2) Trevor Bauer
Trevor Bauer is another veteran starter who could become an intriguing addition to the Angels rotation. While temperamental, the 29-year-old has proven that he can be an above average starter, if unlikely to be elite again as he was in 2018 in Cleveland.
Due $17 million in 2020 and set to become a free agent in 2021, it’s possible the Reds trade him for future assets with their rotation deep enough to compete without him. If the Angels see a path to the postseason, especially if MLB adds more playoff teams in 2020, Bauer could become a difference maker in Anaheim.
The right-hander saw his ERA balloon to 4.48 last season, after a career-best 2.21 performance in 2018. However, the projection systems see a bounce-back season with ZiPS modeling the starter to produce 3.4 fWAR with a projected 3.74 ERA in 2020.
If Griffin Canning proves unhealthy, even after a long break, or Ohtani stumbles in his return, Billy Eppler will have pressure to add a proven starter like Bauer.