Adding Greinke to the rotation should give Scioscia reason to smile
Forgive Angels manager Mike Scioscia if he feels a burst of exhilaration. Though his team entered Friday night’s game five games behind the Texas Rangers in the American League West, he and the rest of the baseball world learned about the acquisition of 28-year-old right-hander Zack Greinke from Milwaukee for top infield prospect Jean Segura and Double-A right-handers Ariel Pena and John Hellweg.
The Angels, which made the biggest off-season splash by signing Albert Pujols to a monstrous deal, added Greinke to a rotation that already boasts Jered Weaver, Dan Haren and C.J. Wilson.
Haren is having a down year with a 7-8 record and a 4.76 ERA. Ervin Santana is struggling even more than Haren with a 6.00 ERA. Greinke’s arrivals means that he will join Weaver and Wilson as a trio of elite starters, allowing Haren and Santana to work out their issues in the back of the rotation.
As the July 31 non-waiver trade deadline draws near, the Angels would like to find takers for the 29-year-old Santana and outfielder Vernon Wells, who will soon be activated from the 60-day disabled list. CBSSports.com’s Danny Knobler reported that the team would likely have to absorb a bulk of each player’s salary to trade them.
With Jordan Walden on the 15-day DL, the Angels are also reportedly interested in bullpen help. They have been linked to Seattle’s Brandon League.
