3 impact bats the Angels could pivot to after losing out on Anthony Santander

The Angels had been linked by several insiders to Anthony Santander whom they ultimately lost out on to the Toronto Blue Jays, indicating a desire to add more pop to the lineup. Santander wasn't the perfect player, but his strengths, specifically power and the ability to provide it from the left side as well as the right, fit the Angels lineup like a dream.

There are still three impact hitters on the market who can provide an approximation of what Santander would've brought to Anaheim. Like Santander, they are not perfect players, and some don't fit as well as the newest addition to the Blue Jays would have. Still, in some cases, the team has reportedly had an interest in at least one of them, and all three would bring something to the table to a team that reportedly wants to compete in 2025.

Some of these players have not been linked to the Halos, despite the obviousness of the fit, while others have been even if their projected place on the Angels' roster might be a bit clunky. Still, all would improve the team in 2025 and put the Angels in a better spot to compete after a disastrous 63-99 2024 campaign.

1. The Angels could sign Pete Alonso

Perhaps one of the strangest offseason sagas has been Pete Alonso's free agency. Initially seen as one of the premier bats on the market, it almost appeared that he was destined to wind up with whichever New York team lost out in the Juan Soto sweepstakes. Except that didn't happen, and the first base musical chairs started swirling leaving him without many options to sit.

As many as eight teams, including the Angels, have been rumored to be interested in Alonso who is engaged in the most awkward staring contest imaginable with his former employer, the New York Mets, even offering them a contract proposal well below the value of the extension he rejected with them, and seeing them respond with a much lower counter offer.

While his return to Queens seems inevitable, there's a chance the Angels could steal him away. The team is still scarred by the long-term contract they last doled out to a prominent free-agent first baseman, and that player, Albert Pujols, was a significantly more well-rounded hitter than Pete Alonso whose last two seasons have been the worst two of his career and whose only exceptional skill is his prodigious power.

However, this is a player with a 50-home run season on his resume and while imperfect, could provide a massive boost to the lineup on a short-term, high AAV deal. Yes, he would displace the incumbent first baseman Nolan Schanuel who would either find himself on the trade block or out in left field which would then force Taylor Ward out of the picture, so things could get messy.

Moreover, Alonso while adding power, is a right-handed hitter which doesn't necessarily fit to satisfy one of the Angels' most pressing remaining needs. Santander obviously fit the squad better, but if it's power the Halos seek no one currently available does that better than Pete Alonso.

2. The Angels could add Jurickson Profar to the outfield after missing out

Jurickson Profar has had quite a strange career. Once a top shortstop prospect with the Texas Rangers who made his big league debut at 19, he never really established himself in the Lone Star state and mostly served as a utility man. He then transformed into an outfielder and finally became an All-Star last season at the tender age of 31.

While his 2024 season was a revelation, his performance since becoming an everyday player has been a bit of a roller coaster. Just check out his wRC+ fluctuation from 2018 through 2024 which in order are; 107, 90, 113, 87, 110, 78, and 139. Seems to be a pattern right? Good in even years and very bad in odd years. Perhaps that's a sign that he's not a fit for the 2025 Angels?

In all seriousness, however, Profar is the best-remaining outfielder on the market, a switch hitter (filling the need for a bat that can hit from the left side), and has some pop with three career seasons of 20 or more homers.

In theory, he could provide what the Angels are looking for, and as the start of spring training draws closer, he might accept a shorter and cheaper contract than originally expected. However, it's hard to conclusively say that he's better than Taylor Ward, or even Jo Adell for that matter. At which point, you sort of have to ask to question, "What's the point?"

Signing Profar, unless you believe he can still play in the infield, is something that doesn't seem likely. He last played third base back in 2018, and while his experience at second is more recent (1 game in 2023 and 10 in 2021) the last time he played there regularly was for 124 games back in 2019. It's safe to say that, aside from maybe as an emergency in-game injury replacement, his days at those two positions are over.

In all, Profar isn't the best option for what the Angels need, though he is AN option.

3. The Angels could do the unlikely, yet logical thing and sign Alex Bregman

There hasn't really been much connecting Bregman to the Angels, though at least some insiders have thought it possible the Halos could sign a free agent with the qualifying offer attached. Looking at the Angels' needs, if they were to get into that market Bregman makes the most sense.

The Halos need either a second or third baseman depending on where you slot Luis Rengifo, and among the available crop of free agents at both positions, Bregman is by far the best player.

Before getting into his offensive game, it's important to note that out of the three top-end options, he's the only one who is a positive with the glove. Last season his defensive performance generated 6 outs above average as well as 6 defensive runs saved, indicating that he can still play the hot corner at a high level.

The cause for concern comes with the bat. While no one will scoff at Bregman's 118 wRC+ in 2024, his walk rate plummeted to a career-low 6.9% yielding the second-lowest on-base percentage of his career, a .315 mark that was only better than the .313 number he put up upon his debut in 2016.

Both his average exit velocity and his hard hit rate last season were relatively pedestrian, each ranking in the 51st percentile, so while he hit 26 dingers and posted a respectable .453 slugging percentage, his expected slugging percentage was just .417. This is not a new trend for Bregman and has led many to believe that he'd struggle outside the friendly confines of the Crawford Boxes in Houston.

That said, the home field concerns are a bit overblown as over his career Bregman actually has a higher slugging percentage on the road than at home to the tune of .489 to .476.

The bigger concern for the Angels is that Bregman reportedly has not backed down from his desire to secure a lucrative long-term deal, and the team is still reeling from the last time they handled a handsome sum over a lengthy number of years to a hot shot third baseman, Anthony Rendon, who after five miserable years they are desperately seeking to upgrade from.

Ultimately, the market will dictate what Bregman receives and so far, it seems to say that a long-term big-money deal isn't in the cards for the former Astros slugger. Ever so slowly, interested suitors seem to be bowing out, as his former club seems to have moved on acquiring both a present and future replacement in the Kyle Tucker trade, and the Blue Jays just handed the bag to Anthony Santander.

All it takes is for one team to overpay for Bregman to get his wish, but if his desired commitment in terms of years were to drop, the Halos would be wise to pounce. Whether or not they will is another story entirely.

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