When Billy Eppler finalized the trade for Justin Upton to solidify left field for the wild card push, he had already calculated that pitching prospect Grayson Long was a fair price to pay for a one-month rental. Acquiring a bat as potent us Upton’s at the non-waiver deadline would likely have cost a much steeper price in prospects for the extra month of his services. Whatever your opinion of Grayson Long, he is not likely to come back and make the Angels regret “going for it” in the final month of the 2017 season.
The caveat, of course, is this may not be a rental at all.