Are there any more moves on the horizon for the LA Angels?

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The LA Angels have made some moves to improve their team for 2019 in the past couple of weeks. They have signed pitchers Trevor Cahill, Matt Harvey, and first baseman Justin Bour to one-year contracts.

These moves for the LA Angels may seem small in comparison to moves that some other teams have made this off-season. The Washington Nationals especially have made some big moves such as signing Patrick Corbin to a six-year deal worth $140 million and they also signed Anibal Sanchez as well signing first base Matt Adams.

The Angels on the other have signed Matt Harvey and Trevor Cahill who both have an upside, but are not the sexy moves most fans are looking for. Harvey has had some strong seasons early in his career and Cahill on the other hand is coming off a strong 2018 season. Bour has shown good power over the six seasons he has played in the majors, but these moves are so-so in comparison and will help the Angels, but the question is to what extent.

So let’s explore what moves they could still do this off-season to improve the team for the 2019 season.

Yusei Kikuchi –

Kikuchi is supposed to be the next great pitcher from Japan and he is already said to be interested in the Angels for obvious reasons (Shohei Ohtani). Although the Angels have already signed two pitchers in Matt Harvey and Trevor Cahill, but Cahill can be used out of the bullpen as well if the Angels sign Kikuchi.

Kikuchi has been very solid throughout his eight year career in Japan going 74-48 with a 2.81 ERA and his WHIP is a career 1.177. He did have some arm issues last season which may be a red flag to potential teams that might sign him, but many think it is still worth the risk.

Kikuchi would be a potential #1 or #2 starter for the Angels and he is only 27 years old.

Dallas Keuchel –

Dallas Keuchel is one of the upper tier free agent pitchers that are still available and there have been rumors that he may be interested in coming to the Angels, especially since the Astros bullpen coach, Doug White is not the Angels pitching coach.

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Keuchel has a proven track record over his career. After going 9-18 with a 5.20 ERA in his first two major league seasons, Keuchel has put together three stellar season, one decent year, and one not-so-good year in the last five years. His 2015 season was the best of his career as Keuchel went 20-8 with a 2.48 ERA and took home the Cy Young Award. Keuchel is a two-time all-star and also won a Gold Glove in 2015.

Last year Keuchel went 12-11 with a 3.74 ERA in helping the Astros reach the post-season for the fourth consecutive season. Keuchel will turn 31 next week so there is a little concern for his age especially with the long-term deal he is seeking. Keuchel unfortunately is a Scott Borass client and Borass will try to milk as much money out of any team who signs Keuchel.

With the Angels already signing Matt Harvey and Trevor Cahill for between 20 and 25 million dollars, the question will be is it too much for them to sign Dalllas Keuchel. He would be nice in the top of the rotation for the Angels.

Gio Gonzalez –

Gio Gonzalez is one final name the Angels should have on their wish list. Gonzalez like Keuchel has a proven track record going 127-97 in his career with a 3.69 ERA. Gonzalez is a two-time all-star and in 2017 he went 15-9 with a 2.96 ERA with the Nationals and was in the running for the CY Young Award.

Gonzalez started last season poorly going 7-11 with a 4.57 ERA in 27 starts with the Nationals, but then he was traded to the Brewers at the trade deadline and went 3-0 with a 2.13 ERA in five starts that helped propel the Brewers to the NL Central title and into the NLCS.

Gonzalez is a little older than some people may not like, but he has possibly at least three to four good years left in his arm and he will also be available for much less than a guy like Keuchel.

So if the Angels want to add one more piece to their rotation Gonzalez could be a great option to explore.

Mike Moustakas –

The Angels were in the hunt to sign Mike Moustakas in the winter of 2017, but in the end they decided to invest their money in Zack Cozart giving him a three-year deal worth 38 million dollars. Cozart had a sub-par season through the first two months and then tore his labrum in his right shoulder and was out for the rest of the season.

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The Angels are hoping Cozart will return healthy in 2019 and hopefully his performance will improve, but since Cozart can also play shortstop and second base they could move Cozart to second if they were to sign Moustakas. Moustakas had another outstanding season and like Gio Gonzalez he was traded to the Brewers to bolster their playoff run which he did as well hitting eight homers and driving in 33 runs over the last two months of the season.

The downside to Moustakas is that he has a career .251 batting average and his OBP is only .307, but he has a knack for coming through in the clutch and his fielding is above average as well. He also has good power with 20 plus home runs and 80 plus RBIs in four of the past five seasons.

If the Angels could get him for under 12 million dollars or somewhere close to that figure it would be a good deal for the Angels and the best thing is he is only 29 years old. The addition of Moustakas would bolster an Angel line-up even more.

Yasmani Grandal –

As much as Grandal looked terrible in the playoffs, especially the World Series both at the plate and defensively he is not nearly as bad as he looked in October. Grandal still a quality catcher and much better than anyone the Angels have had in a while.

J4klg Ken. EGrandal is a switch-hitter with good power as he has averaged 22 homers over the past four seasons and 61 RBIs as well. What is even more intriguing is that Grandal has a .341 OBP despite having a career batting average of .240. He would fit nicely in the line-up with Trout, Upton, Ohtani, Pujols, and Simmons and provide some left-handed power as well.

Now many Angel fans would say no way that the Angels should get Grandal since he is an ex-Dodger. The fact of the matter is Grandal would be a major upgrade at catcher for a team that struggled to find offense last season. The Angels have been linked to him for awhile now and if they could get him for between 13 and 15 million dollars a season it would be a great upgrade for a team whose starting catcher at the moment is either Jose Briceno or Kevan Smith both of whom have not been an every day catcher in the majors in their career.

It looks like a match made in … well, wait for it…. heaven. Sorry for the bad pun, but its late on Christmas Eve and Santa Claus is coming soon. The Angels will undoubtedly sign or trade for a catcher, it might as well be one of the best available as Grandal is and he is only 29 years old and just about to hit his prime.

D.J. Lemahieu –

D.J. Lemahieu has been one of the best second basemen in the National League over the past four seasons. Lemahieu has averaged 10 homers with 63 RBIs and 10 SBs while hitting .310 with a .395 OBP. Lemahieu is also an above average defender.

Lemahieu could also satisfy the Angels need for a lead-off hitter so just as good as Grandal could be as a fit, Lemahieu could be an even better fit as he could solve two Angel needs in one player with a lead-off hitter and an every day second baseman.

He also would not be super expensive as the Angels could probably get him for about 12 million dollars a season for about two to three years. The Angels have not been rumored to be interested, but they should be as he would be a perfect fit.

Next. Zach Britton would be a good target to help the Angels bolster their bullpen.

So let’s see what Santa Eppler has in store for this holiday season. The Angels Christmas list is long, but Santa Eppler is doing his best to fill it, let’s see what kind of magic Billy Eppler can do to improve the Angels for 2019 and make them true playoff contenders.

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The LA Angels have made some moves to improve their team for 2019 in the past couple of weeks. They have signed pitchers Trevor Cahill, Matt Harvey, and first baseman Justin Bour to one-year contracts.

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