The Los Angeles Angels are on a roll. Winners of six straight, they’ve surged to 23–25, just five games out of first in the AL West and three games back of a Wild Card spot — all without injured superstar Mike Trout. Amid their climb, the Angels made a roster-clearing move Thursday, trading first baseman Ryan Noda to the Boston Red Sox for cash considerations.
From the Angels’ perspective, the deal was about roster flexibility. Needing space on the 40-man roster to continue shuffling bullpen depth, Noda — buried in Triple-A Salt Lake behind emerging starter Nolan Schanuel — became expendable. Despite his major league experience, Noda struggled mightily in 2024 with a .148/.364/.270 line, 34.4% strikeout rate, and the Bees’ lowest batting average. Still, his elite 20.1% walk rate and strong glove at first base made him a passable depth option.
Los Angeles Angels Trade Ryan Noda Amid Hot Streak, Red Sox Address First Base Crisis
Boston, meanwhile, had urgent motivation. The Red Sox are just a half-game ahead of the Angels in the Wild Card race at 25–26, but their roster is in flux. First baseman Triston Casas is out for the season, and Rafael Devers declined a request to shift across the diamond (via MLB on FOX), leaving Boston scrambling. Utility players like Abraham Toro and Nick Sogard have tried to fill the void, with mixed results.
Noda, a 2023 Rule 5 success story with the A’s, offers some hope. That year, he hit .229/.364/.406 with 16 homers and a 122 wRC+, despite a high strikeout rate. While he’ll start in Triple-A Worcester, Boston will be watching closely.
For the Angels, it’s a minor transaction amid a major upswing. For the Red Sox, it’s a low-risk gamble to stabilize a shaky position.