%20%20--%3E%0A%3Csvg%20version%3D%221.1%22%20xmlns%3D%22http%3A%2F%2Fwww.w3.org%2F2000%2Fsvg%22%20xmlns%3Axlink%3D%22http%3A%2F%2Fwww.w3.org%2F1999%2Fxlink%22%20x%3D%220px%22%20y%3D%220px%22%0A%09%20viewBox%3D%220%200%201251.7%20200%22%20style%3D%22enable-background%3Anew%200%200%201251.7%20200%3B%22%20xml%3Aspace%3D%22preserve%22%3E%0A%3Cstyle%20type%3D%22text%2Fcss%22%3E%0A%09.st0%7Bfill%3A%23231F20%3B%7D%0A%09.st1%7Bfill%3A%23092341%3B%7D%0A%09.st2%7Bfill%3A%23BD022B%3B%7D%0A%09.st3%7Bfill%3A%23FFFFFF%3B%7D%0A%09.st4%7Bfill%3A%23F7931E%3B%7D%0A%09.st5%7Bopacity%3A0.25%3B%7D%0A%09.st6%7Bopacity%3A0.15%3B%7D%0A%3C%2Fstyle%3E%0A%3Cg%20id%3D%22Template%22%3E%0A%3C%2Fg%3E%0A%3Cg%20id%3D%22Layer_2%22%3E%0A%09%3Cg%3E%0A%09%09%3Cpath%20class%3D%22st2%22%20d%3D%22M607.5%2C68.5c-33.9%2C0-53.4%2C10.7-58.8%2C32.1h45.1c0.2-7.9%2C4.7-11.8%2C13.5-11.8c8.8%2C0%2C13.2%2C3.9%2C13.2%2C11.8v2.5%0A%09%09%09c-6.2%2C2.9-16.1%2C5-29.8%2C6.1c-13.7%2C1.2-23.6%2C3.2-29.7%2C6c-9.6%2C4.4-14.4%2C11.8-14.4%2C22.1c0%2C18.2%2C17.5%2C27.4%2C52.6%2C27.4%0A%09%09%09c8.1%2C0%2C15.2-1.4%2C21.3-4.3v3.4h43v-53.5C663.5%2C82.4%2C644.8%2C68.5%2C607.5%2C68.5z%20M620.5%2C135.9c0%2C5.9-4.5%2C8.9-13.4%2C8.9%0A%09%09%09c-9%2C0-13.4-3-13.4-8.9c0-3.3%2C1.8-5.8%2C5.4-7.5c2.2-1.1%2C5.8-1.9%2C10.7-2.4c4.9-0.6%2C8.5-1.3%2C10.7-2.4V135.9z%22%2F%3E%0A%09%09%3Cpath%20class%3D%22st2%22%20d%3D%22M742.9%2C68.5c-11.6%2C0-20.4%2C1.3-26.4%2C4v-3.2h-43v94.4h43v-60.9c0-9.6%2C3.8-14.4%2C11.3-14.4%0A%09%09%09c7.6%2C0%2C11.3%2C4.8%2C11.3%2C14.3v61h43v-57.1C782.1%2C81.2%2C769%2C68.5%2C742.9%2C68.5z%22%2F%3E%0A%09%09%3Cpath%20class%3D%22st2%22%20d%3D%22M864.6%2C72.7c-6.1-2.9-13-4.3-20.6-4.3c-35.6%2C0-53.5%2C14.7-53.5%2C44.2v7.8c0%2C29.4%2C17.8%2C44.1%2C53.5%2C44.1%0A%09%09%09c7.7%2C0%2C14.6-1.3%2C20.6-4v5.1c0%2C9.4-3.7%2C14.1-11.1%2C14.1c-7.4%2C0-11.2-3.1-11.4-9.2h-50c3%2C19.6%2C23.4%2C29.5%2C61.2%2C29.5%0A%09%09%09c36.2%2C0%2C54.3-14.7%2C54.3-44.2V69.3h-43V72.7z%20M864.6%2C130.2c0%2C9.5-3.8%2C14.3-11.3%2C14.3c-7.6%2C0-11.3-4.8-11.3-14.3V103%0A%09%09%09c0-9.5%2C3.8-14.3%2C11.3-14.3c7.6%2C0%2C11.3%