MLB trade rumors: Mets and Angels are talking Joe Smith, and everybody is calling about Cam Bedrosian

The non-waiver trade deadline is rapidly approaching, so of course that MLB hot stove is going to get hotter and hotter as the weekend progresses. For the most part, the Angels have been out on all this frenzied trade action, whether it’s actual deals getting done, or just rumors. All is quiet on the Angels trade front, but that may be due more to the lack of talent they’re considering, as well as the fact that they seem to want to push fire sale talk to the side and figure out how to compete in 2017.

One thing that they do have, that other teams actually want, is pitching. They have taken calls on starters like Hector Santiago and Matt Shoemaker, but considering the Halos’ current injury situation and long term outlook with the starting arms, they didn’t have much wiggle room.

The relief pitchers, though? Some of those can be had, and we might see some movement on one of those pieces in the next few days. Could the Angels interest teams in a lil Joe Smith action? Hmmmm?

That’s beat writer Marc Craig from just a couple hours ago, and the news is not all that surprising. Teams have been kicking the tires on Smith for weeks now, even though he’s not really bolstered his trade value in that time frame. Smith has been good throughout most of his career, but in 2016 he’s sporting career highs in both ERA (3.96) and FIP (4.74). Who knows what he could get in return on the trade market, but it’s worth finding out. He’s not the Angels’ 8th inning guy any more, anyway.

Cam Bedrosian is the 8th inning guy! Speaking of ol’ Cam, the guy we’ve been waiting to come around for awhile and who looks to have finally arrived, he’s getting a lot of interest from teams, too. But wait! The Angels actually want him, because he is good. Go figure.

That’s the tough part about the trade deadline. We hope that our team is bolstered for the future via some solid trades, but to get those good players in return, you kind of have to give up something good on your end. With the year Cam has had, where he’s currently on a 23 consecutive scoreless inning streak, and usurped Joe Smith for the 8th inning job, you expect teams to come calling. But again, the Angels are probably hoping to avoid the disastrous injury bug next year, and actually compete with much of this young core intact.

It’ll be interesting to see who they move, if anybody, over the next few days. The clock’s ticking, but the Angels aren’t exactly in a rush or even in a place of need...at least as far as the front office is concerned. Some fans may have different opinions on that.