The Angels need pitching, but they also need a new receiver to anchor the staff

The LA Angels had a good catcher in Martin Maldonado. Even though he wasn’t much of hitter, Maldonado was one of the best defensive catchers the Angels have had in years.

The last couple of seasons the LA Angels have been trying to find a replacement for Maldonado, but without much luck.  Jose Briceno, Dustin Garneau, Jonathan Lucroy, Anthony Bemboom, Max Stassi, and Francisco Arcia.

There is a lack of free agent options since Yasmani Grandal was snatched up by the Chicago White Sox.  The Angels may have to make a trade in order to really upgrade at the catching position.  They could also go back to Martin Maldonado and this would be a good signing and probably at a fairly cheap cost. I don’t think the Angels should sign Maldonado to more than a two-to-three year deal since he is 33 years old.

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Beside Maldonado, Robinson Chirinos, and Jason Castro are the next best options and I personally am not a big fan of either player. So trades I think could be the Angels best course of action.  The player’s name that keeps being mentioned as being available is Wilson Contreras of the Chicago Cubs.  He would be a great option but he would come at a cost possibly more than the Angels would want to give up (Griffin Canning or Jo Adell).

The Cubs would be looking for some major-league ready prospects, but how much they want would determine if the Angels would be willing to acquire Contreras.  Angels GM Billy Eppler has been known to pull a rabbit out of his hat like when Andrelton Simmons was acquired from the Braves for Erick Aybar and Sean Newcomb.  Although Newcomb has shown some signs of being a quality pitcher, overall the trade was a win for the Angels.

There may be other teams out there willing to make a deal having an extra catcher like the White Sox might be willing to part with James McCann for a lot less than what the Cubs may want for Contreras.

We will have to wait and see what happens over the next couple of weeks especially with the Winter Meetings next week.  A lot of the groundwork for deals happens during this week.