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Three Value Deals for the LA Angels to Make

By Vincent Page |
ANAHEIM, CA - OCTOBER 22: Owner Arte Moreno and general manager Billy Eppler applaud as The Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim Introduce new team manager Brad Ausmus during a press conference at Angel Stadium on October 22, 2018 in Anaheim, California. (Photo by Jayne Kamin-Oncea/Getty Images)
ANAHEIM, CA - OCTOBER 22: Owner Arte Moreno and general manager Billy Eppler applaud as The Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim Introduce new team manager Brad Ausmus during a press conference at Angel Stadium on October 22, 2018 in Anaheim, California. (Photo by Jayne Kamin-Oncea/Getty Images)
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ANAHEIM, CA – OCTOBER 22: Owner Arte Moreno and general manager Billy Eppler applaud as The Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim Introduce new team manager Brad Ausmus during a press conference at Angel Stadium on October 22, 2018 in Anaheim, California. (Photo by Jayne Kamin-Oncea/Getty Images)
ANAHEIM, CA – OCTOBER 22: Owner Arte Moreno and general manager Billy Eppler applaud as The Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim Introduce new team manager Brad Ausmus during a press conference at Angel Stadium on October 22, 2018 in Anaheim, California. (Photo by Jayne Kamin-Oncea/Getty Images) /

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The LA Angels are not going to be big spenders this offseason. However, there are still deals to be dealt, and trades to be made. With one of the best free agent classes ever, there a plenty of value deals the Angels can make this winter.

With so much money invested in Albert Pujols, Justin Upton, and Mike Trout, the LA Angels do not have a ton to spend this offseason. Multiple reports say that Billy Eppler will have around $25 million to spend, and while that is enough to sign some big names (i.e Patrick Corbin), the offseason will be another of Eppler making small moves and hoping they pay off.

Last year, Zack Cozart was a value deal despite coming off a breakout year, and obviously Shohei Ohtani was the best deal in baseball. Now, there is no Ohtani for Eppler to bring in this year, but there are still a good number of names, even former All Stars, that the Angels might be able to bring in to fill out their roster.

This article is all about value deals that Eppler can make for players who can come in, get the job done, and might even offer some upside.

ANAHEIM, CA – MAY 12: Matt Holliday #7 scores on a single by Matt Adams #32 of the St. Louis Cardinals as Carlos Perez #58 of the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim runs after a errant throw congratulated during the ninth inning of a baseball game between the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim and the St. Louis Cardinals at Angel Stadium of Anaheim on May 12, 2016 in Anaheim, California. (Photo by Sean M. Haffey/Getty Images)
ANAHEIM, CA – MAY 12: Matt Holliday #7 scores on a single by Matt Adams #32 of the St. Louis Cardinals as Carlos Perez #58 of the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim runs after a errant throw congratulated during the ninth inning of a baseball game between the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim and the St. Louis Cardinals at Angel Stadium of Anaheim on May 12, 2016 in Anaheim, California. (Photo by Sean M. Haffey/Getty Images) /

Matt Adams, 1B/DH

Matt Adams does not jump off the table. His slash line of .239/.309/.477 is not inspiring at all for the 30-year old with little to no defensive upside. However, he may be just what the Angels need for the upcoming 2019 campaign.

For Matt Adams, it is all about his splits. For his career, Adams is a .279 hitter against right-handed pitching. Against lefties? He is barely above the Mendoza-line with an abysmal .208 batting average. That is awful for a major league baseball player, and hurts his value going into free agency.

Related Story. Possible First Base Targets for Angels

And that plays directly into the Angels’ favor. With Albert Pujols deteriorating before our very eyes, he will need help as he tries to play first base consistently. Coming off another season that ended early because of injury, it is unlikely Pujols can play even 100 games in the field. In years past, he would have been able to just play designated hitter but with Shohei Ohtani in line to be the everyday designated hitter, that won’t be an option.

