Los Angeles Angels: Three free agents to target this offseason
By Nick Stevens
The Los Angeles Angels could use a defensive upgrade.
The loss of shortstop Andrelton Simmons opens up a hole in an otherwise respectable infield for the Los Angeles Angels.
Jared Walsh is set to take over full-time first base duties, with Anthony Rendon manning the hot corner and David Fletcher at either shortstop or second base, depending on what the Angels do in free agency.
There are a few different avenues the Angels can take to address the infield. Didi Gregorius is coming off a strong 2020 season and would add another productive bat to a lineup that’s already one of the better offensive lineups in the American League.
Marcus Semien is also an option, unless he truly believes he’s worth a $100+ million contract as his agent recently suggested.
But the Angels would greatly benefit from improving their defense and one name stands out above the rest in that regard, former St. Louis Cardinals second baseman Kolten Wong.
Wong was tied for the second-most Defensive Runs Saved among second basemen last season with six and is coming off back-to-back Gold Glove seasons with the Cardinals. While his bat is league-average, he consistently gets on base and rarely strikes out.
Wong is slightly younger than Andrelton Simmons and provides a little more speed on the basepaths, so it would be an upgrade for the Angels, especially if Simmons’ glove continues to decline.
Can the Angels also use the fact that they just signed Kolten Wong’s brother, Kean Wong, to help sway his decision? It couldn’t hurt.
Next. Ohtani to remain a two-way player. dark
The Los Angeles Angels have multiple holes to fill on this roster, but these three free agents would provide a significant upgrade as they attempt to give the baseball world what we have been waiting for, playoff Mike Trout.