The Phillies have announced that they have acquired Noah Syndergaard from the Angels. Outfielders Mickey Moniak and Jadiel Sanchez will head to Los Angeles in return.
With the Phillies in the thick of a playoff race and the Angels well out of it, they make good trade partners. In fact, this is the second deal of the day between the Angels and Phillies, after they already swapped Brandon Marsh for Logan O’Hoppe.
Syndergaard, 29, was an excellent pitcher for the Mets from 2015 to 2019, with a 3.31 ERA in that time along with a 49.1% ground ball rate, 26.4% strikeout rate and 5.6% walk rate. Unfortunately, Tommy John surgery wiped out his 2020 and almost all of his 2021, with “Thor” returning to pitch just two innings late in the season.
Despite almost no action for two years, the Mets extended an $18.4MM qualifying offer to Syndergaard, which he turned down. The Angels decided to bet on his previous track record and signed him to a one-year, $21MM deal, also surrendering a draft pick in the process.
Syndergaard is having a quality season for the Halos, though not quite up to his previous standard. Through 15 starts and 80 innings on the year, he has a 3.83 ERA, 44.9% strikeout rate, 6.5% walk rate but much-diminished 18.9% strikeout rate. His velocity isn’t quite as strong as before and that strikeout dip is significant, but he’s still filling up the strike zone and keeping runs off the board.
For the Phillies, their rotation has been without Zach Eflin for the past month or so due to a knee injury, and he was transferred to the 60-day injured list earlier today. Syndergaard will take his spot in the rotation next to Aaron Nola, Zack Wheeler, Kyle Gibson and Ranger Suarez.
For the Angels, Moniak essentially becomes a replacement for Marsh, who was dealt to the Phillies earlier today. The first overall pick of the 2016 draft, he hasn’t quite lived up to his prospect hype thus far. In 162 career games over the past three seasons, he’s slashed just .129/.214/.172. However, he can still be optioned for the remainder of this season and another season as well, meaning the Angels can give him plenty of time in Triple-A to try to get back on track. He also had less than a year of MLB service time coming into this season, meaning they can keep him on the team for years to come.
As for Sanchez, 21, the switch-hitting outfielder was selected by the Phillies in the 12th round of the 2019 draft. He landed the #19 spot on Baseball America’s list of top Philly prospects at their most recent update, with BA noting his excellent exit velocity in the minors. In 38 A-ball games this year, he’s hitting .236/.286/.429, wRC+ of 101.
Ken Rosenthal of The Athletic first reported that the Phillies were close to a deal for Syndergaard. Jayson Stark, also of The Athletic, was first on the return (Twitter links).
Kruk's Beer League
Depends on what they’re giving up…
Cap & Crunch
MM I hear …2nd most popular MM in Ana now
candymaldonado
A title briefly held by Martin Maldonado and Mike Mayers
Cap & Crunch
Imagine how much money prime John Candelaria would have gotten today
PhanaticDuck26
I’m nervous
Francys01
Noah Syndergaard is back in the NL East. Good job by the Phillies.
DakotaJoe
Giving up Moniak for Thor is a steal for the Phillies, just a salary dump for Halos. Didn’t care for the other Phillies trades, especially giving up O’Hoppe for Marsh..
hiflew
Well then look at it differently. Giving up O’Hoppe for Thor and swapping Moniak for Marsh.
darylict
Brandon Marsh was #73 on that list just last year – O’Hoppe is #83 – they may actually still be more comparable than we think – prospects are after all, just educated guesses
GoogleMe
Marsh was higher than that on other lists. He has not lived up to expectations. A 36% SO rate for a guy with little power is extremely concerning. He is really bad at chasing.
As an Angel fan, I am good with this move. O’Hoppe has more power and strikes out a ton less plus he plays the premiere defensive position. He is worth a chance. O’Hoppe may not pan out, but it is unlikely that Marsh ever figures out to stop swinging at balls 2 feet out of the strike zone.
lemonlyman
It’s not like CF isn’t a premier defensive position as well, and Marsh is a great defender. I think both teams did well, which is kind of the point of making a trade.