That is where Matt Adams comes in. Pujols, in his career, has been better against left-handed pitching, and Adams is obviously better against right-handed pitchers. That makes an easy platoon for Brad Ausmus, and one that could give the Angels a threat no matter which arm the pitcher throws with.

ANAHEIM, CA – JULY 12: Mike Trout #27 and Martin Maldonado #12 of the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim celebrate defeating the Seattle Mariners 11-2 in a game at Angel Stadium on July 12, 2018 in Anaheim, California. (Photo by Sean M. Haffey/Getty Images)
ANAHEIM, CA – JULY 12: Mike Trout #27 and Martin Maldonado #12 of the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim celebrate defeating the Seattle Mariners 11-2 in a game at Angel Stadium on July 12, 2018 in Anaheim, California. (Photo by Sean M. Haffey/Getty Images) /

Martin Maldonado, Catcher

Yes, former LA Angels catcher Martin Maldonado could be one of their best signings this offseason. Every Angels fan knows what Maldonado can do. He will play great defense, despite his numbers slipping slightly in 2018. Throwing out baserunners is his best asset, as he threw out a league-best 49% of attempted base stealers last year. For comparisons sake, the league average is 28%.

Many Halo fans were upset when Maldonado was traded to the Astros at the deadline. However, no one would complain if the Angels would be able to bring him back on a short term deal. His value likely fell in the postseason, where his defense was shaky against the Houston Astros in the ALCS.

Maldonado also does not bring a ton to offer on offense. For Mike Scioscia‘s old regime, that did not matter as he preferred a solid defensive catcher rather than a more offensive-minded one. With Brad Ausmus taking over, a change in philosophy may be in the works, especially considering reports that the team is looking to sign Wilson Ramos (.309 hitter last year).

However, if the Angels do keep that defensive approach, then Maldonado would obviously be a great signing. It would leave money on the table to chase more pitchers, unlike a Ramos deal which would likely be the Angels’ biggest signing if they do bring him in.

TORONTO, ON – JULY 28: J.A. Happ #33 of the Toronto Blue Jays reacts after failing to get a favorable call on a pitch in the second inning during MLB game action against the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim at Rogers Centre on July 28, 2017 in Toronto, Canada. (Photo by Tom Szczerbowski/Getty Images)
TORONTO, ON – JULY 28: J.A. Happ #33 of the Toronto Blue Jays reacts after failing to get a favorable call on a pitch in the second inning during MLB game action against the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim at Rogers Centre on July 28, 2017 in Toronto, Canada. (Photo by Tom Szczerbowski/Getty Images) /

J.A Happ, LHP

Billy Eppler knows it. Angels fans know it. Everyone knows it.

The Angels need starting pitching.

Injuries to the rotation have held this team back for what seems like an eternity. Outside of a Mike Trout extension, getting starting pitchers for the team is the most important thing for the Angels to do this season. While they will likely be chasing after Patrick Corbin and other big names, J.A Happ makes too much sense for the Angels not to pursue.

Happ is coming off an All Star year for the Toronto Blue Jays and New York Yankees. He had a 3.65 ERA, and even lowered number that to 2.69 after being traded to the Yankees. He posted a career-high in strikeout rate, as he averaged 9.8 K/9 over 177.2 innings last year. That is the second-highest total for his career, and he is a great example of a late bloomer.

Next. Five Pitchers For the LA Angels to Sign

At 36-years old, Happ won’t get the same contract offers that fellow lefties Corbin and Dallas Kuechel will receive. Happ is another player who could fall right into the Angels’ lap while other teams chase big money players. A short term deal, one or two years at most, could be just what the Angels need with Happ.

Despite this being one of the best free agent classes of all time, the Angels just are not players for the Bryce Harper and Manny Machado types. Billy Eppler can still have a productive offseason though, he just needs to find the right value deals to make, and these three may be a good starting point.

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