Angels acquire second baseman Beckham from White Sox

The Los Angeles Angels announced that they have acquired second baseman Gordon Beckham from the Chicago White Sox for a player to be named later or cash considerations. Beckham's spot on the 40-man roster will be opened due to the Angels placing starter Garrett Richards on the 60-day disabled list with a torn patellar tendon in his left knee. He will miss six to nine months with the injury. 

Beckham will serve in a bench role with the Angels, according to Jeff Fletcher of the Orange Country Register. The University of Georgia alum is hitting .221/.263/.336 with seven homers and 36 runs batted in over his 442 plate appearances this season. The 27-year-old and former eighth overall pick has yet to reach his potential, as his career 83 OPS+ suggests that he is 17 percent worse than the league-average hitter. He has a .244/.306/.374 career line, averaging 13 homers and 61 runs batted every 162 games. 

FanGraphs.com suggests that the middle infielder plays average defense at second base, where he has spent 5,495 2/3 innings of his 6,386 2/3 career innings. He was drafted as a third baseman, however, the White Sox initially groomed him as a shortstop. He can play all three positions for the Angels if need be. 

Beckham is under control through the next season. He is arbitration eligible for the final time in 2015. This year, in a one-year contract with Chicago that avoided arbitration, Beckham made $4.175 million. Even in a down season, the Angels can expect Beckham to make more money next season as a third year arbitration player, so he could be a non-tendered this offseason, which would give Beckham his release.

Beckham was rumored to be dealt this trade deadline season, but July came and went without him being traded. It is unclear if the Angels claimed Beckham off waivers or he passed through, but if they did claim him, it would mean that every other American League team passed on him, since Los Angeles has the best record in the league. He will add to their defense, and depending on the return, may have gotten a really good player to add to their playoff run. 

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