These 2 LA Angels FAs are in Top 50 of MLB according to Fangraphs

The LA Angels have many free agents from their 2021 squad to make decisions on this offseason, and it’s clear as to which two are most important.

Raisel Iglesias and Alex Cobb are not only the two best free agents from the Angels, but they are also the most vital for the Halos to sign. The Angels have already gotten cooking on Iglesias; extending him the Qualifying Offer.

Fangraphs released their ‘2022 Top 50 Free Agents’ in this class, and both were on it. It proves that Iglesias and Cobb aren’t only important for our Angels, but could end up being important players in the overall free agency scene in general.

The LA Angels are going to have some competition for Raisel Iglesias and Alex Cobb.

Raisel Iglesias has turned into one of the best closers in baseball with the LA Angels, recording 34 saves to go along with a 2.57 ERA and an 0.929 WHIP this year. He struck out a career-high 13.2 batters per nine innings, largely due to his improving fastball which has turned into one of the best in the game.

The Qualifying Offer is for $18.4 million, which would be a record deal for a relief pitcher (Liam Hendriks’ 18 mill is currently the record.

Iglesias walked a career-low 1.5 walks per nine innings, adding to his great statistical resume. He’s going to be highly sought after if he turns down that QO, which he very well might do. That $18.4 million is about how much he could make on a one-year deal, but he can likely get that average annual value for multiple years in another deal.

With him being listed as the No. 24 free agent in this class (No. 1 out of relief pitchers), it goes to show that he’ll certainly have plenty of interest from around the league. Therefore, the Angels need to make a commitment to Iglesias, and be willing to outspend the rest.

They already chose to not trade him at the deadline. Perry Minasian clearly wants to keep him, and needs to go all out.

As far as Cobb goes, it’s all going to come down to money. He’s the No. 38 free agent available according to Fangraphs (No. 16 out of starting pitchers). So, he’s a good pitcher, but there are many ahead of him in line for the big deals.

The Angels might want to wait a little bit before committing too much money to him, but he may end up costing a lot by default due to the strong market for starters that there is this offseason.

Ideally, the Angels come into next season with Cobb as the No. 4 starter on a great rotation (once they pick up an Ace and a No. 2/3 to go along with Shohei Ohtani). If Cobb is willing to be paid like a No. 4 option, than the Angels should bring him back.

He’s solid, improving once again this year after his tough 2019 with an 8-3 record, a 3.76 ERA, and a 1.264 WHIP. He’s getting better, he’s expressed that he would like to stay, and we certainly felt his absence during the times this year when he was injured.

The Angels need to try to keep the chemistry that they do have together, and take negotiations with Iglesias and Cobb seriously.