Los Angeles Angels: 3 free agents team should target
After another disappointing season in 2019, the Los Angeles Angels must continue to build around Mike Trout and acquire free agents.
The Los Angeles Angels finished the season 70-92, placing fourth in the American League West division. After missing the playoffs for the fifth straight season, the Angels need to take action.
Mike Trout is the best player in baseball, but he needs help. The Angels cannot expect Trout to dominate by himself. They need to continue to do a better job building around him.
Yes, the Angels have tried. They have signed former All-Star Justin Upton through 2022. Anaheim won the Shoei Ohtani sweepstakes prior to the 2018 season, but he has not been as dominant as everybody expected.
It is time for the Angels to up their payroll. Despite owning, Mike Trout’s, the largest contract in sports history, the Angels have more money to spend and should utilize this offseason as a time for major team improvements.
Addressing their starting rotations is a must. If it is either going after one of the bigger pitchers on the market or signing multiple mid-market starts, the Angels must make at least one move to strengthen their rotation.
Besides adding starting pitching, the Los Angeles Angels need to fill holes in their lineup and continue building around Mike Trout. Here are three free agents that the Los Angeles Angels should sign this offseason.
Hyun-Jin Ryu, LHP, LAD
After receiving and signing the qualifying offer from the Los Angeles Dodgers last season, it could be realistic for Hyun-Jin Ryu to travel a few miles across California and sign a multi-year extension with the Los Angeles Angels.
It was a great decision for Ryu to sign the one-year, $17.9 million contract with the Dodgers. On this deal, he put together the best season of his career.
Ryu was named to the 2019 NL All-Star team. He started more than 25 games in his career for the first time since 2014.
Through 29 starts, Ryu went 14-5 with a 2.32 ERA, striking out 163 batters over 182 2/3 innings. In the National League, he finished sixth in wins, first in ERA, and third in WHIP (1.01).
The soon-to-be 33-year-old was one of the most effective starters in the major league in 2019.
The Angels need a starter and Ryu seems like a viable option. He will most likely cost more than $20 million per season. Even though he is going to be expensive, but the Angels desperately need to acquire an ace.
Their starting pitchers combined to have the worst ERA in the American League. Ryu would automatically become the best starting pitchers on the Angels if they were to sign him.
It is possible that the Dodgers try to retain Ryu, but it seems that his decision will be made by the open market.
Josh Donaldson, 3B, ATL
2018 was an injury-ridden season for Josh Donaldson. Between the Toronto Blue Jays and the Cleveland Indians, the slugger only played in 52 games.
Last offseason, the Braves and Donaldson agreed on a one-year, $23 million deal, the same amount as his previous contract with the Toronto Blue Jays.
This was a “prove your worth deal.”
Donaldson certainly proved his worth this season, and he is definitely worth the risk of a multi-year contract. His health is no longer a concern, as he was impactful and healthy this whole season.
In 155 games in 2019, the 33-year-old hit 37 home runs, drove in 94 runs and had a .900 OPS. He was an explosive cleanup hitter for the Braves. It would be dangerous if the Los Angeles Angels batted Donaldson behind Trout. His RBI would certainly rise.
He will be looking for a deal of at least two years and close to the annual salary he made last season. The 2015 AL MVP returned to superstar status after his impressive 2019 campaign. A return to the American League could be realistic since the Angels need another bat and have money to spend.
The Angels can slide David Fletcher over to second base, where he can start. Keeping Fletcher in the lineup is important and his versatility will be beyond valuable. Fletcher’s ability to play multiple positions gives the Angels more flexibility when it comes to signing free agents.
Yasiel Puig, RF, CLE
Whichever team decides to sign Yasiel Puig will be taking a risk.
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His talent is undeniable, but there have always been speculations about his locker room presence and offseason behavior. The Dodgers shipped him to Cincinnati before the 2019 season. The Reads later traded him in a package to the Cleveland Indians in a three-way deal for Trevor Bauer.
However, the baseball community saw a different side of Puig in 2019. He tried to be a different type of person this season. He became a U.S. citizen and he volunteered and visited a camp for children with cancer.
Through 149 games with the Reds and the Indians, Puig hit 24 home runs, 30 doubles, drove in 84 Runs, and batted .267 with a .785 OPS. his RBIs were a career-high. The former All-Star put together a productive season, even though it was nothing special.
The Wild Horse makes sense for the Los Angeles Angels because they could use another power bat. He would be a dominate right fielder for them, having one of the strongest arms in the majors.
He would play right, Trout would man center, and Upton would play left field. Singing Puig would transition Brian Goodwin back into a bench role, giving their club more depth.
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Signing Puig would only make sense if the club does not pick up Kole Calhoun’s team option. Puig would be a big improvement defensively from Calhoun, as well as being a few years younger.