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Several teams, including the Chicago White Sox, are showing trade interest in Angels starter Dylan Bundy according to Jon Morosi.
Bundy only arrived at Angels Stadium in the offseason in a trade from the Baltimore Orioles. With the Anaheim-based ballclub way off the American League’s playoff place, though, he could be on the move again before the trade deadline.
The 27-year-old is under team control through the end of next season. The White Sox have the prospects to get a deal done, though they may have to give up a player or two in the high minors to tempt the Angels into a trade.
With Mike Trout, Anthony Rendon and Shohei Ohtani on the team, the Angels will be desperate to contend next season – giving up Bundy for players in the low minors makes little sense to them.
Chicago is bang average in Baseball Reference’s wins above average for their starting staff. The rotation has got a good core in Dallas Keuchel, Lucas Giolito and Dylan Cease, but with Michael Kopech sitting out the 2020 season, there’s a lack of depth. Gio Gonzalez and Reynaldo Lopez have struggled.
Bundy has had an interesting career. He was a fourth overall pick and a highly rated prospect, but he never delivered in the Majors for the Orioles. The stuff was always there, however. He’s reached his potential this season.
He has a 2.58 ERA in six starts this year and ranks among the league leaders in avoiding hard contact. A current hard hit rate of 25.8% is in the 92nd percentile, and he’s striking out more hitters than ever (28.9%), while walking fewer (5.3%, down from 8.3% in 2019).
A change of scenery can make all the difference for pitchers. Baltimore have a woeful record with their arms, and Bundy isn’t the first to benefit from leaving Camden Yards – Kevin Gausman has also been a markedly better pitcher since departing.
There is minor overperformance from Bundy relative to his expected numbers, but they are still ace-level. His expected ERA is below three, bettered only by Giolito among Chicago’s staff. Pairing Giolito and Bundy at the front of the rotation is a scary prospect for any team meeting the White Sox in the playoffs.
The Angels are 6.5 back of a wildcard spot. This is another lost year for them, but they will be reluctant to part with Bundy.
The cost could be very high for the White Sox. While Bundy might be the best pitcher on the market, there are other, cheaper alternatives who could prove to be a better option, a balance between winning in 2020 and retaining farm depth.
There is no need for the White Sox to rush into a win-now move when their window is just beginning. A trade for Johnny Cueto or Lance Lynn would cost less and might be the more sensible move.
