LA Angels: 6 low-risk, high-reward starting pitchers that need to be Halos

The Angels will be in the mix for lots of free agent starting pitching in the coming weeks in an effort to contend.

One thing that all Angel fans would agree on this offseason is the undeniable need for pitching help. Each of the past three years, Angel fans have entered the offseason with the high hopes of adding an ace to the pitching staff, backed consistently by ownership’s enthusiasm and promise to open their checkbooks. Each year, that promise has fallen short.

With the addition of Angels new GM Perry Minasian and his “win-now” attitude, there is reason to believe that this year will be different. Before the turn of the new year, the Angels have already filled two large holes in their opening day roster – acquiring SS Jose Iglesias from the Orioles and closer Raisel Iglesias from the Reds for very modest prospect packages – and can now focus the entirety of their efforts to the pitching staff.

With a slew of different starting pitchers reportedly available this offseason via trade and free agency, here are 3 high reward trade moves and 3 high reward free agent acquisitions that the Angels should make to finally sling-shot Mike Trout and all of his greatness into the playoffs, all while taking on relatively low risk.

Note: Some of the pitchers on this list are bonafide aces, some of them are former top-tier starters, and others are guys who can benefit from a change of scenery. However, they all have one thing in common. They can greatly benefit the Angels.

Trade Options

Jon Gray, Rockies

The Rockies selected Jon Gray with the 3rd overall pick in the 2013 MLB draft with the hopes of him being the anchor to the Rockies rotation for years to come. Like so many other pitchers who’ve come and gone through Colorado over the years, “Coors-Canaveral” has proven to be too much for Gray to handle.  With a very evident electric arm still in his arsenal, a change of scenery could be exactly what Gray needs to turn his career around. With only one year left until free agency, Gray should come at an extremely affordable price.

Blake Snell, Rays

The 2018 Cy Young award winner has been rumored to be available from the economically conscious Rays front office. With 3 young stud outfielders on the verge of breaking out of the Angels minor league system (or having just broken out in the case of Adell), the Angels can afford to take a gamble on Snell’s affordable contract by shipping off either Brandon Marsh, Jo Adell, or Jordyn Adams to TB. After singing a team-friendly 5 yr, $50M contract in 2019, Snell has 3 yrs and $40.8M left on his contract – a very reasonable number considering the kind of money that is expected to be thrown at very comparable Trevor Bauer this off-season. Snell has the innings, success, and post-season experience that the Angels need.

Sonny Gray, Reds

Sonny Gray in Cincinnati has looked like the Sonny Gray of Oakland, after an abysmal stint with the Yankees in 2017 & 2018. Perhaps the Reds showing faith in him to the tune of a 3 yr, $32M deal motivated him to be the pitcher that finished 7th in Cy Young voting in 2019. With 2 yrs and just over $20M left on his contract, the Reds could potentially be looking to off load his contract just as they did with their closer, Raisel Iglesias. Considering the extremely modest package that it took to land Iglesias, the Angels could look to plug Gray into the top of their rotation for a low-risk package.

Free Agents

Corey Kluber

Only 2 years ago, the “Klubot” was a consensus top 10, and most times top 5, starting pitcher in the league. Pitching to the tune of a 2.89 ERA in 215 IP in 2018, there was no better pitcher to have at your disposal for a big game. 2 years later, Kluber seems to of been all but forgotten in the long list of available starting pitchers. Coming off of major shoulder surgery, Kluber is expected to sign somewhere in the range of 1 year at $12M, a very reasonable and worthwhile risk for the Angels to take. Kluber would provide veteran experience for a young staff, and a high ceiling if he can reach anywhere near his 2014-2018 form, in which he threw 235.2, 222, 215, 203.2, and 215 innings respectively.

James Paxton

Angels fans know “The Big Maple” well after spending his 2013-2018 campaigns with the Mariners. After being shipped off to the Yankees, Paxton battled the injury bug in 2020 before being shut down for the remainder of the season with a 6.64 ERA in 20.1 innings pitched to his name. Expected to sign in the neighborhood of 2 yrs, $30M, Paxton could slide nicely into the heart of the Angels pitching rotation while facing lineups he knows very well from his time in the AL West.

Garrett Richards

Selected 42nd overall by the Angels in the 2009 MLB draft, Richards grew up in the minor leagues with Mike Trout, and he and Trout are good friends to this day. A career ERA of 3.62 over 804.2 innings is indicative of the kind of stuff that Richards has, and his last 6 outings in 2020 – 16.1 IP, 5 ERs & 17Ks over 2 starts and 4 relief appearances – could suggest that his elbow is almost fully recovered from Tommy John surgery. Bringing Richards back to a ballpark where he is comfortable, has established friendships throughout the team and organization, and betting on him being able to be a quality middle of the rotation arm is too good of a situation not to bet on.