The trade was a good move for the Angels, who yesterday also confirmed that American League MVP favorite Shohei Ohtani was off the trade market.
The White Sox, meanwhile, are dumping salary and obtaining two young, highly touted prospects in return. Bush is a top-100 prospect in baseball, while Quero is seen as a defensive catcher with some upside at the plate.
Trade Analysis
The Halos went after another starting pitcher and got their man. Giolito was the White Sox’ ace and regarded as the top starting pitching target of several clubs heading into the August 1 MLB trade deadline.
Giolito is 6-6 with a 3.79 ERA this season, and he has been one of the most consistent pitchers in the American League since coming over in a trade with the Washington Nationals.
Lopez was effective as a starter and out of the bullpen for the pale hose. He was 2-5 with a 4.29 ERA over 42 innings of work for Chicago. He recorded four saves but blew five saves with 10 holds this season.
Bush was the Halos second best pitching prospect. He is a left-handed pitcher with a fastball that can reach 97 mph. He has a decent curveball and straight changeup and could help the Sox somewhere down the road.
Quero is a good defensive catcher with some upside at the plate. He frames pitches, blocks the plate extremely well, and has a cannon for an arm. He’s defensively ready to play in the show, but his bat is far from MLB-ready.
How the Trade Affects the Betting Odds
Chicago White Sox to win the AL Central: +20000
Los Angeles Angels to make the playoffs: Yes (+700), No (-1000)
Los Angeles Angels to win the AL West: +2800
The White Sox are selling off their assets, probably aren’t done making moves, and at 12.5 games behind the Minnesota Twins, they aren’t winning the AL Central division.
Los Angeles isn’t done making moves. All-Star outfielder Mike Trout and All-Star 3B Anthony Rendon are sitting on the IL. Those are two big sticks missing from a lineup scoring the 4th most runs in the American League without their two sluggers in the lineup. Trout was seen doing drills in Detroit without a timetable for return, and Rendon isn’t due back until at least August.
Giolito gives Los Angeles an experienced righty who knows how to pitch and is as steady as possible. The Angels pitching staff allows the 12th most earned runs in the American League, and Giolito and Lopez are good additions to the staff.
The Halos are only four games away from the second American League Wild Card, and that’s without Trout and Rendon, as well as some inconsistent pitching. If Los Angeles gets Trout and Rendon back and keeps this Wild Card race close as it is now, maybe the return of their two sluggers and more consistent pitching can land Los Angeles a wild card.
If they get that far, then anything can happen, and a 100-dollar bet at +700 odds would net the Illinois bettor $800, including the stake. If you are interested in making a futures bet, then taking Los Angeles to make the playoffs, +700 at DraftKings IL, is the bet you want to make.
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