LA Angels: 3 free agent mistakes Perry Minasian cannot afford

Oct 11, 2021; Los Angeles, California, USA; Los Angeles Dodgers pitcher Clayton Kershaw (22) before game three of the 2021 NLDS against the San Francisco Giants at Dodger Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Gary A. Vasquez-USA TODAY Sports
Oct 11, 2021; Los Angeles, California, USA; Los Angeles Dodgers pitcher Clayton Kershaw (22) before game three of the 2021 NLDS against the San Francisco Giants at Dodger Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Gary A. Vasquez-USA TODAY Sports
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Oct 1, 2021; Los Angeles, California, USA; Los Angeles Dodgers starting pitcher Clayton Kershaw (22) leaves the game with trainer Neil Rampe during the second inning against the Milwaukee Brewers at Dodger Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Gary A. Vasquez-USA TODAY Sports
Oct 1, 2021; Los Angeles, California, USA; Los Angeles Dodgers starting pitcher Clayton Kershaw (22) leaves the game with trainer Neil Rampe during the second inning against the Milwaukee Brewers at Dodger Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Gary A. Vasquez-USA TODAY Sports

No. 2 free agent mistake Perry Minasian and the LA Angels cannot afford: Signing Clayton Kershaw

Clayton Kershaw is a free agent this offseason, and the LA Angels need starting pitching badly. I wouldn’t bother with Kershaw if I were Perry Minasian, however.

There’s so much that’s unknown about his injury. We don’t really know what we’d be getting into if we went after him, and he’s not young at 33 years old.

He’s also coming off of the worst year of his career since his rookie season. It was still a solid year for Kershaw, as he recorded a 3.55 ERA, walked just 1.6 batters per nine innings, struck out 10.7 batters per nine innings, and posted a 1.019 WHIP.

That being said, free agency needs to be about momentum. Kershaw doesn’t have any of that right now.

There are so many better pitchers available this offseason. Some of them are older, yes. However, some of these older guys still have more going for them now.

There’s too much uncertainly with Kershaw right now to go out and spend big money on him.

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