Angels News: A breakdown of 1-year deals and the current payroll

The offseason moves by general manager Perry Minasian have addressed some needs, but Angels fans are left wanting more. The transactions involve some well-regarded players and are considered cost-effective. The glaring similarity in each deal is the one-year contracts attached to each player.

On Friday, the Angels officially announced a one-year, $8 million deal with starting pitcher Jose Quintana. The lefty joins catcher Kurt Suzuki who was also signed to a one-year, $1.5 million deal.

The Angels have set up one-year contracts because they are still unsure if they will be competitors in 2021.

Earlier this offseason, Minasian traded for shortstop Jose Iglesias and relief pitchers Raisel Iglesias and Alex Claudio, all of whom are entering the final year of their contracts. The new additions figure to have a meaningful impact in 2021, and join the eight total Angels who will become free agents following this season.

Angels 2022 Free Agents + Current Salary

• 1B/DH Albert Pujols ($30 million)
• RHP Raisel Iglesias ($9.125 million)
• RHP Dylan Bundy ($8.33 million)
• LHP Jose Quintana ($8 million)
• LHP Andrew Heaney ($6.75 million)
• SS Jose Iglesias ($6 million)
• C Kurt Suzuki ($1.5 million)
• LHP Alex Claudio ($1.13 million)

The upcoming Angels free agents will unload a little over $70 million on next season’s payroll, and that number will increase following the end of Justin Upton’s current two-year, $51 million deal. If Moreno and the Angels choose to bring out their checkbooks in the next season or two, there will be some notable free agents to go after.

There’s still a ways to go in the offseason before we determine how serious of a contender Moreno and Minasian view this current Angels team. There is a great foundation in place, but the team is one or two high-level players away from being a true threat in the league.

It’s not like there will be a bunch of scrubs on the field; it’s far from that. You have arguably two of baseball’s best players in Mike Trout and Anthony Rendon, with some solid role players surrounding them.

If the Angels are serious about competing this season, there will be significant moves made in the next few weeks.

One of the biggest areas of improvement is needed in the starting rotation, which the Angels have kind of addressed. Quintana was a nice pickup, but his history proves he is far from an ace. Maybe a pitcher like Bundy can take the big leap forward, but the way I see it why should they hope for the best, when there are suitable options out there to add to what is currently in place?

Just look at the Padres and Yankees. Both teams have gone out and found ways to retool their rotations. I find it hard to believe the Angels could not have struck similar deals.

If there are no significant moves made between now and opening day, it’s safe to say Moreno and Minasian are hoping for the best with this group in 2021. I see this going one of two ways.

1. Scenario (A): The current group of players keeps the Angels in contention long enough where the team can make an impact move at the trade deadline and for a World Series run.
2. Scenario (B): The Angels fall out of contention, and the team begins trading all of their one-year rental players at the deadline.

Want your voice heard? Join the Halo Hangout team!

Write for us!

If Moreno believes the Angels are not good enough in 2021, he views each of those scenarios as a win-win for the future. If the team signs Bauer or makes a blockbuster trade at some point in the next few weeks, I’ll be proven otherwise.