Los Angeles Angels walking tightrope with future salaries
By David Hill
The Los Angeles Angels have done what they needed to do this offseason. They have addressed their pitching staff, bringing Noah Syndergaard and Michael Lorenzen into the fold to improve the rotation. Aaron Loup and Raisel Iglesias will improve their bullpen, giving the Angels the beginnings of a solid relief corps that they have not had in years. While there is more work to be done, the Angels’ pitching staff is better than it has been in years.
However, the Angels have to keep an eye towards the future. With Shohei Ohtani coming ever closer to free agency, they are looking to balance their future payroll against a potential extension for their two way star.
The Angels are trying to thread a needle with the pitching they've signed this winter (Syndergaard, Loup, Lorenzen, Iglesias) -- they are trying to augment their staff for 2022, 2023 while also trying to maintain payroll flexibility for looming Shohei Ohtani mega-deal talks.
— Buster Olney (@Buster_ESPN) December 1, 2021
Los Angeles Angels being mindful of future extensions
Ohtani has one year left on his two year extension that he signed with the Angels. At $5.5 million for this season, he is one of the great bargains in baseball. That will not be the case going forward.
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The Angels are certainly mindful of that. Ohtani had a historic season in 2021, posting a 158 OPS+ while belting 46 homers and stealing 26 bases. On the mound, he posted a 3.18 ERA and a 1.090 WHiP in his 130.1 innings, striking out 156 batters with just 44 walks.
The Angels are also in uncharted territory when it comes to a possible extension. Not only are they looking to extend one of the more dynamic offensive players in the game, but they are also looking to keep their staff ace. A contract for Ohtani will have to factor in both sides, which will only push his price tag up.
And yet, there is pressure to win. The Angels need to actually put together a pitching staff that is more than Ohtani and a prayer. They may have done that with Syndergaard and Lorenzen, but they will also have to factor in the future. Ohtani wants to win, and that involves surrounding him with the players that can make that happen.
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The Los Angeles Angels are trying to balance the present and future. They will walk that tightrope until Shohei Ohtani signs an extension.