The Oakland Athletics proved they were all-in for this season when they traded for Jeff Samardzija and Jason Hammel, and now their American League West rivals are attempting to do the same. The Los Angeles Angels are targeting San Diego Padres pitchers Ian Kennedy and Huston Street.
Fox Sports’ Ken Rostenthal was the first with the report and notes that the Angels own baseball’s worst farm system so any potential deal will have to include some Major League talent.
“Kennedy would fortify a rotation that includes several pitchers with scant major-league experience and currently is without left-hander C.J. Wilson, who went on the disabled list Thursday with a sprained right ankle.
The Angels' farm system ranked last in the majors in Baseball America's most recent talent rankings. For general manager Jerry Dipoto to land both Street and Kennedy, he might need to trade pieces off the team's major league roster.”
Kennedy would be a solid addition to the Angels pitching staff as he has posted a 3.47 earned run average with 133 strikeouts through 20 starts this season. According to the pitching metric, Kennedy ranks higher than Max Scherzer, Adam Wainwright, and Samardzija.
Street is seen as the top closer on the trade market as he owns a 1.09 earned run average and has converted 24 of his 25 save opportunities this season.
The Angels are 57-37 at the All-Star break and sit a game and a half back of the first place A’s while the Padres are 41-54 and 12 games back of the Los Angeles Dodgers.
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