GoogleMe
I would hardly consider a 2 month rental on a slightly below average pitcher a steal. Moniak did show signs of figuring it at in the minors this year, but stunk it up at the major league level again. A familiar scene that Angel fans know all to well with Adell and Marsh. Angels weren’t going to sign Noah again with average stats and declining skills. A flyer on Moniak and change of scenery may make a difference to this former #1 overall pick. It is a long shot, but stranger things have happened.
PadreFan19
Lol
dmbphils27
LETS GOOOOOO!
beaine
oh no
Oldschoolandthemets1980
It’s done for Moniak and another prospect
cpdpoet
Hope you’re right….Moniak deserves a change of scenery………
PhanaticDuck26
was thinking with Marsh now in the fold, Moniak would go for pitching. Surely they discussed this possibility when they swapped Marsh for OHoppe.
When it was a game.
They just bounced him around. Poor job on player development like angels are doing with adell. Not a sure thing they will be stars but didn’t do them any favors.
neo
They didn’t have to pay someone to take Moniak away? That’s a strong start to a deal.
MaNameIsYeffff
Handful of teams would have claimed him had he been DFA’d. They were never going to have to pay to ditch a 1.1 making $700k with 5 years left of control no matter how bad he’s been.
orange2001
The Phillies are now on the hook for the Syndergaard contract.
aragon
Just $7 mil or so
AndyMeyer
Get it done
Samuel
DD has done a miraculous job in 2 years.
His moves should be analyzed in graduate schools.
Joeyg2033
Really? He has a team 7 games over .500 that is paying a luxury tax…didn’t make the playoffs last year and will be lucky to make them this year. Does that sound like success to you? Any buffoon gm can go out and sign exorbitant free agents. It’s the truly great masters like Alex Anthopolis who can cobble together a broken team when their best player goes down and win a world series. And also sign home grown talents like Acuna, Albies and now Riley long term for under market value. Noah for Moniak? Tells you all you need to know about Syndrgaard.
Samuel
Joey……
He took a team that had a failed rebuild. They’d signed Harper and traded for Segura trying to compete. They had a so-so starting staff, an historically terrible bullpen, few young players of worth, and one of the worst farm systems in MLB.
Yes he went over the Luxury Tax. As he said during the offseason – all he could do was spend money. The Phillies had no players they could afford to trade. He made do with what he had to work with, and has done a remarkable job. He’ll get that team under the Luxury Tax.
–
I like and respect Alex Anthopolis. Have nothing bad to say about him since he learned his lesson in Toronto. But lets get the facts straight – he was NOT in the Atlanta organization for that rebuild. Acuna, Albies, Riley, and others were brought in and trained by the previous administration. Donbrowski didn’t inherit players like that to sign to extensions.
Ignorant Son-of-a-b
Which was the last team to make the playoffs who had also fired their manager during the same season ?
bighiggy
Maybe cards 3 years ago?
UWPSUPERFAN77
Tick Toc! Tick TOC! Your time is up!
Dustyslambchops23
Uh oh
Holy Cow!
That’s a HOFer trade.
Stone
Best wishes to Moniak, hopefully he’ll find his stride in LA
RyanD44
IF Phillies make the playoffs, Nola, Wheeler, Syndergaard is tough in a series.. too bad their defense will be on the field. If they strike everyone out they should be fine.
Samuel
That’s juvenile and moronic.
Stay with Fansided.
bucsfan0004
Bohm makes Pedro Alvarez look like Brooks Robinson in the field
candymaldonado
Too bad Noah isn’t a strikeout pitcher anymore.
chound
That isn’t an “if” anyone is going to worry about.
VonPurpleHayes
Defense improves drastically. Marsh in CF. Segura coming back moves Didi to the bench as Stott takes over SS. The Phillies aren’t the team to beat by any means, but they are a threat.
AndyMeyer
@Von
Robertson provides the bullpen another arm and they cut dead weight by DFAing Herrera and Familia
Good day for the Phillies
VonPurpleHayes
Yea. Familia getting DFAed was a long time coming.
DarkSide830
Moniak ain’t good.
JimmyForum
Nail in that cardinal coffin
phillies012tg
Thank god moniak is gone what a disappointment
BashBroJoe
Idk who the other prospect is but if Moniak is the headliner it’s a good deal.
