The LA Angels have needs for 2019 who could fill them? : Second Base

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The LA Angels have a few positions that need to improve for them to contend in 2019 for a playoff spot and possibly a division title. Over the next couple of days we will look at the best fits for the Angels at each spot and this could include the in-house options.

This article will focus on the best fit for the LA Angels at second base which has been a sore spot since the Angels traded Howie Kendrick in 2015 to the LA Dodgers. The Angels could choose to stand pat and hope one of their in-house options could fill the void in 2019.

However, the Angels tried to do that with Johnny Giavotella and it ended poorly. They have also tried going the trade route acquiring Danny Espinosa from the Nationals in 2017 and he didn’t even last half of the season as he totally tanked in Anaheim. Then last season they traded for Ian Kinsler and that also didn’t work out very well either for the Angels and Kinsler ended up being traded to the Red Sox and helped solidify the second base spot for their World Series run.

In-House – For second base the Angels have three options already within the organization that could fill this role nicely and they are David Fletcher, Zack Cozart, Luis Rengifo, and newly acquired Tommy LaStella.

David Fletcher –

Fletcher is the front-runner right now to be the starting second baseman in 2019. Fletcher showed a lot of versatility as he played second and third base and even a little shortstop and right field. Fletcher has a great glove wherever Mike Scioscia deployed him. Fletcher made only two errors and had a .991 fielding percentage for the season.

In addition Fletcher hit .275 with a .316 OBP hitting one homer with 25 RBIs and three stolen bases. Fletcher will probably need to improve a little at the plate to keep the job for the season. He could be a decent lead-off hitter and he can definitely play small ball as well as he is in the mold of a David Eckstein type player.

Zack Cozart –

While Zack Cozart is not a second baseman by nature he could easily transistion there if the Angels decide they want to go with Taylor Ward at third base or they sign a guy like Mike Moustakas to play third instead. Cozart also has a very good glove and is coming off a torn labrum in his left shoulder, but looks to come back strong.

Cozart is a career .251 hitter who has hit 87 homers and driven in 298 runs in seven major league seasons. Cozart was signed to a three-year 38 million dollar contract last season by the Angels but did not get much return on their investment as Cozart only played 58 games hitting .219 with five homers and 18 RBIs.

The question is whether or not Cozart can bounce back from his injury and his poor 2018 season. If he can then Cozart would be a great option at either second or third base.

ANAHEIM, CA – in Anaheim, California. (Photo by Sean M. Haffey/Getty Images) /

Luis Rengifo –

Luis Rengifo is the dark horse candidate to be an in-house choice to fill second base in 2019 for the Angels. Rengifo broke out last year in the minors jumping from Single-A to Triple-A in one season in 2018. A lot of things would have to happen for Rengifo to get the opportunity to be the every day second baseman for the Angels.

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First and foremost Rengifo would have to have an amazing Spring Training to get on the radar. Fletcher would have to tank in the Spring and Cozart would have to stay at third base or be hurt so that Fletcher could possibly be moved to third base.

Even though this is a lot of things that would need to happen, if Rengifo plays well this Spring that would go a long way in him being considered for the Opening Day roster as a utility player. Rengifo has more power and speed than Fletcher and he also has shown he can play well in the field at second base where Rengifo had a .994 fielding percentage for the Angels in the minors in 2018.

Rengifo hit seven homers and drove in 64 runs while batting .299. He also stole 41 bases and had an OBP of .399. If he can prove to that in the major leagues he could jump over Fletcher on the depth chart. More than likely Rengifo will be in Triple-A most of the season unless there are some injuries on the Angels.

Tommy La Stella –

Tommy La Stella was traded to the Angels in late November for a player to be named later and he may be a key person for the Angels as well because he is a left-handed bat and can play both second or third base. La Stella could be used as a platoon for both second and third base in 2019 which could eliminate the need for the Angels to spend money on a free agent ormakea trade.

However, a lot of times platoons do not work out the way they are planned and this one is risky at best. La Stella is not a full-time starter as he has never been placed in that role his whole career. La Stella has only logged over 200 at-bats once in a season in his career. He has little to no power hitting only 10 home runs in 828 career at-bats and only has 94 runs driven in during his career as well.

La Stella’s career batting average of .264 and a .345 OBP which is not bad, but he is no more than a part-time player who the Angels will deploy when needed to give the every day second or third baseman a day off, or be a left-handed pinch-hitter. He will likely make the Angels Opening day roster if he has a decent Spring, but he is not the answer for the Angels at second or third base by himself.

Free Agent Options –

D.J. LeMahieu –

LeMahieu should be the top player on the Angels radar if they want to sign a second baseman this off-season. LeMahieu can both hit and field and is a great table setter with a career .29 batting average and a .350 OBP. He has averaged 10 homers and 63 RBIs over the last four seasons. LeMahieu has also won the NL Gold Glove three times in the past five seasons.

His asking price is probably going to be around 13-15 million dollars per season, but it could be well worth it, especially for the Angels as LeMahieu could not only fill the Angels void at second base, but he would be a great lead-off hitter which the Angels need as well.

If the Angels make only one more move this off-season this is the one they should work hard to get done as it makes too much sense.

Brian Dozier –

Dozier is another potential second baseman the Angels could bring in and make a difference for 2019. Dozier has tremendous power and is also an above-average fielder at second base. Like LeMahieu, could also fill two roles with the team as Dozier has led off before.

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For his career Dozier has a .246 batting average with an OBP of.324. Dozier has hit 172 homers and driven in 511 runs. Last season was not Dozier’s best as he hit only 21 homers driving in 72 runs but only hitting .215 which was the lowest batting average of his career.

If Dozier could get back to his 2016 form where he his .268 with 42 homers and 99 RBIs. He will command slightly less than LeMahieu maybe two or three years at 11 or 12 million per season. Definitely worth taking a look at.

Jed Lowrie –

To many people Jed Lowrie is not a sexy pick-up, but to those pundits I just say look at his track record. Lowrie has been a key part of some of the Red Sox playoff teams as well as the Astros and then he was a key cog in the A’s playoff push in 2018. Lowrie can play multiple positions of second, third, and shortstop which would be great for the Angels as both second and third base are potential holes they need to fill for the 2019 season.

Lowrie has also been strong at the plate hitting .277 with 14 homers and 69 RBIs with a .360 OBP in 2017 and then last season Lowrie had a career year hitting .267 with 23 homers and 99 RBIs with a .353 OBP and he always seemed to come through with big hits when the A’s needed him to. Lowrie is getting up there in age as he will turn 35 early in the 2019 season and that is a concern compared to Dozier and LeMahieu who are 31 and 30 respectively.

Next. What prospects could we see in Anaheim in 2019?

To get any of these free agents the Angels will have to spend between 11 and 15 million dollars per season. They can give any of these three players a two-to-three year deal and they would have a great player that they could count on which they have needed over the past four years. Let’s see what Billy Eppler decides to do.

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