The Phillies are picking up another starter as the trade deadline quickly approaches.
They are acquiring right-handed pitcher Noah Syndergaard from the Los Angeles Angels, per Ken Rosenthal of The Athletic. Jayson Stark added that the Phillies are trading Mickey Moniak along with 21-year-old outfield prospect Jadiel Sánchez.
Syndergaard, 29, signed a one-year, $21 million deal with the Angels last offseason, posting a 3.83 ERA in 15 starts. The former Met is coming off Tommy John surgery and is looking to parlay a good performance down the stretch into a multi-year contract.
His average fastball velocity is down from 98 mph pre-surgery in 2019 to 94 mph. Only six of his 15 starts this season have been for at least six innings.
Twelve of his 15 starts have been made on at least six days rest as the Angels run a six-man rotation to accommodate Shohei Ohtani. He has yet to make a start on normal rest. By acquiring Syndergaard, they must feel confident in his ability to ramp up his workload down the stretch.
In six seasons with the Mets, Syndergaard posted a 3.32 ERA and a 2.93 FIP and was one of the top starters in MLB. He’ll also reunite with former teammate Zack Wheeler.
“He’s been around a while now,” Wheeler told Phillies Nation’s Tim Kelly. “He’s a power arm. Honestly, I haven’t really followed him that much this year. So I don’t know how he’s doing, but yeah, he’s been around … he’s got the experience. He knows this division. And he’s a good pitcher.”
Syndergaard will likely slot into Bailey Falter’s spot in the rotation, which comes up again on Thursday against the Nationals. He was scheduled to pitch on Tuesday for the Angels.
Moniak, 24, had a strong spring training, but struggled at the plate this season following his recovery from a broken hand. Sanchez, 21, has a .715 OPS in the Florida Coast League this season.