Chemo850
Moniak? LMAO. If I’m the Angels owner I’m firing the GM and then I’m firing myself.
mcsarcastic
As an Angel fan…that would be tremendous!
candymaldonado
It’s a 2 month rental of a mid-rotation starter with an ERA near 4. How much do you think the Angels could ask for exactly?
YourDreamGM
Expensive starter
Chemo850
Gee I don’t know. Someone without a negative .04 WAR on the season maybe? I get the rental aspect, but this return could not have been any worse. The only time Moniak adds value is when he’s not on the field.
NineChampionships
I would certainly hope for a better package than this.
Chemo850
I would have even settled for an unknown fringe relief pitching prospect who fans could at least have hope for, but an outfielder who we all already know for a fact is a bust? C’mon man. No excuse for this one at all. This was clearly the worst trade made out of any team before the deadline. I’m not even an Angels fan and I’m annoyed by this level of ineptitude.
bighiggy
I’m shocked no other team beat this offer. Disappointed the cards didn’t give him a look. But what am I saying, cards did very little. Kudos to the Phillies getting him for very little
ElectricJ
Not exactly a Phils fan but they are making same serious moves. Can’t wait until Thor pitches against the Mets.
AndyMeyer
Smell ya later
Inside Out
Any trade dumping moniak is good
metsfan1992
Ewww lol
HardensBeardHasFleas
4th starter for Micky and prospects is decent. Like wat dom did at deadline. Defense, pitching. Segura returns Harper to follow.
UWPSUPERFAN77
They gotherdun! Me BAD!
BucksPackersBrewersWow!
Mickey Mouse for Thor. Avengers assemble!
baseballguy_128
1
iamrightyouarewrong
Yes!!!! O’Hoppe & Moniak for a potential long term CF and a solid starting pitching rental is a risk worth taking!!!!
Good luck in Anaheim Mickey Moniak!!! Great kid, but Marsh makes much more sense for the Phils….
Evan Siggson
So we basically got Marsh back ? lol
iamrightyouarewrong
I think Marsh has a more realistic upside at this point, but I wouldn’t count out Moniak.
Plays his tail off, looked like a starting major league outfielder throughout spring training this year, but unfortunately broke his hand on a HBP
Philly 6
Unbelievably great day for the Phillies.
bhd360
If all it took was MM and a fringe guy I’m going to need one hell of an excuse from Ross Atkins as to why the Blue Jays didn’t get this done. I mean, come on.
orange2001
As an Angels fan, I’m with you…
i like al conin
Salary dump
kje76
If the original trade were Thor and Marsh for O’Hoppe, MM, and another prospect, would everyone have been more comfortable? Or would the frustration explosion still have spewed forth?
Rsk3228
Honestly I would have been more comfortable with that. The Thor deal takes some of the sting from the o’hoppe deal.
RichieofAshburn
Depends on the other prospect. But so far so good
VonPurpleHayes
Okay. All needs addressed good deadline. I didn’t like O’Hoppe for Marsh because I thought it would decrease the chance of landing a SP. Thor isn’t great and he’s just a rental, but he shores up the rotation. Good job by DD overall. With Segura and Harper coming back, Phils can make some nose.
Samuel
Congrats Von.
That Phillies clubhouse has to be jacked up!
VonPurpleHayes
Lol noise not nose.
phillyphan81
I smelled that coming…
VonPurpleHayes
You must be Nostrildamus.
Halo11Fan
The initial deal was to get Sandoval, then the Phillies threw in Moniak which lowered the value of the deal.
At this point the Angels gave up Thor for less than nothing. We’ll see who the prospect is.
DoritosLocosTaco
The angels would get nothing if they let him walk at the end of the year. I don’t understand how they got less than nothing. Let him use the roster spot and prove himself over the next month. If he’s good, then it’s a win. If he’s bad, we’ll it’s no different than having thor. I think you’re also missing the big picture- the season is over, we want to lose games to get a higher draft pick.
big boi
Man did my jays where disappointing today
User 2976510776
I wonder if they couldve gotten Groshens from the Blue Jays b4 they traded. him to miami. He seems a more promising prospect. And the angels dont need another OF. They waited too long on pulling the trigger
BigGarg
Dang, Philies broke up the Number 1 overall pick monster duo of Moniak and Appel.
kje76
Apparently, the second prospect is OF Jadiel Sanchez.
yamsi1912
I’m beginning to think Perry Minasian is retardid.