2C4.8%2C11.3%2C14.3V130.2z%22%2F%3E%0A%09%09%3Cpath%20class%3D%22st2%22%20d%3D%22M978.6%2C68.5c-41.8%2C0-62.7%2C14.7-62.7%2C44.2v7.7c0%2C29.5%2C20.9%2C44.2%2C62.7%2C44.2c41.8%2C0%2C62.7-14.7%2C62.7-44.2v-7.7%0A%09%09%09C1041.3%2C83.2%2C1020.4%2C68.5%2C978.6%2C68.5z%20M990%2C130.1c0%2C9.5-3.8%2C14.3-11.3%2C14.3c-7.6%2C0-11.3-4.8-11.3-14.3v-27.3%0A%09%09%09c0-9.5%2C3.8-14.3%2C11.3-14.3c7.6%2C0%2C11.3%2C4.8%2C11.3%2C14.3V130.1z%22%2F%3E%0A%09%09%3Cpath%20class%3D%22st2%22%20d%3D%22M1115.4%2C130.2c0%2C9.5-3.8%2C14.3-11.3%2C14.3s-11.3-4.7-11.3-14.2v-61h-43v57.1c0%2C25.5%2C13.1%2C38.2%2C39.2%2C38.2%0A%09%09%09c11.6%2C0%2C20.4-1.3%2C26.4-4v3.2h43V69.3h-43V130.2z%22%2F%3E%0A%09%09%3Cpolygon%20class%3D%22st2%22%20points%3D%221230.7%2C69.3%201230.7%2C43.4%201187.7%2C43.4%201187.7%2C69.3%201166.7%2C69.3%201166.7%2C95.1%201187.7%2C95.1%201187.7%2C163.7%20%0A%09%09%091230.7%2C163.7%201230.7%2C95.1%201251.7%2C95.1%201251.7%2C69.3%20%09%09%22%2F%3E%0A%09%09%3Cpath%20class%3D%22st2%22%20d%3D%22M512.6%2C70.1c-9.1%2C6-20.2%2C11.1-32%2C15.3c-2.7%2C0.9-5.4%2C1.8-8.2%2C2.7c-2.7%2C0.8-5.4%2C1.6-8.2%2C2.4%0A%09%09%09c-1%2C0.3-2.1%2C0.6-3.1%2C0.8c-7.7%2C2-15.7%2C3.6-23.5%2C4.7c-2.8%2C0.4-5.5%2C0.6-8.2%2C0.9v66.9h43v-60.9c0-9.6%2C3.8-14.4%2C11.4-14.4%0A%09%09%09c7.5%2C0%2C11.3%2C4.8%2C11.3%2C14.3v61h43v-57.1C538.1%2C86.2%2C529.5%2C74.1%2C512.6%2C70.1z%22%2F%3E%0A%09%09%3Cpath%20class%3D%22st2%22%20d%3D%22M459.1%2C49.8c1.7-0.4%2C3.4-0.9%2C5.1-1.4c2.7-0.8%2C5.5-1.6%2C8.2-2.4v-2.5v-5.1V13.6V5.3V0h-43v14.2v8.6v20.7v5.3V55%0A%09%09%09c2.7-0.3%2C5.4-0.6%2C8.2-1C444.9%2C53%2C452.1%2C51.5%2C459.1%2C49.8z%22%2F%3E%0A%09%3C%2Fg%3E%0A%09%3Cg%3E%0A%09%09%3Cpath%20class%3D%22st3%22%20d%3D%22M69.6%2C68.5c-11.6%2C0-20.4%2C1.3-26.4%2C4V0h-43v163.7h43v-60.9c0-9.6%2C3.8-14.4%2C11.4-14.4c7.5%2C0%2C11.3%2C4.8%2C11.3%2C14.3%0A%09%09%09v61h43v-57.1C108.9%2C81.2%2C95.8%2C68.5%2C69.6%2C68.5z%22%2F%3E%0A%09%09%3Cpath%20class%3D%22st3%22%20d%3D%22M178.3%2C68.5c-33.9%2C0-53.4%2C10.7-58.8%2C32.1h45.1c0.2-7.9%2C4.7-11.8%2C13.5-11.8c8.8%2C0%2C13.2%2C3.9%2C13.2%2C11.8v2.5%0A%09%09%09c-6.