The Angels made a trade Thursday, acquiring the #10 prospect in the Atlanta Braves organization, 3B Kyle Kubitza. The cost was highly touted seventeen-year-old Ricardo Sanchez, a pitching prospect who has the mid-90s before his eighteenth birthday. The Angels also got Nate Hyatt, a right handed pitcher who has made it to the High-A league at age 24.
The Angels took to Twitter right away to sing the praises of what Kubitza did in AA last season:
In '14, Kubitza ranked in the Southern League Top 10 in OBP (1st), BB (T1st ), 3B (2nd), R (4th), H (7th), 2B (8th), SB (8th) & BA (9th)
— Angels PR (@LAAngelsPR) January 8, 2015
Kubitza turns 25 in July.
This trade means a few things. The club is getting the 2016 and 17 teams in focus. They are acknowledging that one time über-prospect Kaleb Cowart is a bust at the hot corner. They are signalling that David Freese will likely be playing his final season in an Halo uniform in 2015. As much as it might intrigue followers of the club to consider trading Freese, his likely league-average-season ahead is a sure-thing to bet on at this point.
Look for Kyle Kubitza to start the season with the Arkansas Travellers of the AA Texas League or the Salt Lake Bees of AAA Pacific Coast League. Hyatt will probably be on the AA Travs quad out of Spring Training.