ANAHEIM — The Angels made their first move as sellers ahead of Tuesday’s 3 p.m. PST trade deadline, acquiring pitching prospects Samuel Aldeguelli and George Klassen from the Phillies for closer Carlos Estevez before their 3-1 loss to the Athletics on Saturday at Angel Stadium.
This is considered quite a deal for the Angels, who immediately bolstered their farm system with the acquisition of Aldeguelli (the Phillies’ No. 23 prospect) and Classun (No. 28 prospect). Both players were in the midst of breakout seasons and were slated to move up MLB Pipeline’s mid-major prospect rankings. Classun, now the Angels’ No. 3 prospect, was slated to be Philadelphia’s No. 7 prospect, while Aldeguelli, currently the Angels’ No. 8 prospect, was slated to be ranked No. 12.
Transaction Details
The angel receives: LHP Samuel Aldeguelli (Phillies prospect No. 23) and RHP George Classun (Phillies prospect No. 28)
The Phillies receive: RHP Carlos Estevez
Angels manager Ron Washington said it was tough to lose a clubhouse leader and lockdown closer, but he believes the move will benefit both teams.
“Once he got the team together, he kept it together, and that’s what we strive for as a team,” Washington said, “but it’s nice for him to go somewhere where we can win a World Series.”
Classen, 22, has a 1.97 ERA with 89 strikeouts and 21 walks in 59 1/3 innings with Single-A Clearwater and High-A Jersey Shore. He has a strong arm that can reach triple digits on the radar gun and throws a fastball that averages about 97 mph. The 22-year-old pairs that with an 82-86 mph curveball and a sharper 83-88 mph slider, along with the occasional changeup.
After being selected in the sixth round of the 2023 draft out of the University of Minnesota, there were concerns about whether Classun would be able to establish himself as a starter. Classun missed the 2021 season after undergoing Tommy John surgery and returned to the mound last year but struggled with control in his final season with the Gophers. But the 6-foot-2, 170-pounder has proven he has much better control over his abilities this year and can thrive as a starter. He was bothered by a minor shoulder injury earlier in the year but returned without issue.
The 22-year-old Aldegheri is a rare European prospect who signed with Italy’s Verona in July 2019 for $210,000. He missed most of the 2022 season with a shoulder injury but has been healthy and productive the past two seasons. This year, he has posted a 3.23 ERA with 109 strikeouts and 32 walks in 78 innings with High-A Jersey Shore and Double-A Reading.
The 6-foot-1 left-hander doesn’t have the talent of Classun, but his fastball can reach 95 mph. He also has a slider in the low 80s and a curveball in the high 70s. He’s added a changeup to his arsenal and is working to reduce his walk rate.
The Angels had to give up Estevez to acquire both pitchers, but he is set to become a free agent after the season. He signed a two-year, $13.5 million contract prior to last year. The 31-year-old Estevez is pitching well this season with a 2.38 ERA, 20 saves, 32 strikeouts and five walks in 34 innings. He has been on a roll over the past two months, going 18 consecutive scoreless innings since May 28. During that time, he has allowed just five runners in those 18 innings and earned 13 saves.
“It’s a big change leaving a really good group that you’re really familiar with,” said Estevez, an All-Star in 2023. “But if I go somewhere else, I’m happy if it’s somewhere that has a chance to win a championship ring.”
With Estevez gone, the Angels must choose a new closer. Veteran right-hander Luis Garcia is also a trade candidate and could be an option in the short term. Fellow veteran right-hander Hunter Strickland also has experience as a closer. Rookie Ben Joyce, who has pitched 17 1/3 scoreless innings in his last 15 games, appears to be the franchise’s closer of the future.
Estevez said he spoke with Joyce before Saturday’s game and gave him some advice.
“I told him there’s no need to change anything right now,” Estevez said. “Maybe I’ll close out some games, we’ll see, but don’t change anything. He needs to know and understand that he’s mean. There’s no need to do anything differently.”