2%2C2.9-16.1%2C5-29.8%2C6.1c-13.7%2C1.2-23.6%2C3.2-29.7%2C6c-9.6%2C4.4-14.4%2C11.8-14.4%2C22.1c0%2C18.2%2C17.5%2C27.4%2C52.6%2C27.4%0A%09%09%09c8.1%2C0%2C15.2-1.4%2C21.3-4.3v3.4h43v-53.5C234.3%2C82.4%2C215.6%2C68.5%2C178.3%2C68.5z%20M191.3%2C135.9c0%2C5.9-4.5%2C8.9-13.4%2C8.9s-13.4-3-13.4-8.9%0A%09%09%09c0-3.3%2C1.8-5.8%2C5.4-7.5c2.2-1.1%2C5.8-1.9%2C10.7-2.4c4.9-0.6%2C8.5-1.3%2C10.7-2.4V135.9z%22%2F%3E%0A%09%09%3Crect%20x%3D%22244.3%22%20y%3D%220%22%20class%3D%22st3%22%20width%3D%2243%22%20height%3D%22163.7%22%2F%3E%0A%09%09%3Cpath%20class%3D%22st3%22%20d%3D%22M418.8%2C97.5c-1.4%2C0.1-2.7%2C0.1-4%2C0.1c-34.3%2C0-45-13.7-47.9-25.2c-0.3-1.3-0.5-2.5-0.7-3.8%0A%09%09%09c-2.5-0.1-5.1-0.2-7.8-0.2c-41.8%2C0-62.7%2C14.7-62.7%2C44.2v7.7c0%2C29.5%2C20.9%2C44.2%2C62.7%2C44.2s62.7-14.7%2C62.7-44.2v-7.7%0A%09%09%09C421%2C107.1%2C420.3%2C102%2C418.8%2C97.5z%20M369.7%2C130.1c0%2C9.5-3.8%2C14.3-11.3%2C14.3c-7.6%2C0-11.3-4.8-11.3-14.3v-27.3%0A%09%09%09c0-9.5%2C3.8-14.3%2C11.3-14.3c7.6%2C0%2C11.3%2C4.8%2C11.3%2C14.3V130.1z%22%2F%3E%0A%09%3C%2Fg%3E%0A%09%3Cpath%20class%3D%22st4%22%20d%3D%22M527%2C31.8L527%2C31.8c-3.9-15.5-23.5-20-46.4-18.9v24.6c8.9-0.5%2C15.7%2C0%2C19.8%2C1c-3.5%2C3.1-10.3%2C7.4-19.8%2C11.6%0A%09%09c-2.5%2C1.1-5.2%2C2.2-8.2%2C3.3c-2.6%2C1-5.3%2C1.9-8.2%2C2.8c-3.5%2C1.1-7.2%2C2.2-11.2%2C3.2c-5.5%2C1.4-10.6%2C2.4-15.4%2C3.2c-2.9%2C0.5-5.6%2C0.9-8.2%2C1.2%0A%09%09c-2.9%2C0.3-5.6%2C0.6-8.2%2C0.7c-8.9%2C0.5-15.7%2C0-19.8-1c3.5-3.1%2C10.3-7.4%2C19.8-11.6V25.5c-27.6%2C10.2-51.2%2C25.9-46.4%2C44.9%0A%09%09c3.5%2C14%2C19.9%2C19.1%2C40%2C19.1c2.1%2C0%2C4.3-0.2%2C6.5-0.3c2.7-0.1%2C5.4-0.3%2C8.2-0.6c2.7-0.3%2C5.4-0.6%2C8.2-1c7.2-1.1%2C14.5-2.5%2C21.5-4.3%0A%09%09c1.7-0.4%2C3.4-0.9%2C5.1-1.4c2.7-0.8%2C5.5-1.6%2C8.2-2.4c2.8-0.9%2C5.5-1.8%2C8.2-2.8C508.2%2C66.5%2C531.8%2C50.7%2C527%2C31.8z%22%2F%3E%0A%3C%2Fg%3E%0A%3C%2Fsvg%3E%0A)
1 Angels trade, 1 free agent, and 1 internal option to replace Shohei Ohtani as DH
There is no replacing a player like Shohei Ohtani, but these three hitters wouldn't be bad options to turn to if he leaves in free agency.
