeira and getting him at the trade deadline without giving up top prospects. 

The Braves initially asked for Kotchman, top pitching prospect Nick Adenhart and a third player in exchange for Teixeira. But the Angels told Atlanta that although they might be willing to talk about, essentially, a Kotchman-for-Teixeira swap even up, they were not willing to open a hole in their club for either 2008 or 2009.

The clubs then compromised agreeing on Marek, a 24-year-old Double-A right-hander who wasn't regarded as one of the Angels' premier prospects.

It turned out to be just a two-month addition as the Angels lost Teixeira to the New York Yankees in free agency this season after the Angels tried to keep him. Teixeira (.358, 39 runs, 13 HR, 43 RBI) was very productive in his 54 regular season games with the Angels. He helped the Angels to their first 100-win season and best record in franchise history, but the bottom line was the Angels lost to Boston in the playoffs again and didn’t win a championship with him. 

Overall it would rank as the Angels second-best trade deadline move.

The Angels best trade deadline move, in my opinion, came during the 2001 season when they acquired utility player Chone Figgins from the Colorado Rockies for minor league outfielder Kimera Bartee. 

Figgins speed fit into the Angels “small ball” gameplan perfectly.  Figgins had not become a household name yet, but as for trades for players currently on the team and contributing, the trade for Figgins has to be the biggest.  He played in just 15 games for the Angels championship team in 2002, but did make the post season roster and played in six playoff games scoring four runs and stealing one base while batting 1.000 (1-for-1). 

He has become an American League All-Star in 2009 and in 2005, Figgins led all major leaguers with 62 stolen bases. He also batted .290 with 25 doubles, 10 triples, eight homers, 57 RBI, 113 runs, 64 walks and a .352 on-base percentage.  He is one of the most feared lead-off hitters in the American League and on the base paths.  The Angels have made the playoffs in five of his first seven seasons played.

The Angels third best trade deadline move came in 1995 when they reacquired starting pitcher Jim Abbott from the Chicago White Sox with pitcher Tim Fortugno for four minor league players outfielder McKay Christensen, starting pitcher John Snyder, pitcher Andrew Lorraine and relief pitcher Bill Simas.

Abbott had started his career with the Angels in 1989 and was one of the fan favorites for his ability to pitch with one arm.  He returned in 1995 to go 5-4 with a 4.15 ERA highlighted by one complete game shutout.  He also struck out 41 in 84 innings.  The Angels fell short of winning the division, losing to the Seattle Mariners in a one-game playoff, after tying for first for the American League West title with identical 78-66 records in the strike shortened season.

The fourth best trade deadline move by the Angels came in 1997, the first season under the ownership of the Walt Disney Company.  In a rare inter-divisional trade the Angels traded catcher/first baseman Jim Leyritz and Rob Sasser to the Texas Rangers for starting pitcher Ken Hill. 

Leyritz (47 runs, 11 HR, 50 RBI, .276 in 84 games) was having a pretty good season for the Angels, but the Angels needed pitching help and acquired Hill who was just 5-8, 5.19 with Texas.  He finished the season with the Angels going 4-4, 3.65 and one complete game.   Leyritz didn’t hit any more homers in Texas, but was a consistent hitter batting .282.

The most unpopular move came in 1999, when fan favorite second baseman Randy Velarde (.306, 57 runs, 9 HR, 48 RBI, 17 SB in 95 games) was traded with pitcher Omar Olivares (8-9 4.05, 3 CG) to the division rival Oakland Athletics for outfielders Jeff DaVanon and Nathan Haynes, and minor league pitcher Elvin Nina. 

For one it was an inter-divisional trade and Velarde was having a good season for the Angels.  DaVanon ended up being the centerpiece of the trade for the Angels.  He went on to play six seasons with the Angels and his best season was 2003 when he hit .282, 56 runs, 12 HR, 43 RBI, 17 SB.