Chicago White Sox starting pitcher Lucas Giolito throws to the Minnesota Twins in the second inning of a baseball game, Sunday, July 23, 2023, in Minneapolis. (AP Photo/Bruce Kluckhohn)
BY GREG BEACHAM contributing
ANAHEIM, Calif. (AP) — The Los Angeles Angels acquired right-handed pitchers Lucas Giolito and Reynaldo López from the Chicago White Sox on Wednesday night, signaling their determination to contend for a playoff spot with Shohei Ohtani.
The Angels traded two minor league prospects — left-hander Ky Bush and catcher Edgar Quero — to the White Sox.
Los Angeles announced the deal shortly after Sports Illustrated cited an unnamed source in reporting the Angels will not trade Ohtani, the 2021 AL MVP and two-way superstar. Ohtani will be an unrestricted free agent this winter, but the Angels are pulling out all the stops to contend for their first playoff appearance in Ohtani’s six major league seasons.
Giolito is the centerpiece of the deal for the Halos, who were eager to add an experienced starting pitcher. He was among the top available names on the market as an impending free agent unlikely to re-sign with the White Sox.
Giolito is 6-6 with a 3.79 ERA this season in 21 starts for Chicago. His 131 strikeouts are 10th in the AL, and he has limited opponents to a .211 average in his last nine starts.
Giolito is a Santa Monica native who pitched alongside Atlanta’s Max Fried and St. Louis’ Jack Flaherty in high school in Studio City. Giolito spent his past seven big league seasons in Chicago’s rotation, winning 59 games.
López will bolster the Angels’ inconsistent bullpen. He is 2-5 with a 4.29 ERA and four saves in 43 appearances this season.