3 scary free agents the LA Angels should avoid this offseason

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The Los Angeles Angels will look to spend this offseason improving a roster that went 73-89 for a second consecutive season. It'll be very hard for this team to improve if Shohei Ohtani leaves, but that's the job Perry Minasian has in front of him.

With the Angels having traded away many of their good prospects, the best way for this team to really improve is through free agency. All they have to give up to sign free agents is money, and the Angels do have some of that to spend.

While we know the Angels will pursue Shohei Ohtani and some other free agents, there're others they should be avoiding. On Halloween, let's go over some scary targets the Angels shouldn't be pursuing.

1) Lance Lynn

For much of his 12-year career, Lance Lynn has been nothing but trustworthy in the middle of any rotation. He's been a durable innings eater for much of his career, and is a player I've felt at times would've fit in nicely with the Angels. Now, not so much.

The 2023 season was a disaster for Lynn. He posted a 5.73 ERA in 32 starts and 183.2 innings pitched for the White Sox and Dodgers, allowing a league-leading 44 home runs in the process.

Lynn looked like he was going to turn his season around after the Dodgers acquired him at the deadline, but he finished the year posting a 6.23 ERA in his last seven starts of the year, and then he allowed four consecutive home runs in the NLDS against the Diamondbacks. The Dodgers can bring Lynn back if they exercise his $18 million club option, but chances are they'll elect not to do that.

The Angels do need rotation help, but have many better options than a 36-year-old Lance Lynn coming off a miserable year. If they want to take a risk, do it on a younger pitcher that can stay around for more than a year. If they want more of a guarantee, Lynn isn't that guy either.

2) Matt Chapman

The way Matt Chapman began this season, it looked like he was well on his way to earning one of the biggest contracts this offseason. Unfortunately, once the calendar turned to May 1, Chapman was invisible at the plate. He'll still earn a lot of money because of how weak this free agency class is, but he's entering free agency at the absolute worst time.

From May 1 through the end of the year, Chapman slashed .205/.298/.361 with 12 home runs and 33 RBI in 113 games. Hunter Renfroe is another player who disappeared after May 1 and even he had a higher OPS in that span than Chapman did. That should tell you all you need to know.

Angels fans are eager for the team to part with Anthony Rendon. While that's very unlikely to actually happen, the team could look to add a third baseman if Shohei Ohtani leaves and move Anthony Rendon to DH full-time. If they were to do that, Chapman is one of, if not the biggest name available. Arte Moreno has a knack for pursuing these big signings, but this is one he has to pass on.

Chapman is still an unbelievable defender but his bat is just way too hot and cold for the Angels to seriously consider bringing him in. Additionally, he struck out 165 times this season and consistently fails to put the ball in play when the team needs him to. The Angels have enough swing and miss as it is, they really don't need to add another guy who strikes out as much as Chapman does. Fine player, not the right fit in Anaheim.

3) Will Smith

The Angels bullpen looked improved at times, but still left a lot to be desired. The young arms came up and were mostly good, but all have injury concerns and were inconsistent on the bump. Carlos Estevez started the year pitching great, but was horrendous in the second half. The depth is non-existent. The Angels need to add multiple relievers once again this offseason.

One thing Perry Minasian will likely look for is a left-handed reliever, as the Angels really don't have one right now outside of guys like Jose Suarez and Kenny Rosenberg who are mostly starters. Will Smith as a veteran who has done well in a variety of roles might make sense on the surface, but he's not a player the Angels should be pursuing.

The southpaw joined the Rangers this past offseason and started off pitching great. He was pitching so well, in fact that he was bumped all the way up to the team's closer. Some second-half struggles not only caused him to be removed from the closer role entirely, he hasn't really been used much at all in any high-leverage spots.

Smith had a 6.12 ERA in 27 second-half appearances for Texas, blowing three saves and taking four losses. His last three appearances of the season came with the Rangers either ahead or behind by at least six runs. The team was trying to squeak into the playoffs and didn't trust him at all. Smith has pitched just 2.2 innings this postseason, and has repeatedly been bypassed in key moments.

The Angels need a high-leverage arm to add to their bullpen. If the World Series bound Rangers don't trust him at all, I'm not sure why the Angels would strongly pursue this left-hander when there're several other more intriguing options.

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