LA Angels: 3 reasons David Dahl makes perfect sense for the Halos

Offensive Firepower

Although 2020 has already been an eternity, we are not as far removed from Dahl’s stellar 2019 season as it feels. Before suffering a season-ending high-ankle sprain in August, he was a dominant force at the plate, compiling a slash line of .302/.353/.524 with 15 HR and 61 RBI over 374 at bats. At the time of the injury, he was on pace to finish the season with 109 R, 24 HR, and 98 RBI. His performance was good enough to earn him All-Star honors.

A big reason leading to Dahl’s release was his disastrous 2020 campaign, where he accumulated a slash line of .183/.222/.247 with 0 HR over 98 at bats. As a result of his poor performance, he was strapped for playing time, as the Rockies outfield depth was able to force him from receiving regular starts. Not only is 98 at bats an incredibly small sample size, but Dahl also dealt with injuries including lower back soreness and a right shoulder strain.

Dahl’s history and skill set suggest that this past season was a fluke, and most teams in the league began salivating when the news that he was non-tendered broke, the Angels hopefully being one of them.

Before making his debut in 2016, Dahl was considered a top prospect, ranking 47th on MLB’s list. The scouting grades listed him as 55 overall (hit: 60, power: 55, run: 60, arm: 55, field: 60). Since then, Dahl has shown he is definitely capable of living up to those expectations. His 2019 Statcast numbers only reinforce that, as his average exit velocity was 88.7 mph, a hard hit % of 22.7%, and a barrel % of 10.3%. Not only does his hitting profile stand out, but across the board, he has shown he can contribute in every aspect of the game from fielding to base-running. His outfield jump ranks him in the 65th percentile and his outs above average put him in the 74th percentile. His sprint speed of 28.1 ft/s puts him in the 76th percentile.

With him now being a free agent, the Angels now have a chance to add to their already 5-tool loaded outfield of Mike Trout and Jo Adell. This move could arguably make the Halos outfield one of the best in the league. So good in fact that Hollywood will be forced to make a sequel to Angels in the Outfield (1994).

OK, that may be unlikely, but you do have to admit a Dahl signing would only make them better. You may still skeptical and thinking to yourself, “OK, Dahl is great, but we need to focus on pitching”. This brings me to my next argument.

It Would Allow the Angels to Acquire Pitching Via Trade

Right now, all eyes are on Trevor Bauer. In a thin free agent pitching market, his 2020 Cy Young winning campaign stands out among all. Although the Angels are heavily linked to the star, sometimes they just miss out to other teams (i.e. Gerrit Cole). Beyond Bauer, the quality drops off drastically and the Angels would be hard-pressed finding a game-changer through free agency.

On the trading black, however, there are a few names that make sense for the Angels, including Blake Snell and Joe Musgrove. It is going to take a bit of a haul to wrangle them from their respective teams. As it currently stands, the Angels’ top two prospects are Brandon Marsh and Jordyn Adams, both of which are outfielders. With the Angels desperate to get back to the playoffs, trading one of these prospects may be necessary.

Without a Dahl signing, I would be skeptical of trading away Marsh. He is a close-to-MLB ready prospect and is expected to make his debut in 2021. Similar to every other prospect, there is no guarantee that Marsh will perform in the big leagues right away and the Angels need to do everything they can to win now.

If the Angels sign Dahl, it would shore up their outfield for years to come, which would make Marsh or Adams expendable. By being able to float Marsh’s name in trade talks, suddenly acquiring a top name like Snell or Musgrove doesn’t seem so far-fetched.

The Angels are in a win-now mode, but also win-in-the-future too. Without Dahl, a Marsh trade would decimate the farm and leave the future murky. A Dahl signing would solve this issue, as it would put them in a position to compete immediately but also for the next several years, at least.

This just makes sense.

Depth and Healthy Competition

Last season was unkind to the Angels’ corner outfielders. Upton hit .204/.289/.422 and Adell hit .161/.212/.266. As of now, they are both projected to begin the season in the starting lineup. With Upton now recording back-to-back sub .220 seasons, and uncertainty surrounding Adell, the Angels need to make a move that would shake things up and give them more options.

If the Angels in fact do sign Dahl, Upton could split time between LF and DH as more of a platoon role with Ohtani. The Angels cannot afford to rely on Upton bouncing back next season. By bringing Dahl aboard, it may add extra motivation to Upton this offseason as his starting spot will no longer be secure. The same goes for Adell. With the addition of Dahl, it would create a healthy competition and will only make the Angels outfield better.

The move would also allow Taylor Ward to explore the possibility of moving back to catcher. It is clear that Ward is not part of the Angels’ outfield future, despite receiving the bulk of playing time in right field during the back stretch of the season, he still isn’t projected to begin the season as a starter. There was speculation before last season that the Angels were considering the transition back behind the plate for Ward, and this offseason should be no different. The Angels are in the market for a catcher as they’ve been linked to free agent James McCann. However, if Dahl is signed, they may not need to shell out for a backstop, and can just shift Ward to his original position.

By signing Dahl, it will create a domino effect of possibilities that will only make the Angels better, not just this year but in the long run, as well. Angels’ fans will hopefully return to Angel stadium in 2021, and if you plan on going, make sure you get tickets behind left field, you might get a front row seat to watch a bearded sweetie patrolling the position. Let’s make it happen.