Which FA Pitcher Contracts Should the LA Angels Have Offered?

Prior to free agency, I wrote an article about whether or not I thought the LA Angels should sign each top starter based on their predicted contracts. Now, it’s time for round two.

The LA Angels failed to sign any of these names, and now that we have the actual contracts and context of the offseason, we’re playing this game again.

Gerrit Cole on a 9-year, $324 million contract

I know every Halo fan (me included) is pointing out how bad this contract is going to look in the second half and how giving a pitcher that much is never a good idea due to their fragility. However, if the Halos had been the ones to land Cole, I have a feeling Angels fans would like the contract a whole lot more.

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• Why LA Angels’ Qualifying Offer to Raisel Iglesias could become historical
• Both Gold Glove finalists for LA Angels getting snubbed is a complete joke
• Marcus Stroman definitely appears to be interested in the LA Angels

Verdict: Take It

Stephen Strasburg on a 7-year, $245 million contract

This is one that I’m very, very against. In a lot of these cases, the Angels’ desperate need for a top starter will make me choose take it. However, this contract has a strong possibility of aging extremely poorly. Why the Nationals kept Strasburg on this deal rather than Anthony Rendon boggles my mind, but I sure am happy they did.

Verdict: Leave It

Zack Wheeler on a 5-year, $118 million contract

In the first edition of this series, I was pretty against the idea of signing Zack Wheeler. However, $23.6 million a year for a #2 pitcher with upside doesn’t sound too bad after seeing where the starting pitching market is.

Verdict: Take It

Madison Bumgarner on a 5-year, $85 million contract

Take it! Take it! $17 million a season for Madison Bumgarner is a ridiculous value, and while MadBum wasn’t going to sign in California for less than $100 million due to taxes, I would have loved him at that value as well. The Diamondbacks got an absolute steal here.

Verdict: Take It

Hyun-Jin Ryu on a 4-year, $80 million contract

This is another one that I don’t see aging well. I would have loved Ryu on a 2-year, $50 million contract. However, signing him through his age 36 season while he’s already battled injuries and struggled with durability seems… unwise. While it stung because he was the last real option on the market, the Angels are better off without Ryu on this deal.

Verdict: Leave It

Dallas Keuchel on 3-year, $55.5 million contract

I’m the biggest Dallas Keuchel fan in the world, and for the Angels to not want to sign him to this deal seems ludicrous to me. He’s consistently proven that he is still a valuable pitcher to have, and the Angels had the money to take this on. With their elite defense, they missed out on a perfect fit in Keuchel.

Verdict: Take It