Samuel
Maybe. But he was able to spell better than you by the 4th grade.
goob
It remains to be seen how retar did.
yamsi1912
I’m beginning to think Perry Minasian isn’t very good at his job.
aragon
Just now? He is a perfect fit for Arte Morono!
NineChampionships
I thought this was clear when they shelled out a quarter billion for Rendon instead of extending Ohtani.
aragon
Why such a Minasian return? What a dumb GM for the dumb owner!
Samuel
Image what his other offers were.
Emoney123
21-year-old outfield prospect Jadiel Sanchez
aragon
Still nothing!
RandalGrichuksStubble
Ewwww…..
Philadelphia.
libertybell444
Well that deal is a no brainer. Wonder why it took so long.
Anyway, bye Mickey. At least he was a better draft pick than Jeff Jackson.
longines64
And Anthony Hewitt
libertybell444
Bye Mickey.
Oldschoolandthemets1980
Thor and wheeler on the mound to face us at citifield coming up.
meangreandancingmachine
The Phillies did what the Cardinals were supposed to do. Nicely done, Phililes.
manfraud
Funny how this trade and the Marsh trade weren’t combined into 1 trade
orange2001
I think it was in the works, then Perry Minasian must have felt that he might receive a stronger package elsewhere (i.e., Blue Jays) and negotiated for Thor separately.
orange2001
If this was the best offer the Amgels received for Syndergaard, I’d hate to see what the Blue Jays or Yankees were offering?!
ArianaGrandSlam
They must not have heard the news that Soto’s been traded to Padres.
prov356
So, for Thor we got two under performing AAA players. I just heard we dished Iglesias to the Braves too.
orange2001
For Jesse Chavez and Tucker Davidson. Total salary dump for Arte.
the kutch
Dear Mickey Moniak
We’re sorry we are absolutely terrible at player development…Here’s your do over..Go get ‘em, Kid
Signed
The Phillies
stroh
I’ve seen him pitch multiple times vs Stros this year. He’s a shell of the Syndergaard from the Mets days but can still go 6 innings.
Ham Fighter
Just what the angels need another failed prospect in the outfield
strat272
Angels got hosed on this trade
ElDo0derino
“Through 15 starts and 80 innings on the year, he has a 3.83 ERA, 44.9% strikeout rate, 6.5% walk rate but much-diminished 18.9% strikeout rate….” that makes sense.
taran7
Come on, man. You can’t say “slashed” .129.
It has to be something like “tapped” or “dribbled.”
shanefalco50
Thor will definitely help the Phils make the playoffs Nothing else matters, NOTHING ELSE MATTERS. The three trades the Phils made make the roster stronger That’s all that matters . THAT’S
ALL THAT MATTERS !!
shanefalco50
WHAT IF THOR CAN BECOME THOR AGAIN??
User 2976510776
The angels are playing it like “Between the Iglesias and Syndergaard deals, the Angels freed up about $59 million worth of salary commitments.” As if theyre washed up and lucky to have teams pick up the contracts they just signed b4 this yr. I didnt think syndergard would have problems having teams take on his remaining prorated salary. And it was off tye books after this yr anyway so its no savings regarding upcoming free agents
aragon
No matter how much money they have saved Ohtani would nof sign an extension with such a terrible team. And if they decided to dump salary or to reset the roster why wait till the last minute to trade away players getting vertually nothing in return?
Ignorant Son-of-a-b
Basically down to Phillies vs. Cardinals for last playoff spot ??? I’d put my money on the Cards. If they still had Mike Schildt as manager they would be in first place right now.
shanefalco50
You lose..
shanefalco50
Moniak will be everything they wanted Marsh to be without the hair Kommiefornia is the place you ought to be
Halo4Life
Not sure why everyone is so enamored with Thor. He’s been decent at best. I like Moniak I think the potential is still there.
MM and Hoppe. Good deals for the Angels. A little disappointed in the Iglesias deal, but the salary dump was needed.