1 trade candidate from every MLB team that the Angels should consider

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Los Angeles Angels general manager Perry Minasian has an extremely difficult task ahead of him. Try and field a winner. The Angels just wrapped up their eighth consecutive losing season, and that was with Shohei Ohtani putting up the best season in franchise history. With Ohtani being a free agent, the future feels quite bleak.

Because of who the owner is, the Angels will likely be trying to win games whether Ohtani chooses to stay or not, even though they won just 73 games with him being a league MVP. While the Angels would like to do most of their damage in free agency, there's a good chance Minasian will have to turn to the trade market to try and find value within their budget.

The Angels don't have great assets, so that limits the return they can get in trades. Despite that, Minasian has enough ammo at his disposal to get certain deals done, even if they can't land players like Juan Soto or Corbin Burnes.

1 trade candidate from every AL West team that the Angels should consider

Houston Astros: Jose Urquidy

Trading with division rivals is very challenging, so the players from the AL West won't be anything crazy. The Astros are a team, of course, attempting to compete so the chances of them giving up anyone super valuable are slim, especially to the Angels. Jose Urquidy would have value in the back of the Angels rotation but is currently on the outside looking in when it comes to starting games in Houston.

Oakland Athletics: Paul Blackburn

The Athletics have made it abundantly clear that they're willing to trade anyone of value as they attempt to save money and lose games. Paul Blackburn could be on the move from Oakland this offseason, and would be a solid addition to this Angels rotation.

Seattle Mariners: Marco Gonzales

The Mariners are a team loaded with pitching but are a bit lackluster when it comes to offense. Marco Gonzales is coming off a down year in which he only made 10 starts for Seattle, but when healthy he's a pretty valuable innings eater, making at least 25 starts in each of the last four full seasons prior to 2023.

Texas Rangers: Jon Gray

The defending champs have Shohei Ohtani at the top of their priority list for this offseason. If they do convince him to come to Arlington, there's a good chance they'll want to trade a guy like Jon Gray who is set to make $13 million in each of the next two years. He'd be a solid mid-rotation arm for this Angels team that needs pitching desperately.

1 trade candidate from every AL East team that the Angels should consider

Baltimore Orioles: Jorge Mateo

The Orioles have an abundance of infielders that will see their playing time diminish even further once top prospect Jackson Holiday makes it to the show. One of those infielders that's already on the bench is Jorge Mateo, and he could be on his way out to help fill another need. Mateo isn't much of a hitter but is an elite defender with blazing speed. He led the league with 35 stolen bases in 2022 and added 32 more last season. He'd be a solid backup infielder option.

Boston Red Sox: Tanner Houck

The Red Sox are another team needing rotation help, and will likely be competing against the Angels in the free agent and trade market to get it. Assuming they do, Tanner Houck would likely be bumped from their rotation. He'd be a fine fifth starter for the Angels, and could also work well out of the bullpen. He has a 2.68 ERA in 33 appearances in relief throughout his career.

New York Yankees: Clarke Schmidt

If the Yankees land Yoshinobu Yamamoto like many project, Clarke Schmidt would presumably be bumped from their rotation. He made 32 starts for the Yankees last season and is under team control through 2027. He could be a nice arm for the Halos to build around.

Tampa Bay Rays: Tyler Glasnow

The biggest name on this list so far is Tyler Glasnow who when healthy is an ace. The problem is, Glasnow has never been consistently healthy in his career. His durability and one year of team control at a hefty sum of $25 million is what would presumably make him available even for a team like the Angels. It's a risk, but could prove to be worthwhile if he stays healthy.

Toronto Blue Jays: Alek Manoah

Just last year Alek Manoah finished as an AL Cy Young finalist. He struggled mightily in 2023 to the point where he was sent down a couple times to the minors. There's a chance Toronto makes him available, and if they do, the Angels should pounce. 2023 was bad, of course, but Manoah doesn't even hit arbitration until 2025 and is under team control through 2027. Even if he's a mid-rotation guy, his value has sunk to the point where acquiring him would be a win for the Angels.

1 trade candidate from every AL Central team that the Angels should consider

Chicago White Sox: Gregory Santos

The Angels need bullpen help as well, and Gregory Santos could provide that in a big way. The right-hander broke out in 2023 for the White Sox, posting a 3.39 ERA with a 2.65 FIP in 60 appearances. He doesn't even hit arbitration until 2026 which could make him very hard to acquire, but if there's any chance the Angels can acquire the hard-thrower from the rebuilding White Sox they should strongly consider it.

Cleveland Guardians: Cal Quantrill

The Guardians could be looking to retool a bit following the departure of manager Terry Francona. If they do, expect Cleveland to trade from their position of strength, the rotation. Shane Bieber is the big name that could become available, but he has just one year of team control and bad peripherals. Cal Quantrill has an extra year of team control and wouldn't cost as much in a trade. His strong finish to 2023 (2.76 ERA in September) will likely open some eyes.

Detroit Tigers: Alex Lange

Alex Lange had his ups and downs in his first full season as the Tigers closer, but he did strike out 10.8 batters per nine and held the opposition to a .185 batting average against. He's entering his first year of arbitration and has one of the best curveballs in all of baseball. He'd be a solid get for the Angels bullpen.

Kansas City Royals: Brady Singer

2023 was a rough year for Brady Singer but he was considered one of the brighter young starters in the game entering the year following a 3.23 ERA season in 2022. Singer comes with three years of additional control and could wind up being a lynchpin in the Angels rotation considering the fact that he's still just 27 years old. He'd be a good buy-low option.

