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4 incredibly high-profile free agents that the LA Angels just don’t need

Evan Desai|
Oct 1, 2021; Houston, Texas, USA; Oakland Athletics center fielder Starling Marte (2) celebrates first baseman Matt Olson (28) (not pictured) hitting a two run home run against the Houston Astros in the sixth inning at Minute Maid Park. Mandatory Credit: Thomas Shea-USA TODAY Sports
Oct 1, 2021; Houston, Texas, USA; Oakland Athletics center fielder Starling Marte (2) celebrates first baseman Matt Olson (28) (not pictured) hitting a two run home run against the Houston Astros in the sixth inning at Minute Maid Park. Mandatory Credit: Thomas Shea-USA TODAY Sports
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Oct 7, 2021; St. Petersburg, Florida, USA; Tampa Bay Rays designated hitter Nelson Cruz (23) hits a home run during the third inning of game one of the 2021 ALDS against the Boston Red Sox at Tropicana Field. Mandatory Credit: Mike Watters-USA TODAY Sports
Oct 7, 2021; St. Petersburg, Florida, USA; Tampa Bay Rays designated hitter Nelson Cruz (23) hits a home run during the third inning of game one of the 2021 ALDS against the Boston Red Sox at Tropicana Field. Mandatory Credit: Mike Watters-USA TODAY Sports

No. 3 incredibly high-profile free agent that the LA Angels just don’t need: Nelson Cruz

Again, there’s just no space on the LA Angels for Nelson Cruz. He’s coming off of his seventh All-Star campaign, and is an outstanding player, but we already have outfield plans for next year.

We’ll have Mike Trout back, and are likely going to be keeping both Brandon Marsh and Jo Adell up in the Big Leagues. We’re paying Justin Upton a lot of money for next year too. That’s a lot of money to commit to the outfield if we also sign Cruz.

And again, he’s not an option as a DH either due to us having Shohei Ohtani at our disposal. And besides, Cruz finished the season poorly. He went from hitting .294/.370/.537 (.907 OPS) in Minnesota to .226/.283/.442 (.725 OPS) in Tampa after he was traded this season.

He’s a guy who’s hit against AL pitching for 16 straight years now, and that’s valuable. We look too good in the positions he plays, however, to go after him.

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