Angels trade for Lucas Giolito, Reynaldo Lopez in blockbuster deal with White Sox
The Angels are really going for it.
After news emerged that two-way superstar Shohei Ohtani was off the market, Los Angeles is acquiring starter Lucas Giolito and reliever Reynaldo Lopez in a massive trade with the White Sox, the teams announced Wednesday night.
Chicago will receive top prospects Edgar Quero and Ky Bush in return.
Giolito, who was an American League All-Star in 2019, is 6-6 this season with a 3.79 ERA and 1.22 WHIP over 21 starts.
The 29-year-old right-hander has racked up 131 strikeouts in 121 innings this season.
Giolito spent his past seven big league seasons in Chicago’s rotation, winning 59 games.
He threw a no-hitter on Aug. 25, 2020 and has finished in the top 11 in AL Cy Young voting three times in his career.
“Gio’s been a workhorse for us. I call him Mr. Consistency,” White Sox manager Pedro Grifol said. “He’s the same guy every single day. A great teammate. He gives us everything we’ve got. He’s rooting for his teammates out on the bench. The Angels got a good guy. And they did in Lopey, too.”
Lopez, in 43 games in relief, has a 4.29 ERA with 52 strikeouts in 42 innings.
He also has recorded four saves this season.
Quero, a catcher, and Bush, a left-handed hurler, were the No. 2 and 3 prospects in the Angels’ system, per MLB.com.
Giolito and López also were traded together in December 2016, when they were sent from the Nationals to Chicago along with Dane Dunning in exchange for Adam Eaton.
The Angels (52-49) have won six of their last seven to move four games behind the Blue Jays for the final AL wild-card spot, although the Yankees and Red Sox are also ahead of Los Angeles.
The trade was announced after struggling White Sox dropped to 41-62 with a 10-7 loss to the Cubs.
They have lost five in a row and 13 of 17 overall.
“Certainly not where any of us in the organization thought when this year started we would be come the trade deadline,” White Sox general manager Rick Hahn said. “But clearly moves like these in terms of putting ourselves in the best position going forward are essential and we are certainly please to add Bush and Quero.”
— with Post wires