Predicting where Shohei Ohtani and each Angels free agent will sign in 2024

The Los Angeles Angels don't have many major free agents this offseason, but they just so happen to have the biggest free agent we've ever seen. Shohei Ohtani is officially available for any of the 30 teams to sign, and he's certain to fetch the largest contract in MLB history.

Most of the Angels roster will remain in tact this offseason, but the Ohtani decision will impact how the Angels surround the talent that is already here. The Angels will obviously want Ohtani back, but could easily be outbid by another team out there. Other free agents the Angels have the team might not want back due to performance.

Predicting where free agents will go and how much they'll sign for is no easy task, but is always fun to do. There's a very good chance everyone hitting free agency will be wearing another uniform when Opening Day rolls around.

C.J. Cron

The Angels acquired C.J. Cron at the trade deadline hoping to fix a season-long problem at first base. The Angels had gotten very little production offensively from their first basemen in 2023, so acquiring a big bopper like Cron made some sense at the time even with his numbers being inflated from playing half the time at Coors Field.

When the Angels acquired Cron, he was one of the hottest hitters in the game. Of course, in typical Angels fashion, Cron would cool down immediately once he became an Angel and would then land on the IL, playing in just 15 games for the Halos down the stretch.

Cron's market should be interesting to monitor. His offensive numbers in recent years look quite good, but a big reason for that has to do with him playing at Coors Field. He enters free agency coming off a year where he had multiple stints on the IL with back issues and had just a .729 OPS.

Cron has never been a great defender. He's always needed his bat to be right for him to earn playing time. With him coming off such a down year, the chances of him landing with a contender are slim. The Nationals have room at first base with Dominic Smith likely being non-tendered, so Cron landing there for a year could make some sense.

Prediction: Nationals - One year, $7 million

Randal Grichuk

Randal Grichuk was the other player acquired from the Rockies at the trade deadline alongside Cron. It was a funny trade for the Angels to make with both players former Angels draft picks.

The Grichuk addition was needed because the Angels were going to be without Taylor Ward for the rest of the season after he was hit in the face by a pitch. The Angels needed an everyday left fielder, and with Grichuk having as good of a year as he was having, acquiring him did make sense.

Virtually the entire Angels team struggled mightily in August, and Grichuk was no exception to that. He struggled so badly to the point where he wasn't even claimed off waivers. He was the only Angel of the six put on waivers to go unclaimed. He turned it on in September, but the Angels were already out of it by then.

Grichuk has two realistic paths to playing time in 2024. He's good enough to play everyday somewhere, but that team will probably be one that isn't planning on contending, much like the Rockies from last season. He can also look to sign on as a fourth outfielder on a better team and get consistent at-bats against lefties. My guess is Grichuk chooses the former.

The Royals have an outfield that leaves a lot to be desired with M.J. Melendez, Kyle Isbel, and Nelson Velazquez the projected trio according to FanGraphs. Adding a veteran in Grichuk who'd be an upgrade over all three would make some sense. He'd make sense on a lot of teams that don't plan on competing in 2024.

Prediction: Royals, One-year $6.5 million

Gio Urshela

We've finally arrived at a player the Angels acquired before the season started. Gio Urshela was acquired in the first Angels trade of the 2022 offseason as the Angels looked to add some very real depth. Urshela wasn't going to have a set position but was going to play all over the place and get fairly regularly at-bats.

Urshela began the year as the team's regular shortstop before playing more first base after Zach Neto was promoted. The Angels then moved him across the diamond to third base when Anthony Rendon landed on the IL for the first time. Gio even wound up making one appearance at second base.

Gio was his usual spectacular self in the field, particularly at third base, but also made an impact at the dish. He didn't display much power, but was a rare Angel that was able to consistently put the ball in play. His season ended prematurely due to a fractured pelvis, but Urshela has certainly proven himself as a legitimate everyday player.

The Diamondbacks just won the NL Pennant starting Evan Longoria most of the time at third base. Longoria is now a free agent, is 38 years old, and wasn't all that great in 2023. Urshela is much younger and pretty clearly a better player. He won't cost as much as a guy like Matt Chapman, but is certainly good enough to play regularly at the hot corner on a winning team.

Prediction: Diamondbacks, Two-years $15.5 million

Shohei Ohtani

This is the big one. Shohei Ohtani's free agency is going to be extremely fun and nerve-racking to watch for Angels fans. Ohtani deserves the opportunity to choose where he's going to play after everything he's done for this Angels franchise.

In a perfect world, Ohtani commits to being an Angel for life. It's not under the best circumstances due to his elbow injury, but Ohtani is too good of a player to not do whatever you can to bring in.

Unfortunately for the Angels, the team simply hasn't done enough to convince Ohtani he can win with them. They haven't had a single winning season with him here, and it's not like they have a loaded minor league system with players ready to make major contributions. With Ohtani trying to win, he's most likely going to go somewhere else.

The Dodgers check every box. They're a perenial contender, play in Los Angeles, have the money to spend, and have the need for a player like him. The Dodgers consistently make the playoffs but also consistently fall short. Adding a player like Ohtani could help get them over the hump for the first time in a 162-game season in a very long time.

This Ohtani free agency will likely drag on for at least a month or two and should have a slew of teams making very serious offers. The Angels will be one of them if Ohtani listens. When all is said and done, I do truly believe he's a Dodger. The only question is what will the contract look like?

Prediction: Dodgers, 12-years $520 million