New York Post predicts Raisel Iglesias stays with Angels on massive deal

The New York Post‘s Ken Davidoff listed his top 40 free agents, and LA Angels‘ closer Raisel Iglesias was the No. 1 closer on the list.

He was listed as the No. 23 free agent in baseball. The high praise that Iglesias is receiving this offseason is earned. He just had 34 saves and recorded a 2.57 ERA in 2021.

The issue with that, however, is that this means that the Angels are going to have quite a bit of competition for him this offseason. They did extend him a Qualifying Offer, but Davidoff doesn’t have him taking the $18.4 million.

Davidoff, does, however, have Raisel Iglesias staying with the LA Angels.

Davidoff has Raisel Iglesias signing with the LA Angels on a four-year deal worth $60 million. Of course, that’s much less average annual value than the $18.4 million he could get just by picking up the Qualifying Offer. That being said, nobody is going to pay Iglesias $18.4 million for four years.

$15 million per year is about how much anyone is going to give him over the course of four years, and Angels fans will be very excited to hear it if it’s the Angels giving it to him.

And he deserves it. In these last two years he’s posted a 0.925 WHIP to go along with a ridiculous ERA+ of 176. We’d be signing him to a long-term deal at the perfect time. He’s coming off of a season where he struck out a career-high high 13.2 strikeouts per nine innings and walked a career-low 1.5 batters per nine innings.

It would be a record salary for Iglesias if he picks up the $18.4 million that’s on the table for him next year. However, if a reliever can get four years guaranteed on a contract for $15 million, he’s going to do it.

And the Angels need to make sure they get it done. He’s one of the top closers in baseball, and they already chose to not trade him and get significant compensation for him at the trade deadline. They wanted to make a commitment to him then, and need to continue making that commitment.