2015 Angels Trade Deadline Targets: Rays-Angels

[AngelsWin.com]

By Robert Cunningham, AngelsWin.com Staff Reporter - 

Author’s Note: Although Desmond Jennings isn’t the primary focus of this trade target article, he was mentioned as a possible option. However he just had knee surgery that will keep him out for approximately 8 weeks making his acquisition by the deadline very unlikely.

If the season ended today the Rays would claim the 2nd Wild Card spot in the tightly contested A.L. East. Notably the FanGraphs End of Season projections actually has them out of the playoffs.

No matter if the Rays improve or decline between now and the trade deadline, one player may be of great interest to the Angels and that player is Brandon Guyer.

Guyer, 29 years old, is a corner outfielder with speed, on-base ability, and pop that might be a good fit at lead-off or in the 2-hole for the Halo’s.

From 2011-2014, Brandon carried a .298/.364/.475 slash line in the Minors. In limited playing time in the Majors, over the same time period, Guyer has a .261/.327/.379 slash line.

This year, across 145 PA’s, Brandon is hitting .289/.361/.398 with increased playing time filling in for the injured Desmond Jennings (who notably might also be considered an Angels target for LF).

Another important note about his PA’s this year is that he is one of a small group of hitters that is getting on-base at an above average rate against both LH (.349 OBP) and RH (.377 OBP) pitching. Since 2011 in the Minors he has a .402 OBP vs. LHP and a .375 OBP vs. RHP.

Over the last two years Brandon has put up improved Line Drive rates (20.1% in 2014 and 23.8% in 2015) along with solid Ground Ball rates (50.0% and 53.3% respectively) which point to a change/adjustment/improvement in his hitting approach at the plate.

Finally Guyer is a smart base stealer. Since 2011, Brandon averaged an 81.6% SB% and in the Majors he has an 80% SB%. Over his entire Minor League career he was only caught 28 times in 161 attempts (82.6% SB%).

When you combine the on-base ability from both sides of the plate, the 15 HR potential, above average corner outfield defense, and the excellent base stealing ability, you have yourself a nice lead-off hitter which is a role that he has been recently doing well in Tampa.

Brandon will be entering arbitration after this year so this might be an opportunity for the Angels to add a significant piece without being totally gouged by the price tag since the Rays, despite his recent success, are using him in a 4th outfielder capacity.

The Rays moved Matt Garza to the Cubs in-part because Guyer was included in the trade so they know he has potential and is realizing some of that in 2015.

To acquire Guyer, the Angels would likely have to part with some combination of C.J. Cron, Chad Hinshaw, Bo Way, Natanael Delgado, and Adam Wilk. Obviously not all of them but 2-3 prospects depending upon their level and quality could make this happen.

Of course the Angels could go after Desmond Jennings who, for the first time this year in the Majors, was finally showing glimpses of the low strikeout rate (12.5%) he carried earlier in his Minor League career. The only problem with Jennings is that he still might suffer against RHP which limits his overall value.

Adding Guyer would only increase payroll, at worst, by $500K for 2015.

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[Chuck]

I'm not feeling the warm and fuzzies on this one, Robert. 

 

I like Hicks better, but I proposed a trade for Tony Kemp in another thread. Great leadoff option. Good contact rate, amazing eye, walks a ton and has good speed. Put him in LF, trade for Lind. Another option would be Billy Burns from the A's and Lind. 

[ettin]

Actually this is my 2nd favorite move out of all of them Chuck. Putting Guyer in the lead-off position especially with his excellent OBP splits on both sides of the plate would get him on base a lot ahead of Trout. His stolen base success rate is just as good as Trout. We can bring in a left-handed hitting DH type to bat behind Albert.

In terms of trade cost he might be the least expensive in terms of quality for cost.

To each their own though!

Hicks is another solid option. There is at least one other that I'm high on that I'll discuss in a later submission.

The point of these articles though is to dispel the myth that the Angels don't have options! We do! Some are clearly much better than others and in fact some are maybe not good at all (in fact the next submission is probably one we'd avoid)!

[nando714]

[Angel Oracle]

Had never heard of Tony Kemp until now.

Hicks is a nice option who may not be far off from taking it to the next level; and, this year aside, has solid plate patience.

Guyer would be maybe a great option, balancing TB's need and ours.

Edited June 12, 2015 by Angel Oracle

[red321]

Any trade scenario that involves the Angels getting starting OF'er and sending back CJ Cron as the key piece isn't going to get off the ground. I might have more trade value than he does at this point.

Edited June 12, 2015 by red321

[ettin]

I never said Cron was a "key piece" he would be one of 2-3 prospects/players. Cron's value by himself is not that great overall as we all know.

[ettin]

I'm not feeling the warm and fuzzies on this one, Robert.

I like Hicks better, but I proposed a trade for Tony Kemp in another thread. Great leadoff option. Good contact rate, amazing eye, walks a ton and has good speed. Put him in LF, trade for Lind. Another option would be Billy Burns from the A's and Lind.

I don't disagree that Tony Kemp might be an option but why would the Astros trade him to a Division rival mid-season in a playoff hunt?

Perhaps in the offseason that might happen as the Astros have a lot of interesting OF prospects but before that I seriously doubt Luhnow would upgrade a rival.

I like Burns a lot but he seems like a long term piece for the A's and it seems like Beane would only do it if he felt he was getting back significantly more than he's worth in a deadline deal. Not sure that would happen either.

Again both interesting options but are they realistic ones at this point in time?

[Docwaukee]

came across this fb site that ranks the AAA hitters by points

 

http://www.wetalkfantasysports.com/2015/06/AAA-Prospects-Fantasy-Baseball.html

[Dick B Back]

Make the trade with Tampa. Just send them Jepsen... oh never mind.

[Angel Oracle]

Thank you for Thursday's win, Jeppy!