LA Angels Free Agency Shopping List

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With free agency opening for the LA Angels and the rest of the MLB tomorrow, November 4th, Billy Eppler and Co are about to embark on a big time trip to the market.

So what should the LA Angels plan be as they head to their local Scott Boras’ supermarket? I break it down here.

Hey Honey, I Need You To Go to The Store and Buy: An Ace

There is no doubt in anyone’s mind what the Angels are going to the market for this offseason. With the names Gerrit Cole and Stephen Strasburg finally set to make big time money on the open market, it’s time for Arte Moreno to pay up. The Angels have never given a pitcher a six-figure deal, and that needs to change this offseason (perhaps multiple times).

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While there’s a world where the Angels could afford both Cole and Strasburg, that’s far from likely. However, landing one has to be the top priority and main focus for Angels’ brass. They have the money, they have the need, and they have the two aces available to sign.

Coming away without Gerrit Cole or Stephen Strasburg would be as embarrassing as forgetting the turkey for a Thanksgiving dinner.

(Photo by Robert Reiners/Getty Images) /

Also, I Need You To Pick Up: More Starting Pitching

If signing a Cole/Strasburg level pitcher is the equivalent of a Thanksgiving turkey, then the rest of the rotation is the stuffing, mashed potatoes, and gravy. While the Angels have Shohei Ohtani and Andrew Heaney as two locks in their rotation (along with a large group of youngsters), there’s still an obvious need to fill out their rotation.

I mean, a team doesn’t have one of the worst rotations of all-time if they’re only missing an ace level pitcher. They need more…a lot more.

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And boy, there sure are heaps of talent on the market this offseason. Hyun-Jin Ryu and the Angels seem like an under-the-radar perfect fit, Zack Wheeler is finally out of New York after an impressive season, and Madison Bumgarner will begin his post-San Francisco career. One more name to keep an eye on is Jake Odorizzi, as his archetype is typically what the Angels love.

So this group is the names of pitchers the Angels do not need to sign this offseason. However, much like the aforementioned side dishes, it’ll be blatantly obvious if they’re absent.

We Should Be Fine, But If You Find A Better One Pick Up A: Catcher

An underrated weakness for the Angels in 2019 was their catching spot. The group as a whole was lackluster. Going into 2020, the duo of Max Stassi and Kevan Smith are the most notable names within the organization.

Those two give the Angels a nice platoon, as Stassi is arguably the best pitch framer in baseball as well as a great defensive catcher and Smith has always carried a big bat for whichever team he plays for.

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Much like the hosting site of a family’s Thankgiving dinner, a catcher is an extremely vital – yet not spoken about enough – factor. You always want the best house available for Thanksgiving dinner, and a baseball team always want the catcher who makes the players around him better.

And this offseason, that man is Yasmani Grandal.

Any team with hopes of signing an elite catcher will be pursuing Grandal, as the best catcher in baseball is ready to cash in after another great season. For the Angels, their perfect offseason would include signing Grandal. While starting pitching are more important, an upgrade at the catcher spot could prove extremely vital for the 2020 postseason hopes in Anaheim.

So while they may not need a slugger at catcher given their already dynamic lineup, it would be a phenomenal luxury for the Halos if they were able to acquire a Grandal-level catcher this offseason.

(Photo by Ronald Martinez/Getty Images) /

We Don’t Need Anymore, But If You Can Find A Good One On Sale Get: Relief Pitching

Last season, the only reason the LA Angels bullpen began to falter was due to being critically overworked. They had a rock solid group of arms, even despite some injuries to crucial names. They were led by Hansel Robles, who performed at an elite level all season on his way to the 2019 Nick Adenhart Award. Ty Buttrey was another solid option until his started wearing down as the season went on.

Those two, along with the likes of Noe Ramirez, Cam Bedrosian, and Justin Anderson all made positive contributions in 2019. Those guys, along with the return of Keynan Middleton from Tommy John surgery, are set to be a solid reliever group in 2020.

That being said, there is always room for improvement. Despite his 2019 season being the best of his career, Hansel Robles could wind up regressing in 2020. There’s always possibility for a down season, especially for relievers.

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So while the Angels have a solid group here, along with an ample amount of names in their farm system, they should still keep an eye on how the reliever market develops in free agency. While the Will Smith‘s and Will Harris‘ of the world will fall out of the Angels’ price range, Eppler has shown in the past he knows how to find a value deal to help his late-inning arms.

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