5 former LA Angels fan favorites still without a job heading toward Spring Training

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MLB Free Agency has moved at a pace slower than any we've seen in recent memory, and that has caused a lot of top-tier talent to remain on the board. Reigning NL Cy Young winner Blake Snell is still out there for any team to grab. As is World Series hero Jordan Montgomery. Even former MVP Cody Bellinger is still there.

High-end players remain available, and most of the lesser-coveted players are obviously out there too. Several players who might not be difference makers but are still decent MLB players have seen relatively no interest, including some who played once upon a time for the Los Angeles Angels.

ShoheI Ohtani, the ultimate fan-favorite signed a deal with the Dodgers, but these five remain available for anyone to sign. Unfortunately for them, it's hard to know when anyone will sign at this point.

1) Mike Moustakas

Mike Moustakas immediately went from villain to hero in the eyes of Angels fans once the team acquired him in a trade with the Rockies this past season. It wasn't only because of his play, but Moustakas, being a SoCal native who brought a fiery attitude to the fold was refreshing.

Moustakas wasn't all that great in his short stint with the Angels, but the trade they made to acquire him was one of the better ones they made this past season. Not saying a lot, but still important to point out. His numbers didn't jump off the page, but Moose did hit several key home runs while the Angels were in the playoff race. He quickly became a leader inside their clubhouse and fans took notice.

The unfortunate reality with Moustakas is he's probably waiting for a MLB deal but who knows if he'll actually get one. He slashed .247/.293/.392 this past season with 12 home runs and 48 RBI splitting time with the Rockies and Angels. He hasn't had an average season offensively since the shortened 2020 season, which is a problem considering his age (35) and the fact that he isn't all that great defensively.

It'd be fun to see the Angels bring him back as an Anthony Rendon insurance policy and a mentor for the young players they have, but the simple reality is they can find a talent upgrade rather easily.

2) Kole Calhoun

Kole Calhoun spent each of his first eight seasons with the Angels and won the fanbase over with his remarkable consistency. He wasn't a star, but outside of one brutal year in 2018, Calhoun was reliable both at the plate and in the field. He hit for power, got on base at a decent enough clip, and even took home a Gold Glove.

He left for the Angels following the 2019 season and hasn't done much since. He was great in the short season with Arizona, but the sample size was obviously small. The three years that have followed have seen Calhoun be rather unproductive at the dish.

After spending much of this past season in the minors, Calhoun was able to reach ten years of service time after resurfacing with the Guardians. That was a pretty cool feat to see him achieve. Unfortunately, the chances of him getting a guaranteed MLB deal this offseason are probably pretty slim.

Calhoun should get a minor league deal somewhere and will have to hit to make it back up to the majors. As fun as it'd be to see the Angels bring him back, it's hard to see it happening.

3) Gio Urshela

Gio Urshela was Mr. Reliable for the Angels this past season when healthy. He didn't hit for much power, but he was one player fans could always count on to put together a professional at-bat and make every play in the field. Urshela played all four infield position and was just one point shy of being a .300 hitter.

Urshela being without a job this late into the offseason comes as a bit of a surprise considering how weak the infield market is. Expecting a proven veteran who wouldn't cost much like Urshela who happens to be incredibly versatile at the plate and in the field to have several teams fighting for his services didn't seem so far-fetched, but outside of the two New York teams showing some interest earlier this winter, there haven't been many Urshela rumors to speak of.

Gio is a player that the Angels absolutely should consider bringing back if he's open to a reduced role. Urshela has value as an infielder who can play all over, but would primarily be brought in to be the Anthony Rendon insurance policy. Urshela might play just a couple of times each week Rendon is healthy, but when (not if) Rendon goes on the IL, he'd have an everyday role at the hot corner.

It's likely not the most appealing job Urshela will have offered to him, but the longer he remains out on the open market, the more likely it is to happen.

4) Michael Lorenzen

Michael Lorenzen won over Angels fans by being outspoken regarding just how much he enjoyed playing in Anaheim. Lorenzen wanted to stay last offseason, but the Angels showed little interest in making that happen, instead signing Tyler Anderson to a three-year deal. The Angels would bring Lorenzen back over Anderson if they had to do it again, but it's hard to fault them for passing on Lorenzen for a guy most thought would be an upgrade in Anderson.

Lorenzen wound up proving the Angels wrong by signing a cheap one-year deal with the Tigers and even making the all-star team as Detroit's representative. Lorenzen slowed down after a deadline deal that sent him to the Phillies, but he had his best season as a starter.

Lorenzen is one of many mid-rotation guys who remain available for any team to sign. That market hasn't really moved yet. The Angels could easily be a team that expresses interest in him considering the fact that Perry Minasian has liked him in the past and he wouldn't break the bank.

The issue with Lorenzen is he isn't much better than the guys they already have. The Angels have a rotation full of third or fourth starters but lack any frontline guys. Lorenzen is certainly not that. It's possible he's a depth addition, but he'll presumably be heading somewhere else at some point.

5) Matt Moore

For all of the issues the Angels bullpen had this past season, and there were tons of them, Matt Moore was a player who not only lived up to the hype, but surpassed it. The Angels brought him in late last offseason on a one-year deal following a breakout season in Texas and all Moore did was pitch like one of the best left-handed relievers in baseball for a second straight year.

Moore predominantly served as Carlos Estevez's primary set-up man and was mostly flawless, posting a 2.66 ERA in 41 appearances and 44 innings of work during his time with the Angels. He pitched well against righties and lefties and was even able to record more than three outs in an outing when asked. His versatility was a real weapon for the Angels, and something their bullpen is missing ahead of the 2024 season.

Moore is one of the best reliever options available to be signed, but the market has moved at an unbearably slow pace. Perhaps Josh Hader still being out there is what's preventing guys like Moore from signing. Those who miss out on Hader will certainly want Moore.

The Angels should absolutely be pursuing a Moore reunion, but the question is, will he even consider them? The Angels are obviously not a contender right now, and the team did waive him in August. Moore pitched down the stretch for Cleveland and Miami before reaching free agency.

The Angels need a late-game arm and could really use a left-handed reliever as well. Moore would seemingly be the perfect fit to fill both of those needs. He's worked in Anaheim before, and would work again if they brought him back.

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