Five Favorite Free Agents for The LA Angels

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ATLANTA, GEORGIA – AUGUST 17: Hyun-Jin Ryu #99 of the Los Angeles Dodgers pitches in the fifth inning against the Atlanta Braves at SunTrust Park on August 17, 2019 in Atlanta, Georgia. (Photo by Logan Riely/Getty Images) /

Fans, do not let the LA Angels three game winning streak and series win over the White Sox pull you back in. As Admiral Ackbar once said, it’s a trap!

Instead, why not fast forward with me to the offseason, where the LA Angels will have money to spend and their eyes on an assortment of free agents.

Today we’ll take quick looks at the top five free agents for the Halos. These aren’t your typical “how much they’ll help us” rankings, but instead just how much fun it would be to watch these guys don the white and red in Anaheim.

Notable exclusions:

Hyun Ju Ryu, Zack Wheeler, any high-profile relievers, Yasmani Grandal

For this group of guys, each one could be of significant value for the Halos. However, each has a flaw to their game that would make me extremely wary if I were to sign them in free agency.

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For Ryu, it comes down to the fact he has all the makings of the next extremely overpaid free agent starter. Yes, he’s on pace to have the lowest ERA since the mound was lowered. However, he’s also 32 and will likely command a long-term deal when he hits the open market. Ryu has also never been a strikeout pitcher, and relies largely on his defense which we have seen fail time and time again in Anaheim.

As for Zack Wheeler, I have just never been a personal fan of his. His “breakout” 2019 season has seen him become and average pitcher, and some team is bound to overpay him this offseason. Basically, he’s the kind of guy the Angels usually go after, and I’d like to avoid that this offseason.

The Angels bullpen is good enough to where they don’t have to add any high-profile names. The group has had its struggles recently, but being extremely overworked will do that to any reliever.

Yasmani Grandal would be interesting for the Angels considering their need at catcher and their reported interest in Wilson Ramos last offseason. However, he’ll likely be the highest paid catcher in the game after this season, and the Angels’ money is better spent elsewhere.

Anyways, enough with the guys I don’t want to see play for the Angels (but with my luck, the Halos will sign multiple of them), and onto the guys I would walk a thousand miles to see the Angels sign this winter.

ANAHEIM, CALIFORNIA – JUNE 26: J.R. House #56 congratulates Yasiel Puig #66 of the Cincinnati Reds after his solo homerun during the fifth inning of a game against the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim at Angel Stadium of Anaheim on June 26, 2019 in Anaheim, California. (Photo by Sean M. Haffey/Getty Images) /

5.) Dallas Kuechel

This one is extremely unlikely to work out because of the money Kuechel is likely to command on the open market. However, if he has learned from last offseason that he isn’t viewed as a top-tier starter, maybe he can opt instead for a one or two-year deal rather than the long-term contract he was seeking. If the Angels could ink Kuechel for the short-term, or even three years, I’d be ecstatic about the idea of him being the third option in the rotation.

How far I’d walk: Probably not too many miles. Maybe, like, ten?

4.) Yasiel Puig

I know there isn’t a need for an outfielder. I know he wouldn’t exactly fit into the Angels’ philosophy. I know.

I have felt every type of emotion towards Puig. Disdain, love, appreciation, the entire spectrum of love and hate. And I absolutely love this player. Puig plays with his heart on his chest and will go to bat for any player in his clubhouse, no matter what.

Despite it not making any sense for the Angels with Mike Trout, Justin Upton, Brian Goodwin, maybe Kole Calhoun, and Jo Adell on the way, the idea of Yasiel Puig lackadaisically catching a fly ball then gunning down Jose Altuve at home plate is something my own dreams are made of.

How far I’d walk: To Cleveland to pick him up and ride our wild horses westward bound to the Golden Coast.

WASHINGTON, DC – AUGUST 16: Anthony Rendon #6 of the Washington Nationals reacts after hitting the game winning RBI double against the Milwaukee Brewers during the eighth inning at Nationals Park on August 16, 2019 in Washington, DC. (Photo by Scott Taetsch/Getty Images) /

3.) Madison Bumgarner

I know he isn’t the most popular player due to his anti-bat flip stance, but Madison Bumgarner has really proven himself this year. A tier below the best pitchers available this season, Bumgarner won’t completely break the Angels’ bank if they decide to sign him.

At just 30 years old, Bumgarner has shown no signs of slowing down as a pitcher, and after a couple of fluky injury seasons, he’s right back on track to who he was pre-injury.

How far I’d walk: I would swim the entire coast of California to break him out of whatever the Giants’ ballpark is called now and we would ride his quad all the way back to Anaheim.

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2.) Anthony Rendon

The MLB has more talent at third base in the league now than they’ve ever had. Ultimately, that leaves Anthony Rendon to be slightly underrated. However, he’ll still command top dollar on the market.

The main reason I want Rendon isn’t because of his fit. According to my calculations, the Angels have approximately one hundred league average or better infielders.

Honestly, I want Rendon simply because of how much swagger he’d bring to the Angels. With one of the smoothest swings in the game and a slick glove at third base, Rendon would be an absolute joy to watch.

And imagine a 1-2-3-4 of La Stella, Trout, Rendon, and Ohtani…how beautiful.

How far I’d walk: Rendon has 129 home runs in his career thus far, and you bet your bottom dollar I’d walk ten miles for every single one of those big flies.

HOUSTON, TEXAS – JULY 06: Gerrit Cole #45 of the Houston Astros reacts after striking out Kole Calhoun #56 of the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim to end the sixth inning at Minute Maid Park on July 06, 2019 in Houston, Texas. (Photo by Bob Levey/Getty Images) /

1.) Gerrit Cole

Yes, the #1 free agent target for every Angels fan from Anaheim, California to Suwanee, Georgia is my top guy as well. Gerrit Cole is the pipe dream for the Angels front office and their fans alike this offseason.

I mean, if the Angels land Cole, they become more legitimate contenders than they’ve been since 2014. A front line starter who can go deep into games and lead a starting staff is exactly what this team needs.

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They’ll need to open their wallets wide for him, but there’s no reason the Angels can outbid any other team hoping to obtain Cole’s services. They’ll have more than enough money to spend this offseason.

Every time Cole faces the Angels, it seems as if he throws his 112th pitch 99 MPH to strike out his 11th hitter and get through the eighth inning allowing no more than two runs. He shoves the ball right down the Angels’ throat every time he faces his hometown team. How amazing would it be to see him to the same exact thing for years to come, but FOR his hometown team?

If the Angels sign Cole, their entire rotation comes into place very nicely. Obviously Cole is the ace of staff. After him, Shohei Ohtani will rejoin the rotation after rehabbing from Tommy John surgery and restart his two-way career.

Griffin Canning and Andrew Heaney are strong candidates for the middle of the rotation. After them, a collection of names including Jose Suarez, Felix Pena, Patrick Sandoval, JC Ramirez, Dillon Peters, and whoever the Angels possibly bring in via free agency or trade.

The Angels have starting pitching DEPTH. However, they do not have a true ace. Gerrit Cole supplies that, and should be the #1 wish list player for every

Next. Jared Walsh is Tearing Up the Pacific Coast League

How far I’d walk: However far the National League team the Angels would play in the 2020 World Series is.

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