While the Dodgers were busy dominating headlines with the blockbuster signing of Kyle Tucker, the Angels quietly made a move of their own - one that flew under the radar but could end up being a sneaky difference-maker. In a late-night three-team trade with the Rays and Reds, Los Angeles acquired outfielder Josh Lowe, addressing one of their most pressing offseason needs.
Let’s break it down: the Angels received Lowe from Tampa Bay, the Rays landed infielder/outfielder Gavin Lux and right-hander Chris Clark, and the Reds picked up lefty reliever Brock Burke. On paper, it’s not the kind of deal that stops the baseball world in its tracks - but for the Angels, it’s a calculated swing with real upside.
Why Josh Lowe?
The Angels’ outfield has been a question mark all winter. Taylor Ward was traded.
Mike Trout, as talented as ever, carries the weight of a growing injury history. And while Jo Adell finally showed flashes of his potential in 2025, his inconsistency over the years has made it tough to fully trust him as an everyday solution.
Top prospect Nelson Rada is exciting, but he’s still developing. The need for a more stable, athletic option was clear.
Enter Josh Lowe.
Yes, Lowe has had his share of struggles - especially staying healthy. But let’s not forget what he looked like when things were clicking.
Back in 2023, he posted an .835 OPS with 20 home runs and 32 stolen bases over 135 games. That kind of 20/30 potential, paired with above-average defense and athleticism, is exactly what the Angels needed.
His 3.7 rWAR that season wasn’t a fluke - it was a glimpse of what he can be when healthy and locked in.
Injuries, particularly oblique issues, have slowed him down since then. But heading into 2026, Lowe was reportedly optimistic about a bounce-back campaign. The Angels are betting that a fresh start and a consistent role could unlock that version of him again.
What They Gave Up
To make the deal happen, the Angels parted with two arms. Chris Clark heads to the Rays after a season in which he posted a 5.29 ERA across 144.2 innings in the minors.
The ERA wasn’t pretty, but the strikeout numbers were encouraging. Clark hasn’t made his big league debut yet, and Tampa Bay is known for getting the most out of pitchers with raw tools, so it’s a logical fit.
Brock Burke, meanwhile, goes to the Reds. The Angels had claimed him off waivers last season, and while he pitched fairly well in a limited role, he wasn’t exactly a cornerstone piece. Moving him in exchange for a player with Lowe’s ceiling is the kind of low-risk, high-reward move that rebuilding or retooling teams should be making.
The Bigger Picture
Let’s be clear: this isn’t a “Kyle Tucker” move. But it doesn’t have to be.
The Angels don’t need to outspend the Dodgers to improve - they need to make smart, targeted moves that raise their floor and give them a chance to compete if things break right. If Lowe bounces back and Trout stays on the field, suddenly that outfield looks a lot more viable. Add in Zach Neto’s continued development and whatever the Angels can squeeze from their rotation, and this team starts to look more competitive than it did a week ago.
It’s a gamble, no doubt. But it’s a calculated one - and one that shows the Angels aren’t just sitting back while the rest of the league makes noise.
They’re trying to find value where others might not be looking. If Lowe can stay healthy and rediscover his 2023 form, this trade could end up being one of the more underrated moves of the offseason.