3 pitchers LA Angels can acquire after MLB lockout to help fix rotation

The starting rotation of the LA Angels better not be finished right now.

Shohei Ohtani, Noah Syndergaard, Patrick Sandoval, and Jose Suarez make the front end and middle of the rotation exciting, but the back-end is very uncertain.

The Halos signed an underwhelming Michael Lorenzen to take one of those spots, and we currently have no idea who the sixth starter will be. It goes to show that this team needs to go after another starter this offseason. There are still productive candidates out there, both through the trade market and free agency.

No. 3 pitcher LA Angels can acquire after MLB lockout to help fix rotation: Luis Castillo

It would be massive if the LA Angels could bring in Luis Castillo this offseason. Castillo has been a really good starting arm these last three years, and was even an All-Star in 2019. He would have been an All-Star in 2020 as well, if there was an All-Star Game.

Castillo has posted a 3.61 ERA since 2019, and has also recorded a nice 131 ERA+. Castillo's 3.56 FIP is attractive, as well as the fact that he's struck out 10.2 batters per nine innings in that time.

Castillo walks too many guys, as he has a 3.6 BB/9 rate in these last three years. He doesn't give up the long ball much, though, as evidenced by his 0.9 HR/9 rate. He'd slot in as the No. 3 starter on the Angels, and give the Halos quality guys in each of the first five spots of the rotation.

No. 1 pitcher LA Angels can acquire after MLB lockout to help fix rotation: Chris Bassitt

Chris Bassitt is the best pitcher that the LA Angels have been rumored to be interested in. Bassitt is coming off of his first All-Star appearance this season, although he would've been in 2020 if the pandemic hadn't canceled the All-Star Game.

Since that 2020 season, Bassitt has posted a 2.90 ERA, a 142 ERA+, and a 1.085 WHIP. He was already a good pitcher in 2019, but took his game to another level in these past two seasons. Like Rodon, he has struggled with injuries at times in his career, but stayed healthy last year.

While he wasn't known as much of a strikeout guy before this season, Bassitt recorded 9.7 strikeouts per nine innings this year, which is solid. He would potentially slide into one of the top two spots of this rotation if he headed to Anaheim. He, like Castillo, would have to be acquired via trade.

While the Halos likely don't want to trade Jo Adell or Brandon Marsh (who are the two biggest trade chips on the Angels), they may have to if they want to go after pitching in the trade market. I wouldn't be surprised, as it's no secret that the rotation needs work, and has been a spot on the roster that has routinely underperformed in recent Angels history.