LA Angels: Four Free Agent Pitchers Improving Their Stock Most This Postseason

Stephen Strasburg

Stephen Strasburg is perhaps the only player in all of Major League Baseball who has an argument of being the most dominant pitcher this postseason besides Cole.

For the Nationals, their best pitcher hasn’t been Max Scherzer or Patrick Corbin. They’ve each been impressive, borderline elite even, but Strasburg has carried this team to their first World Series.

In 22 innings spread across three starts and a relief appearance, Strasburg has a 1.64 ERA and 33 strikeouts. While that might not be Cole-level pitching, it’s about as close as we’ve seen a pitcher get this postseason.

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What has been very impressive from Strasburg is the pitchers he has outdueled. In the Wild Card game, he practically out pitched the entire Milwaukee Brewers’ bullpen. In NLDS Game 2, Strasburg beat Clayton Kershaw. The the deciding Game 5, he was able to keep the Nationals in the game long enough to deliver the loss to Walker Buehler and the Dodgers.

Then, in the third game of the NLCS, Strasburg dominated against the Cardinals despite being opposed by Jack Flaherty, who was the best pitcher in the entire MLB after the All Star break.

One thing has become clear: Stephen Strasburg is one of the marquee starters in the MLB, and the Angels will have to pay him like one to acquire his services this winter.

Will Harris and Joe Smith

This dynamic duo has been phenomenal out of the Astros bullpen so far this postseason. They have combined to pitch six innings of relief for the Astros this postseason. The Astros’ two best relievers have only allowed one run in those innings, when Joe Smith gave up a solo shot to Gleybar Torres in Game Three of the ALCS.

Both are set to be free agents this offseason, and despite being in the second half of their 30’s, both should receive solid compensation. While the Angels’ will be more focused on their rotation, the bullpen is a piece or two away from becoming a Yankees-esque weapon for the Halos.

The signing of Smith or Harris would give the Angels a truly elite trio with Hansel Robles, a hopeful Ty Buttrey bounce back season, and either Smith or Harris. Add a fully healthy Keynan Middleton into that mix and it could be one of the most dangerous bullpens in the entire MLB.

While the Angels might have a harder time than expected bringing in free agents due to the sticky situation they’ve found themselves in regarding Tyler Skaggs’ death, these four should be targets for the Angels, and are only making their price tag higher and higher.