Mike Moustakas Excited To ‘Join A Contender’ Following Trade To Angels

The Los Angeles Angels acquired Mike Moustakas from the Colorado Rockies this past week, shoring up some infield depth that has dealt with a number of injuries.

Anthony Rendon and Zach Neto are out for varying periods of time and Gio Urshela is done for the year. Manager Phil Nevin has needed to shuffle around some guys, while also accounting for the immense struggles that first baseman Jared Walsh endured in his return to Major League action.

The other trade general manager Perry Minasian made was for Eduardo Escobar, who, when clicking, is a serious threat in the lineup. Moustakas, on the other hand, will see more action at first base and is riding an extremely productive month of June.

Finding a bit of a resurgence with the Rockies in recent weeks was enough to make him a trade target, and the 34-year-old finds himself in a position to play meaningful baseball, per Dennis Georgatos of the O.C. Register:

“You know, they gave me an opportunity to come back and play Major League Baseball this year, and I’ll be forever grateful for that,” Moustakas said in a tip of the cap to the Rockies’ organization… “Obviously, we didn’t play as well as we should have and wanted to, but that’s a great group of guys that’s going to be a good team in the future.

“That being said, that’s kind of part of the business that we’re in, and I get to come over here, make some new friends and join a contender. It’s exciting, man. We all play this game to win.”

After underwhelming with the Cincinnati Reds from 2020 through last season, Moustakas found himself waiting it out through most of the offseason without a club. But the Rockies took a flier on him, and he’s shown a bit of his old self this year:

“I know I can play this game still, especially when I’m healthy,” he said. “The last couple of years haven’t been great for me, but I feel good. I feel healthy.”

With four homers, 17 RBI and 21 runs scored through 139 plate appearances, Moustakas joins an Angels club that has power stacked at the top of the order. Much of what he’ll be asked to do is lengthen their lineup, while providing some consistency from the left side of the plate.

The addition of Moustaks to the club also made Mike Trout happy after they developed a friendship previously:

“What a great dude, great player,” said Angels star Mike Trout, who has known Moustakas since they played together for Team USA years ago. “I’ve gotten to know him over the years. Just one of those things where you come up through the draft process, then you play with each other, build a friendship and we go our separate ways. Now we’re teammates, so it’s pretty cool.”

Moustakas grew up in the L.A. area and is back home with an opportunity to contend for a playoff spot, his first taste of that since the 2019 season when he was with the Milwaukee Brewers.

Angels rookie Logan O’Hoppe making progress with shoulder

Logan O’Hoppe joined the Angels as their new No. 1 prospect last trade deadline and received the nod to join the club as part of their Opening Day roster prior to this season. Through 53 at-bats, he notched an .886 on-base plus slugging.

His hot start gave some life to the Angels, but he, unfortunately, suffered a torn left labrum on April 20, putting him out for at least four to six months, but all signs have him on a solid path back following surgery.