Angels: Four players they could trade for in 2020

By Jeffrey Bellone | Mar 31, 2020

PITTSBURGH, PA - AUGUST 25: Trevor Bauer #27 of the Cincinnati Reds pitches in the first inning against the Pittsburgh Pirates at PNC Park on August 25, 2019 in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. Teams are wearing special color schemed uniforms with players choosing nicknames to display for Players' Weekend. (Photo by Justin K. Aller/Getty Images) /

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Trevor Bauer. (Photo by Quinn Harris/Getty Images) /

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.

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