LA Angels: Halos are getting offensive production from these 2 veterans

In possibly his final MLB season and the final year of his historic ten-year, $240 million deal with the Angels, first baseman Albert Pujols is looking to go out with a bang.

The future Hall of Famer is tied for third on the team in home runs (5), and fourth in RBI (12) through 19 games this season. His .224 batting average isn’t anything to write home about, but his .448 slugging percentage is well above league average (.390) and his highest since 2015 (.480), the last time Pujols was named an All-Star. Pujols also ranks in the Top-6 percent of the majors with an 11.1 strikeout percentage this season.

The Angels will benefit with any production from Albert Pujols.

At this point in his career, it’s asking a lot for Pujols to go back to his days as a .300 hitter, so getting a hit in one out of every four at-bats (.250 BA) would be more than ideal for this Angels offense.

Some other advanced metrics that show Pujols’ production are his average exit velocity (90.7 MPH) which is fifth on the team and his Expected Weighted On-Base Average (.391 xwOBA) which is good for third on the Halos and Top-40 in the majors. Pujols ranks 34th in the league in xwOBA just behind Mets first baseman Pete Alonso (.393 xwOBA). He is also three percent above MLB’s average Weighted Runs Created-Plus (100) with a 103 wRC+.

Pujols isn’t putting up the production some would prefer on a $30 million salary, but he’s still contributing the Angels offense nonetheless. That’s plenty more than most 41-year-olds can say.

Many times before and during this season, I’ve reiterated the idea that Justin Upton will be the Angels’ X-Factor this season and I still strongly believe that.

The 33-year-old is slashing .240/.301/.467 through 20 games and is tied for third on the team with five home runs and fourth with 12 RBI. Similar to Pujols, I think a .300 batting average is out of the question, but if Upton continues these offensive trends it will result in positive outcomes for the Halos.

Upton ranks third on the team with a 92.5 MPH average exit velocity and he’s fourth in hard-hit percentage (51%). He’s also fifth on the Angels with a 117 wRC+ and has delivered a .250 batting average with runners in scoring position this season.

More from Albert Pujols

• What can LA Angels do with freed up money from Albert Pujols contract?
• Shohei Ohtani, Jared Walsh prove releasing Albert Pujols was right move
• Albert Pujols: Has slugger revived his career after leaving the LA Angels?
• LA Angels: Things without Albert Pujols
• Albert Pujols: Reaction to Dodgers signing former Angel

The former All-Star is in the midst of an 11-game hitting streak and holds a .279 batting average with four home runs and seven RBI in that span.

This Angels lineup is a lot better than with Upton producing, plain and simple. He brings another element and adds more potential to what’s already a Top-10 MLB offense.

Angels: Justin Upton is building up his trade value.

Upton has two-years, $52.7 million remaining on his current deal before becoming a free agent in 2023. If the Angels fall out of contention by the deadline, I think he will be a slugger getting looked at by contending teams, so long as he continues his current offensive trends. It might take the Halos absorbing the burden of his contract in a salary dump similar to the Dexter Fowler trade, but it’s not out of the question given the young outfield prospects waiting for their shot in the big leagues.

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It’s going to take a lot more than just Trout and Ohtani to carry the team offensively this season, and right now Pujols and Upton are doing their parts to contribute.

It hasn’t been picture perfect, but it’s been enough to help the Angels win games.