Los Angeles Angels: Three free agents to target this offseason

The Los Angeles Angels need a lot of bullpen help.

It’s just as important for the Los Angeles Angels to improve their bullpen as it is to improve their starting rotation this offseason.

Of the 10 Angels relievers who logged the most innings in 2020, only four finished with an ERA under 4.00 and this unit tied for the MLB lead with the most blown saves. It was an uninspiring group without many young bright spots to point to.

A high amount of turnover is certainly likely over the next few weeks. With plenty of quality bullpen arms available, the Angels shouldn’t have much of an issue finding upgrades. One slightly underrated name who could be a solid get is former Minnesota Twins reliever Trevor May.

Few pitchers in baseball have the swing and miss stuff that May possesses. Among qualified relievers, May ranked sixth in the majors with a strikeout rate of 14.66/9 IP. He ranked in the 99th percentile in whiff percentage and 98th percentile in strikeout percentage.

May pitched much better than what his surface numbers suggest. While his 3.86 ERA in 2020 was decent, May’s xFIP of 2.74 suggests he didn’t have much help behind him. His .201 expected batting average was 24 points lower than his .225 average against and his .326 BABIP was the highest mark of his career since 2015. Perhaps a little bad luck played a role in his good but not great season.

May’s four-seamer averages 96+ mph and produced a 47% whiff rate last season and his slider has emerged as his second-most used pitch, limiting hitters to a sub-.180 batting average in each of the last two seasons.

He’s a weapon out of the bullpen that may not get the same amount of hype as some of the top relief names on the market, but would be a significant upgrade for the Los Angeles Angels.