Much of what the Los Angeles Angels plan on doing this offseason hinges on what Shohei Ohtani decides to do in free agency. If they're able to bring him back, he'll only be a DH for the 2024 season as he won't throw a single pitch until 2025.
The likely scenario with Ohtani has been the Angels watching him depart. If that happens, the Angels obviously lose the guy who was the best hitter in the game. If this does happen, finding a replacement for Shohei will be difficult.
The Angels can look internally or externally for Ohtani's replacement if he does leave.
1) Angels trade target to replace Shohei Ohtani at DH: Eloy Jimenez
The Chicago White Sox are in a brutal spot right now. They had a team they felt could compete for a playoff spot in 2023 but struggled from the jump and wound up major sellers at the deadline. The Angels, of course, linked up with them in the Lucas Giolito and Reynaldo Lopez trade and could do so again for Eloy Jimenez.
Chicago has to decide if they want to totally rebuild. They should, but haven't traded their best players like Dylan Cease, Luis Robert Jr., and Eloy. Jimenez is a player several teams including the Marlins and Brewers reportedly expressed interest in at the deadline. If Chicago is willing to move him, the Angels should be calling.
The talent Jimenez has is undeniable. He's not a great defender, but that's not an issue if he's plugged in as the primary DH. His bat, when healthy, is very good. This past season Jimenez played in 120 games and slashed .272/.317/.441 with 18 home runs and 64 RBI.
Injuries have been a constant for Jimenez, but if he's the DH most of the time that should help him stay on the field more. He's hit as many as 31 home runs in a season and has had as high as an .891 OPS. He's set to make $13 million this season with club options in each of the following two seasons worth $16.5 million each. It's a bargain for a player with his kind of talent and upside.
2) Angels free agent target to replace Shohei Ohtani at DH: J.D. Martinez
If Shohei does leave in free agency, why not just replace him with the second-best DH on the market? J.D. Martinez re-established himself this past season as a premier offensive player who'd fit in perfectly in the middle of just about any lineup.
After back issues compromised him in some capacity in 2022, Martinez slashed .271/.321/.572 with 33 home runs and 113 RBI in 113 games this season. He had a couple of stints on the IL this season which is why he missed 49 games, but he was a star when healthy.
Martinez's age (just turned 36) and inability to play the field should limit his value in free agency a bit. He'll still get paid, obviously, but the years and AAV will be limited. If the Angels can bring him in for a year or maybe two to hit in the middle of their order I don't see why that'd be a bad move. Worst case if the team isn't good he can be flipped at the deadline in exchange for something that can help them win in the future.
If Ohtani leaves, adding another bat is important. The lineup without Shohei can be somewhat decent, but they were in the middle of the pack in runs scored with him. I do not want to think about where they finish without him and with no other addition. Martinez is the best bat out there not named Shohei in a weak free agency class.
3) Angels internal option to replace Shohei Ohtani: Luis Rengifo
If Ohtani does leave and the Angels choose to focus on bringing in pitching this offseason, they won't have a solidified DH. Guys like Mike Trout and Anthony Rendon figure to get much more time there, and hopefully that'd help keep them healthy, or at least healthier.
The player I believe will replace Ohtani's spot in the lineup is Luis Rengifo who finished as strongly as any Angels player has in a long time this past season and deserves a look in an everyday role. Rengifo was one of the best players in baseball in the second half and was one of very few bright spots for the Angels in an abysmal August before he went down with a season-ending injury.
Rengifo figures to play a key role in 2024, but he doesn't have a solidified everyday role. He can play three of the four infield spots, but they're taken up by Anthony Rendon, Zach Neto, and Brandon Drury. He can play the outfield as well but that's full with Taylor Ward, Mike Trout, and Mickey Moniak there with Jo Adell vying for at-bats as well.
Rengifo as of now is the Anthony Rendon replacement at third base who will earn spot starts everywhere else that he can, but if Ohtani comes back or the Angels sign someone to take Ohtani's spot, he simply doesn't have that everyday role. Ohtani leaving opens that up. I'd expect him to play mostly the field with Rendon getting a lot of DH at-bats in an attempt to keep him on the field in some capacity.
manual