LA Angels “Would You Rather?”: Offseason Edition

Alright LA Angels fans! This is a fun article for you and I alike, as we’ll be playing Would You Rather ahead of the upcoming offseason.

We’ll go through three questions the LA Angels might have to face, and lay out the pros and cons of each side. We’ll also include polling from our Twitter account to see just what Angels fans think about each question!

WOULD YOU RATHER sign Gerrit Cole to a 7-year, $235 million dollar deal OR trade 4-5 non-Jo Adell Top 25 prospects for Noah Syndergaard?

Now this question is different from the other two due to the fact that, quite simply, the Angels could make both of these things happen. Thor has two years left of arbitration before he’ll start making big money, so the Halos could put together one of the league’s most dynamic 1-2 punches through at least 2021.

But, let’s just say general manager Billy Eppler had to choose between signing Cole or trading for Syndergaard. With Cole, the pros are obvious. He is the most dominant pitcher that will hit the market this winter, and he might just be the best in baseball right now. He’ll give the Angels the #1 starter/true ace they’ve been searching for since Jered Weaver’s prime. The cons are equally obvious. His contract will take him through his mid-30’s, and he’ll likely cost more than any other free agent starter has ever cost.

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With Thor, the upside of trading for him will be his potential, age, and contract. Thor would be 27 for the majority of next season, and 29 when he hits free agency. He won’t cost most than $10 million either year he’s with the Angels, and as we’ve seen in his time with the Mets, he has elite potential in the mound. If he ever stays healthy, Thor could be a legitimate Cy Young-level pitcher.

However, the risks are equally concerning. Selling the farm for Thor could mortgage the Angels’ future if they can’t build a contender in the following 2-4 years. His injury history is as lengthy as the Angels’, and the combination of the two could cause nightmares for some Angels fans. Lastly, there’s the fact that he’ll be due an extension after two seasons, so the Angels would wind up facing the same questions they are about Gerrit Cole, but with Noah Syndergaard instead.

The overwhelming consensus amongst Angels fans here is to fork over the money for Cole, and honestly, I can’t disagree with you guys on this one. Cole is the safer bet, and the Angels need to keep their farm system in tact unless they’re dealing for a legit, proven star.