After barely missing the playoffs in 2017, the Los Angeles Angels look to address some key positions to set them up to reach October baseball in 2018. Let’s take a look at some second baseman the Angels could target for the 2018 season.
A rather uneventful offseason has baseball fans begging for the hot stove to crank up the heat. We are just 10 days away from the Winter Meetings in Orlando, and that means that big trades and key free agent signings are mere days, hours or even minutes apart. One team with big offseason plans is the Los Angeles Angels.
With a few glaring holes scattered throughout its roster, we’ll look at second base and the players that Los Angeles could try to acquire or sign to take over the spot next season.
In 2017, the Angels platooned second base heavily. Cliff Pennington, Kaleb Cowart, Danny Espinosa and Brandon Phillips split time at the position. The Angels designated Espinosa for assignment in July, and both Phillips and Pennington hit free agency this offseason. It doesn’t look like that the Angels will re-sign either player. That leaves Cowart as the only one of the four to remain on the Angels roster in 2018.
Second base was a massive hole for the Los Angeles Angels in 2017. According to Fangraphs.com, the Angels ranked in the bottom three of many offensive categories last season. They ranked 28th in fWAR and batting average. They sat 29th in on-base percentage and wRC+. The Angels ranked worst in baseball in slugging percentage and wOBA.
Clearly, the Angels need to improve at second base in 2018. Here are a few players the Angels could target to play second base next season.