Breaking: Yankees still interested to land the left-handed hitter from Angels who is just recovering from injury.
Ahead of the trade deadline, the Angles and their utility infielder are in perfect timing.
When the MLB trade deadline approaches, the Los Angeles Angels are obvious sellers. According to NY Post columnist Jon Heyman, infielder Luis Rengifo has returned off the injured list in time for the deadline of July 30. When the Angels play the Seattle Mariners on Tuesday night, he is anticipated to participate. On July 4, Rengifo was placed on the disabled list due to inflammation in his wrist. He should be traded before the deadline now that he is back.
Rengifo can play multiple positions in the field as a switch-hitter. He has appeared in games thus far this season at right field, shortstop, third base, and second base. He is having a career year offensively. With 69 games played, he has reached his career highs in batting average, on-base percentage, slugging percentage, and stolen bases. For the Angels, who have one more year of authority over him, it comes at the ideal moment.
The Angels have the third-worst record in the American League going into Tuesday’s games. 2024 has not been much better after a terrible season in which they lost a great player in Shohei Ohtani. Even if Mike Trout is about to start a rehab assignment, their season is virtually done. The Angels could sell a few assets, including Luis Rengifo, to continue filling their pipeline of prospects by the trade deadline.
At the MLB trade deadline, Luis Rengifo provides value.
Rengifo would be a fantastic bench piece for a lot of competitors in October. As a left-handed hitter, he is batting an incredible.380 and has demonstrated his versatility by playing all defensive positions. That is exactly what the New York Yankees need.
Rengifo may enter the game and strengthen both the Yankees’ left-handed pitcher Alex Verdugo and third baseman DJ Lemahieu, who are still having trouble. Compared to current utility players Oswaldo Cabrera and Jahmai Jones, he is a better hitter and a more seasoned player, and his lefty swing will go in perfectly with the short porch. Within their prospect pool, the Angels do not possess a left-handed pitcher ranked in the top 20. To close this transaction, the Yankees will send outfielder Brando Mayea and lefty Henry Lalane.
The Philadelphia Phillies of the National League just let go of Whit Merrifield. They might be searching for a reliable backup infielder to take his place in the starting order. Trea Turner, Bryson Stott, and Alec Bohm are consuming innings in the infield positions, although they are all right-handed hitters. In the postseason, having a switch hitter who can steal bases and play all three positions would be tremendously important. In this trade, prospects Eduardo Tait, catcher, and Wen Hui Pan, pitcher, will go to the Angels.
During the MLB trade deadline, the Pittsburgh Pirates might also make an addition. They are now just a half-game out from the last Wild Card place thanks to their pitching staff. Rengifo may demonstrate to the squad and supporters that they are prepared to compete with a smaller move. To get Rengifo into the fold, they may trade Hunter Barco and Michael Kennedy, two lefty pitchers, to the Angels.
