Angels deal for White Sox starting pitcher Giolito; will not trade Ohtani

Just hours after a report surfaced that the Angels will not be trading two-way superstar Shohei Ohtani prior to the Aug. 1 Trade Deadline, the Halos struck a deal with the White Sox to acquire right-handed pitchers Lucas Giolito and Reynaldo López in exchange for catcher Edgar Quero (the Angels No. 2 prospect per MLB Pipeline) and left-hander Ky Bush (No. 3).

The Angels have not reached the postseason since 2014, when they were swept in the American League Division Series by the Royals. With Ohtani scheduled to become a free agent following this season, and fellow superstar Mike Trout still without a postseason victory in his stellar career, it appears Los Angeles is making a big push to end its playoff drought this fall.

Giolito, who turned 29 on July 14, finished among the top 11 in AL Cy Young Award voting each year from 2019-21 and threw a no-hitter against the Pirates on Aug. 25, 2020. Last season, he struggled to a 4.90 ERA in 30 starts for Chicago, but so far this year, he’s bounced back -- in 21 starts, he has a 3.79 ERA (116 ERA+) and a 1.22 WHIP. He’s given up two runs or fewer in seven of his last nine starts.

The starting rotation is certainly an area of need for the Angels. Outside of Ohtani, the rotation has been mediocre. None of the other four starters -- Reid Detmers, Patrick Sandoval, Tyler Anderson and Griffin Canning -- have an ERA under 4.16 this season.

https://www.mlb.com/news/lucas-giolito-trade-angels-white-sox