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Los Angeles Angels: Pass or pursue on 5 marquee free agents

By Daniel Preciado

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) /
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LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA – OCTOBER 07: Marcus Semien #10 of the Oakland Athletics rounds the bases after hitting a solo home run against the Houston Astros during the fifth inning in Game Three of the American League Division Series at Dodger Stadium on October 07, 2020 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Harry How/Getty Images)
LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA – OCTOBER 07: Marcus Semien #10 of the Oakland Athletics rounds the bases after hitting a solo home run against the Houston Astros during the fifth inning in Game Three of the American League Division Series at Dodger Stadium on October 07, 2020 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Harry How/Getty Images) /

Marcus Semien

Marcus Semien has always been a very solid ballplayer, but he really crashed onto the scene in 2019. His 2020 fell in line offensively with the rest of his career and continued to make his outstanding 2019 look more and more like an outlier season. Even if Semien is just a 100 wRC+ type of bat, he is still an outstanding defender, posting 21 DRS across the past three seasons.

With Andrelton Simmons likely to be gone for good, the Angels need a replacement. Simmons isn’t the most productive player offensively as it is, but it is hard to replace his defensive wizardry. Semien can at least contribute half of what Simmons does while also contributing a lot more thump and offensive upside. If the Angels can work with Semien to find out what made him go off in 2019, they could be thoroughly rewarded for rolling the dice.

Semien holds just a career 104 wRC+ which is only four percent above average, but he can still reasonably be a 3 WAR type of asset for the Halos.

Verdict: Pursue (two years, $30 million)

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