Angels wrap active Deadline with trade for Leone

ATLANTA -- After trading for six players in the days and weeks leading up to Tuesday’s Trade Deadline, the Angels added one more just before the 3 p.m. PT cutoff passed, as they acquired reliever Dominic Leone and cash from the Mets for infield/outfield prospect Jeremiah Jackson.

Leone is the latest addition for the Angels, who also acquired infielders Eduardo Escobar, Mike Moustakas and C.J. Cron via trades as well as outfielder Randal Grichuk and right-handers Lucas Giolito and Reynaldo López. All seven players are set to be free agents after the season, indicating the club’s willingness to go for it all in 2023 with two-way superstar Shohei Ohtani also an impending free agent.

TRADE DETAILS
Angels receive: RHP Dominic Leone, cash
Mets receive: INF/OF Jeremiah Jackson (Angels' No. 9 prospect)

General manager Perry Minasian has made it clear his mission is to get the Angels to the postseason for the first time since 2014 and has tried his best to fill any holes. The club currently has 18 players on the injured list, but it is still in the hunt for the postseason, even after a 5-1 loss to the Braves on Tuesday. The Angels (56-52) remain three games behind the Blue Jays in the American League Wild Card chase, and they are now above the luxury tax after the bevy of trades.

“Obviously we’ve made improvements,” Minasian said. “I want to thank ownership, first and foremost, for making the investment. We were able to make the team better. That was the goal since Day 1. And now we’re in a position where we're in the mix, and we'll see how it goes over the last two months.”

Leone, 31, has posted a 4.40 ERA with 33 strikeouts, 11 walks and seven homers allowed in 30 2/3 innings with the Mets this season. He pitched well recently, posting a 1.80 ERA in 12 appearances since June 27. He has a career 3.75 ERA with 406 strikeouts in 386 2/3 innings in 10 seasons with the Mariners, D-backs, Blue Jays, Cardinals, Guardians, Giants and Mets.

“Leone has been outstanding the last month, his velo has picked up,” Minasian said. “The strikeout rate was really impressive. We think his best pitching is ahead of him. A great guy, a real big personality that's going to really fit the bullpen. Just another competitive gamer who wants the ball. And it’s something we felt like we needed.”

Leone is the second reliever the Angels acquired before the Deadline, joining Lopez, who came over from the White Sox with Giolito on Wednesday. López played a major role in Monday’s 4-1 win over the Braves, recording a five-out save while touching 101 mph with his fastball. Giolito will make his second start with the Angels in the series finale against the Braves on Wednesday.

Grichuk and Cron also made instant impacts on Tuesday, as Grichuk hit a solo homer in the fourth and Cron added an RBI single in the ninth.

Leone will join the Angels on Wednesday and is likely to replace rookie right-hander Victor Mederos in the bullpen. His addition gives the Angels a bullpen of closer Carlos Estévez, Matt Moore, López, José Soriano, Jacob Webb, Aaron Loup, Jaime Barria and Leone.

Fellow reliever Chris Devenski also started a rehab assignment on Monday night, while injured rookie relievers Ben Joyce and Sam Bachman are progressing with their throwing programs in Arizona, though Bachman has yet to throw off a mound. Bachman was moved to the 60-day IL to make room for Leone, indicating Bachman will be out until September.

To get Leone, the Angels parted with yet another one of their Top 30 prospects in Jackson, who is a versatile defender with power but a high strikeout rate. Jackson, ranked as their No. 9 prospect by MLB Pipeline at the time of the deal, hit .248/.321/.447 with 15 homers, 15 doubles, 21 stolen bases and 56 RBIs in 82 games with Double-A Rocket City this season. Jackson saw time at second, third, short, center field and left field this season but struck out 94 times in 349 plate appearances.

Jackson, 23, is one of eight prospects traded by the Angels before the Deadline, joining pitchers Coleman Crow, Landon Marceaux, Connor Van Scoyoc, Ky Bush, Mason Albright, Jake Madden and catcher Edgar Quero.

“It’s tough to trade all these young players,” Minasian said. “But you have to give to get. It takes two to tango. And we felt like from a value standpoint, these were the right moves to make.”