Several weeks have passed since the trade deadline. Certain players were dealt to new teams who were in the mix for the postseason. Some of these trades have worked out, while others haven't.
Trades are usually made so that contending teams can supplement their roster and make a run at the postseason, while the teams giving up certain players do so with an eye on the future, understanding that the current season may be a lost cause.
Oftentimes, the effects of certain deals are felt immediately, as a team that added pieces may quickly reap the benefits of acquiring a certain player who helps them make a run toward October. On the other hand, that player may sometimes struggle with his new team, which can throw a wrench in the team's plans for October.
With almost two months having passed since the Aug. 1 trade deadline, we are starting to see just how some of these deals have panned out for certain teams. Some teams have received a boost from their additions while others have been forced to make some very tough decisions after adding certain players.
In this piece, we will be examining three players from the Los Angeles Angels who have failed to live up to expectations and what the result of such struggles has been.
Angels trade acquisitions who failed: 3. Lucas Giolito
Giolito was acquired by the Angels from the White Sox along with Reynaldo Lopez. Of course, Giolito is no longer with the Angels and is now with the Guardians.
But the veteran right-hander made only six starts with the Halos before the Guardians claimed him off of waivers. In those six starts, the 29-year-old went 1-5 with the Angels and posted an ugly ERA of 6.89 in 32.2 innings of work. He still averaged 9.4 strikeouts per nine innings, which could be an encouraging sign for teams that may target him this offseason when he becomes a free agent.
The Angels acquired him hoping to make a run towards October and give Shohei Ohtani a taste of the postseason in what will likely be his last year with the team. But when the Angels fell out of contention, they placed Giolito and others on waivers, essentially giving up on the season.
The former All-Star owns an 8-14 record and a concerning ERA of 4.60 on the season. He has even struggled with the Guardians as well. In four starts, he has posted a 1-3 record and has allowed 14 earned runs in 22.1 innings of work, which ultimately amounts to a 5.64 ERA with Cleveland.
While his strikeout numbers are still encouraging, his fall from grace in the second half of the season could ultimately hurt his stock this coming offseason. He'll be one of many starters available on the free agent market when the offseason begins following the conclusion of the World Series.
Angels trade acquisitions who failed: 2. C.J. Cron
Cron was acquired from the Rockies along with Randal Grichuk. He had made his Major-League debut with the Halos back in 2014 before ultimately joining the Rays four years later. He made brief stops with the Twins and Tigers before his time in Colorado.
This year, he made his way back to the Angels, having hit .260 with 11 home runs, 32 RBI, and a .780 OPS. However, he struggled in his return to the West Coast, and on Aug. 18, he was placed on the injured list with lower back inflammation. His back had plagued him earlier in the year before the trade as well, as he missed a month with the Rockies.
Clearly, injuries have been an issue for Cron this season, which could potentially stand to reason why he has struggled at the plate as of late.
The Angels traded for him to add a little extra thump in their lineup as they geared up for a potential run. The 33-year-old has played just 14 games since returning to the Halos. In those games, he is hitting just .217 with one home run, five RBI, and a concerning .563 OPS.
So far, the former All-Star hasn't quite lived up to expectations since returning out West, and the Angels themselves have also continued to plummet.
Cron has since returned from the injured list and is now back in the Angels' lineup, but he still has yet to find his groove at the plate and continues to struggle as the end of the season draws near.
Angels trade acquisitions who failed: 1. Randal Grichuk
Like Cron, Grichuk was acquired from the Rockies. His stats for the season are actually pretty good, as he owns a .270 average with 15 home runs and a .788 OPS.
He was originally drafted by the Angels in the first round back in 2009. Grichuk was in the organization until 2014 when he was traded to the Cardinals along with Peter Bourjos for David Freese and Fernando Salas. He later spent a couple of seasons with the Blue Jays, where he blossomed into a star.
However, he too has struggled since coming back to the Angels. In 44 games with the Halos this year, Grichuk is hitting for a poor .209 average and has posted an OPS mark of .673. The veteran outfielder has at least been able to stay healthy and has also hit seven home runs since his return to Anaheim.
But the 32-year-old is also reaching base at just a .261 clip, and hasn't quite been the same player since the trade. He and Cron were expected to be solid additions to a strong lineup that already included Mike Trout and Shohei Ohtani.
Though Grichuk has shown a little bit more promise than Cron has, some of his numbers since being acquired by the Angels from the Rockies are a bit concerning, and it stands to reason why he ultimately finds himself on this list.
