LA Angels Third Base Options for 2019.

We have looked at all the LA Angels positions of need for 2019, except for third base. The Angels could be just fine there as they signed Zack Cozart to a 3-year deal last Winter, but Cozart was ineffective & injured

The question for the LA Angels becomes do they wait and hope that Cozart comes back strong from his torn labrum and also produces much better than 2018. Or do they look for another option. These are the kind of questions Angels general manager Billy Eppler gets paid the big bucks for to make.

So let’s look at the options that Mr. Eppler has to choose from in filling the void that was third base in 2018.  As usual there are in-house options, but Eppler could also turn to free agency or possibly make a trade to patch the hole.  Third base like second base has been an ongoing hole since Chone Figgins left after the 2009 season.

The Angels have had a few short-term solutions during that time such as Albert Callaspo, David Freese, and Yunel Escobar all of whom had-year stints where they were pretty effective, but they have not had a player play the position for more than two full seasons since Figgins left to the Seattle Mariners.

David Fletcher –

Fletcher received much of the time at third after Cozart was injured and performed admirably for someone who had never played third base on the professional level.  Fletcher made difficult plays look easy and made the routine plays as well. Fletcher made only one error in 33 games at third base in 74 total chances.  He also played 43 games at second base with only one error in 169 total chances.

In addition to his outstanding glovework Fletcher also hit .275 with one homer and 25 RBIs while stealing three bases in 284 at-bats in 80 games played.  Fletcher did not hit for much power, but he was able to hold his own at the plate and will only get better with more experience.

If Cozart can’t answer the bell early in the season or is ineffective Fletcher is a good in-house option. Fletcher could also be used as the Angels primary second baseman as well, and he will provide versatility for the Angels at both spots.

Taylor Ward –

For Taylor Ward his path to the majors has been a long and windy road after being drafted in the first round of the 2015 Amateur Draft out of Fresno State. From 2015-2017 Ward was a catcher in the Angels system and showed very strong defensive skills, however at the plate he was just a little above average. Hitting just over .250 with 22 homers and 136 RBIs in two-and-a-half seasons in Single and Double-A.

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With his career in neutral Ward and the Angels decided to make a switch changing Ward from catcher to third base in hopes that his bat would perk up and it did.  In 2018 Ward went from Double-A to Triple-A, to the Majors in a matter of months after hitting .349 with 14 homers and driving in 60 runs.

Ward was promoted when the Angels traded Ian Kinsler to Boston forcing Fletcher to move back to second base and opening the door for Ward to get a shot at third base. Ward showed some power hitting six home runs in only 135 at-bats, and driving in 15 runs.  However he hit only .178 in 40 games played.

However, Ward hit some big home runs twice hitting game-tying homers and hitting two game-winning homers including a walk-off two-run blast in Mike Scioscia’s final game as the Angels manager capping a three-run ninth inning rally against Oakland.

Ward definitely needs some more work both at third base and at the plate, but has a tremendous upside and is known as an extremely hard worker by members of the Angels’ coaching staff. If the Angels decide to stay totally in-house at second and third base Ward could have a chance to be the every day third basemen if Zack Cozart is not ready to start the season or if he falters in the early going.

With Cozart only signed through 2020 Ward could be the Angels third baseman of the future if not the present.

Free Agent Options at Third Base

The market for free agents is very thin at third base with three of the top four players based on WAR already being signed in Eduardo Escobar (Arizona), Josh Donaldson (Atlanta), and Jung Ho King (Pittsburgh).  The only remaining player left is Milwaukee Brewers third baseman Mike Moustakas.

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Moustakas was available last season and the Angels made a run at him early reportedly offering him a four-year deal worth around 60 million dollars.  Moustakas turned down the Angels offer and ended up signing a one-year deal with his original team the Kansas City Royals for only eight million dollars.

Not a very smart decision financially for Moustakas, but he ended up being traded to the Milwaukee Brewers for their stretch run and was a key part of the Brewers run that finished one game short of the World Series.

For the season Moustakas hit .251 with 28 homers and 95 RBIs. He was able to reach a league championship series for the third time in the last four seasons and he now is a free agent again in a very weak market at third base.  The Angels have been said to have some interest in Moustakas again and if they sign the 30-year old they could move Cozart to second base and have Ward, Fletcher, and La Stella fight for a back-up role.

Moustakas would be a nice signing and could probably be had for around 12 to 13 million per season.  He will most likely want a multi-year deal this time around, but you never know.  Moustakas would be an upgrade at third base for the Angels and if Cozart comes back strong and can make the transistion to second base (he has played there before) the Angels line-up will get a shot in the arm.

After Moustakas it is slim pickings in the free agent market with only Chase Headley, Danny Valencia, and Ryan Flaherty all of which are not better than Cozart and not worth the extra money to pursue.

The one wild-card here is if the Angels could pony up enough dough for mega free agent Manny Machado and convince him to play third base (he has said to only want to play shortstop this season).  Machado’s price tag would be in the neighborhood of 25 to 30 million per season and he would probably want no less than a five-year deal which the Angels are not likely to want to give anyone not named Trout.

Plus with all the baggage Machado brings (not hustling at times and truculent attitude) he would probably not be a good fit anyway for the Angels.

So there you have it. If the Angels want to improve their third base situation it is Moustakas or bust.  If not then the trio of of Zack Cozart, Taylor Ward, and David Fletcher will have to suffice unless they want to play let’s make a deal which would result in the Angels giving up some young prospects.  It will be interesting to see how this scenario plays out.