2 players LA Angels need to lock up with an extension once the MLB lockout ends

Once this lockout ends, the LA Angels should work on extensions for Shohei Ohtani and Mike Mayers.

The team will have plenty to work on once the lockout is over, but if they continue to do what they did before the lockout and let other teams walk all over them and take their top free agent targets, then they should make use of the rest of the offseason and extend some deserving players we already have on our squad.

As for Ohtani, the reason is simple: The entire league would LOVE to have a ShoTime. If a team can snag Ohtani when he's a free agent after the 2023 season, they're going to POUNCE on the chance to acquire the best offensive player in the game as well as a top ten pitcher in the game all in one signing. He's proven that he has indeed lived up to the hype by just having the greatest season in sports history, so what would possibly be the hold up to not extending him?

It's not just Shohei Ohtani that the LA Angels need to extend, but also Mike Mayers.

Other than Shohei Ohtani, the LA Angels should strongly consider extending Mike Mayers. Ever since Mayers arrived here in 2020, he's done absolutely nothing but what the team's asked of him. He completely flipped his career around.

In his two seasons here, he's been one of the best bullpen guys we've got, posting a 3.34 ERA and a 1.181 WHIP. Recording a 135 ERA+ in that time, he's proven himself over multiple seasons that he should be here to stay. His 3.37 FIP is also solid, and he's been a high strikeout guy as well (11.4 K/9).

Mayers has really found his home in Anaheim. The former third round pick has lived up to it with the Angels after struggling with the Cardinals. It goes to show that he wants to be here and should be here.

Unfortunately, I assume neither has been negotiated with. Ohtani already has said that he hasn't been, and the lockout permits teams from extension negotiations right now, further complicating the situation. I'm fine with these two not getting extended right now if we upgrade the current roster.

If we are just going through the motions and not making progress like we did before the lockout though, then we at least need to lock deserving players up with extensions.