Halo Hangout
Fansided

The LA Angels have made a plethora of moves to fill holes, is there one more big one left?

By David Rice

WASHINGTON, DC - AUGUST 04: Kelvin Herrera #40 of the Washington Nationals celebrates with Spencer Kieboom #64 after a 6-2 victory against the Cincinnati Reds during game two of a doubleheader at Nationals Park on August 4, 2018 in Washington, DC. (Photo by Greg Fiume/Getty Images)
WASHINGTON, DC - AUGUST 04: Kelvin Herrera #40 of the Washington Nationals celebrates with Spencer Kieboom #64 after a 6-2 victory against the Cincinnati Reds during game two of a doubleheader at Nationals Park on August 4, 2018 in Washington, DC. (Photo by Greg Fiume/Getty Images) /
facebooktwitterreddit
Prev
3 of 5
Next
MELBOURNE, AUSTRALIA – NOVEMBER 17: Yusei Kikuchi pitcher for the Aces in action during the Australian Baseball League match between the Melbourne Aces and the Brisbane Bandits at Melbourne Showgrounds on November 17, 2011 in Melbourne, Australia. (Photo by Hamish Blair/Getty Images)
MELBOURNE, AUSTRALIA – NOVEMBER 17: Yusei Kikuchi pitcher for the Aces in action during the Australian Baseball League match between the Melbourne Aces and the Brisbane Bandits at Melbourne Showgrounds on November 17, 2011 in Melbourne, Australia. (Photo by Hamish Blair/Getty Images) /

If the Angels do decide to go with their in-house options then that leaves them an opportunity to bolster their bullpen or a acquire a frontline starter to go with Harvey and Cahill. If this is indeed the case then they should look at Dallas Keuchel, Yusei Kikuchi, or Gio Gonzalez.  Keuchel would be the biggest fish still left in the free agent pitching pond, but he would also be the most expensive probably commanding 20 -22 million dollars per season.

In my opinion signing Kikuchi or Gio Gonzalez would make much more sense and would be more cost-effective. Kikuchi would be the best option as he could be an instant success for the Angels and is also young enough at age 28 that he has a greater upside and would help lessen the blow of Shohei Ohtani not being able to pitch in 2019.

Gonzalez would not be a bad option either although the fact that he is 33 years old would make him more of a risk for decline.  He would still be a top three starter in the Angels’ rotation and adding him to what the Angels already have in the fold would make the starting rotation much deeper and definitely better.

Both Kikuchi or Gonzalez will be both be available for under 15 million dollars per season and that still will give the Angels the money they need to go full-bore after Mike Trout next off-season.

Home/LA Angels News