Angels: 3 reasons why Trevor Bauer is perfect for LA

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)
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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CINCINNATI, OH – SEPTEMBER 14: Trevor Bauer #27 of the Cincinnati Reds pitches against the Pittsburgh Pirates during game one of a doubleheader at Great American Ball Park on September 14, 2020 in Cincinnati, Ohio. (Photo by Jamie Sabau/Getty Images)
CINCINNATI, OH – SEPTEMBER 14: Trevor Bauer #27 of the Cincinnati Reds pitches against the Pittsburgh Pirates during game one of a doubleheader at Great American Ball Park on September 14, 2020 in Cincinnati, Ohio. (Photo by Jamie Sabau/Getty Images)

The One-Year Wonder

Trevor Bauer’s willingness to sign solely one-year deals for the rest of his career has been well-documented and while it is a bit unorthodox, so is Bauer as a person.

The Angels have long given enormous contracts that don’t age well, so why not a change of pace? Trevor Bauer represents that in every way. If the Angels decided to get stupid in a good way and offer Bauer a one-year, $35 million deal, the Angels would likely be in the thick of the AL West divisional race despite being up against luxury tax penalties. However, if it is the price of admission to October, you have to pay it, right?

It’s wild how much deeper the Angels’ rotation gets with one simple addition of Bauer’s caliber. In a six-man rotation to suit Shohei Ohtani’s schedule, depth is a necessity. Being able to make Andrew Heaney your fourth-best starting pitcher is a huge boon for exactly that reason.

The contract flexibility is one that will suit both parties and while a lot of MLB teams will likely be lining up to acquire Bauer, the Angels might be amongst the most well-positioned in the sport to actually land him.

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