4 likely non-tender candidates the Angels must target this November

Los Angeles Angels fans are hoping for an active offseason filled with big names. The hopes are that the new ownership will pour money into this team, pulling them from the depths they've reached.

While that very well could happen, the team also needs a full roster, and that means the back end of the 26- and 40-man rosters will need to be fleshed out. Teams do that with a mix of internal promotions, trades, waiver claims, and low-end free agents. The low-end free agents usually come in the form of players who were non-tendered.

The Halos can't fix all of their problems this offseason with big free agents. They will have to scour the bargain bin like everyone else and sign players who another team may have given up on, but can still provide value. Here are a few names that are non-tender candidates that the Angels should target.

4 likely non-tender candidates the Angels must target this November

Kutter Crawford, RHP - Red Sox

Crawford is a right-handed starting pitcher who has missed the last two seasons due to two different injuries. Right patellar tendinopathy cost him all of 2025, and right wrist surgery cost him all of 2026. Crawford was a solid pitcher for the Red Sox before the injuries, though.

In 2023, the righty made 31 appearances, 23 of which were starts, and had a 4.04 ERA in 129 innings. He had a 25.6 K% that year, and only a 6.8 BB%. In 2024, Crawford made 33 starts and pitched 183 innings with a 4.36 ERA, with a 23.1 K% and 6.7 BB%. He was a reliable innings eater in Boston, even if he wasn't dominant.

The Red Sox may choose to move on from him after not seeing him pitch for two seasons and dealing with a roster crunch. He'll be 31 next season, and the Angels could certainly take the flyer on someone who could provide solid innings in the back end of the rotation.

Huascar Brazoban, RHP - White Sox

The 37-year-old reliever could be a steal for the Angels if the White Sox choose to let him go. Brazoban may not look like a non-tender candidate on the surface, but after being traded to Chicago at the deadline, his numbers weren't sharp.

For the season, the righty had an ERA just under three in 67 innings, but most of that came with the Mets. Before being traded, he had a 2.56 ERA and 3.35 FIP. After being traded, he had a 4.40 ERA and 5.19 FIP. The White Sox didn't trust him in the playoffs and left him off the ALDS roster.

Brazoban has been a very solid reliever in his career, and over the last three seasons, he has posted a 3.42 ERA in 151 games. The Angels could absolutely use an arm like him in the pen to steady the middle innings.

Matt Vierling, UTIL - Tigers

Just two seasons ago, Vierling played 144 games for the Tigers and was almost a three WAR player. Now, he's played just 123 games in the last two seasons, had a negative WAR in each, and there isn't room for him on the Tigers' roster. The Angels could certainly take a flyer on him.

Vierling can play all three outfield spots as well as third base, all places the Angels could use an extra player. Despite having a .617 and .590 OPS in the last two seasons, respectively, he was still in the top percentiles in whiff rate and strikeout rate. His expected batting average was also .256. He seems like a bounce-back candidate the Angels could really take advantage of.

Mark Vientos, 3B/1B - Mets

This is more of a long shot, but there is a chance the Mets are going to give up on Vientos this offseason. After breaking out in 2024, the soon-to-be 27-year-old has been worth -1.5 bWAR the last two years and has a .225/.277/.405/.682 slashline and 91 OPS+. He played well below-average defense at first base this season after being forced there by the signing of Bo Bichette, who declined his opt-out.

If the Mets decide to give up on Vientos, the Angels should jump on the opportunity. They could allow him to play his natural position at third base while rotating him at DH as well. If they can unlock the 30-homer power he showed, it would be a major boost to their lineup next season.

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