Minnesota Twins: Jose Miranda

Jose Miranda had a strong rookie year in 2022 but followed that up with a dud of a season in 2023. The 25-year-old is now completely blocked in Minnesota's infield by the likes of Royce Lewis, Carlos Correa, Edouard Julien, and Jorge Polanco. Minnesota could look to trade him now with that in mind, and the Angels should look into it if he does become available. He's versatile and has shown promise before at the big league level.

1 trade candidate from every NL West team that the Angels should consider

Arizona Diamondbacks: Joe Mantiply

The NL Champs won't be making any of their stars available, but Arizona proved to have three solid lefties in their bullpen during their playoff run. Joe Mantiply is the oldest of the three making him the least valuable, but he comes with three years of control and held lefties to a .185 average and .440 OPS this seaso. For a bullpen that has no lefties in it, Mantiply could be a great addition.

Colorado Rockies: Justin Lawrence

If the Colorado Rockies look to sell off some more of their pieces to the Angels, Justin Lawrence is a guy that could make a lot of sense. The sidearmer has some nasty stuff and is under team control through the 2028 season. He made 69 appearances and threw 75 innings this past season for Colorado, and could see his numbers take a huge jump if he doesn't have to pitch half the time at Coors Field.

Los Angeles Dodgers: Ryan Yarbrough

The chances of the Angels and Dodgers actually making a trade are slim, but in the off-chance that they do, Ryan Yarbrough could make some sense. The Dodgers will be looking to add big-name starting pitchers to their rotation, and Yarbrough could work as a back-end guy for the Angels or even out of the bullpen. He has experience doing both throughout his career.

San Diego Padres: Scott Barlow

Scott Barlow was one of the more underrated relievers in the AL in 2021 and 2022, but had a down year this past season with the Royals and Padres. Things got better for Barlow after San Diego acquired him at the trade deadline, but the Friars will be looking to dump payrol this offseason which makes Barlow expendable. He's a guy that could step into a closer or set-up role and give the Angels quality late-game innings which they desperately need.

San Francisco Giants: Wilmer Flores

Wilmer Flores had a great year for the Giants in 2023 so it might be wishful thinking to expect him to be on the block, but if San Francisco lands Shohei Ohtani, suddenly Flores will have to be removed from his DH spot. He's making just $6.5 million in 2024 and could play all over the infield and at DH if the Angels were to get their hands on him.

1 trade candidate from every NL East team that the Angels should consider

Atlanta Braves: Jared Shuster

The Braves have a completed core and likely won't be trading from it, so finding a realistic target is not easy. Jared Shuster could provide the Angels some depth as an optionable starting pitcher with some MLB experience.

Miami Marlins: Steven Okert

The Marlins have a bullpen full of left-handers, and Steven Okert is among the worst of the bunch. Despite that, he's held lefties to a .227 average throughout his career, and comes with three years of control. For a bullpen that needs left-handed arms, Okert as a second option wouldn't be bad.

New York Mets: Jeff McNeil

A lot of the chatter surrounding the New York Mets potential trade pieces has revolved around Pete Alonso, but I'd believe a Jeff McNeil trade is more likely. He's more replaceable by the bevy of prospects they have in their system, and is coming off a rough season. He'd give the Angels some versatility with the ability to play in the infield and outfield and is an awesome clutch hitter.

Philadelphia Phillies: Cristian Pache

The Phillies are tough as they're a team expecting to compete and have most of their core locked in on big contracts. With that in mind, we dig a bit deeper to find Cristian Pache, a guy who could fit in nicely as the Angels fourth outfielder. He can platoon with Mickey Moniak against lefties while providing excellent speed and defense off the bench.

Washington Nationals: Hunter Harvey

The Nationals are still rebuilding so a guy like Hunter Harvey who is under team control through 2025 could be expendable as they likely won't be seriously competing until after that season. Harvey had a 2.82 ERA in 57 appearances for Washington, putting up 67 strikeouts compared to just 13 walks.

1 trade candidate from every NL Central team that the Angels should consider

Chicago Cubs: Patrick Wisdom

Patrick Wisdom has found himself fazed out of Chicago's plans following a frustrating year in 2023, but could make sense as a valuable backup corner infielder for the Angels. He strikes out a lot, but has a ton of power and is under team control through 2026.

Cincinnati Reds: Nick Senzel

Nick Senzel was a highly-touted prospect that has not panned out in the slightest at the MLB level. While he's nothing close to the star many expected him to be, he could be a valuable utility player for the Angels if they acquired him. He set a career-high with 13 home runs in 103 games this past season.

Milwaukee Brewers: Hoby Milner

The chances of a Milwaukee firesale has many fans dreaming of the possibility of their team acquiring Corbin Burnes. The Angels don't have the assets to land him, but could land an under-the-radar left-handed reliever in Hoby MIlner. The 32-year-old had a 1.82 ERA in 73 appearances this past season and held left-handed hitters to a .155 average. He also comes with team control through 2025.

Pittsburgh Pirates: Mitch Keller

The Angels probably don't have enough to land Mitch Keller, but should make every effort to if he were to become available. He's a pitcher the Halos could look to build around at the top of their rotation if they were able to acquire him.

St. Louis Cardinals: Matthew Liberatore

Matthew Liberatore was once a pitcher St. Louis was very excited about but he has not panned out at the MLB level quite yet. Despite that, he's an optionable starter with obvious potential that could turn into something with the right development staff. The Angels have proven themselves to be anything but the right staff, but who knows, maybe they can find something with this guy that the Cardinals seemingly cannot.

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