Ranking the 10 best free agents still available for the Angels to target

The Los Angeles Angels have made four moves to upgrade what was a 73-win team this past season. They signed Tyler Anderson to help out in the rotation. They traded for Gio Urshela to help with their infield depth. They traded for Hunter Renfroe to start in right field and supply a ton of power. They signed Carlos Estevez to be a high-leverage arm this bullpen was missing.

Those moves were good, and the Angels should be complimented on their offseason so far. They've identified holes and filled them. While that's all great, the work here is not done. The Angels are the third or fourth-best team in this division right now. There're still more holes to fill.

Most of the top-tier free agents are gone but there're still some good players left. Here are the ten best I think the Halos should target.

10) Ranking the best FA's still available for the Angels to target: Jean Segura

Jean Segura was once an Angel. He went hitless in three at bats as an Angel in 2012. Could we see a reunion?

Segura came up as a shortstop, so he could play there. Another option is slotting him in at second and trading Luis Rengifo who has generated a ton of interest.

Segura is not a flashy name, but he's a professional hitter. He gets on base at a decent clip, doesn't strike out much, and won't lose them a game in the field. He's just a very steady player.

The 32-year-old dealt with injuries this past season which limited him to 98 games but he has been durable for most of his career, playing in at least 125 games from 2013-2021 with the exception of the 60-game shortened season.

If the Halos were to sign Segura it's possible we'd see him play some shortstop as well as second base.

Is it possible for Rengifo to improve? Definitely. I personally am not a huge fan of his offensive profile and don't like his defense at second base. I think Segura is a better player and one I'd be interested in seeing the Angels sign.

9) Ranking the best FA's still available for the Angels to target: Matt Moore

It looked like Matt Moore's career was over. He had a 6.79 ERA in 2018 for the Rangers and made just two appearances in 2019 with the Tigers before undergoing Meniscus surgery. Moore went to Japan for the 2020 season and pitched well but struggled once again with the Phillies in 2021 posting a 6.29 ERA in 24 appearances.

Moore signed a minor league deal with the Rangers in mid-March and had his contract selected in mid-April. He never went back down to the minors.

For the last number of years, Moore had been flip flopping from the rotation to the bullpen and vice versa. This season with the Rangers Moore was used strictly in relief and had a career year.

The southpaw went 5-2 with a 1.95 ERA in 63 appearances and 74 innings pitched. He struck out 10.1 batters per nine which is well above his career mark of 8.2 K/9. He allowed just three home runs in 74 innings pitched (0.4 HR/9). The 33 year old was one of the better relievers in all of baseball.

Will he repeat this again? Most likely not. However, the Angels can count on him to be a reliable veteran reliever. He's also a guy who they can use for more than three outs because of his history as a starter.

If you're concerned about the three batter rule you shouldn't be, as he was actually better against right handed hitters than left, holding them to a .165/.282/.255 slash line with just three home runs in 220 plate appearances.

8) Ranking the best FA's still available for the Angels to target: Craig Kimbrel

There was a time when Craig Kimbrel was considered one of the most dominant closers we've ever seen. He was that lethal. Now, he's not the same guy. He hasn't been for years. However, he's not a bad reliever by any means.

This Angels bullpen needs another arm or two, and preferably this arm could operate late in games. Kimbrel can do exactly that if the Angels signed him.

He had a disappointing season with the Dodgers posting a 3.75 ERA in 63 appearances and 60 innings pitched. He was their closer for much of the season but lost the job after some struggles. He ended up converting 22 of his 27 opportunities.

His big flaw was, and always has been, the lack of command at times. He walked 4.2 batters per nine which is too high.

Kimbrel isn't a name that'll get a lot of positive reactions, but he is still a solid reliever. He had a 112 ERA+ this past season. He was the best reliever in baseball throughout the first half of 2021. The Angels would get a veteran who has tons of experience pitching in big games. The contract wouldn't be long or expensive. It's worth it if you ask me.

6) Ranking the best FA's still available for the Angels to target: Adam Ottavino

Adam Ottavino looked like he was in decline only to bounce back in 2022 and look better than ever with the Mets. Ottavino really struggled in the shortened 2020 season with the Yankees and he didn't pitch well for the Red Sox in 2021 either.

He served as the primary set-up man for Edwin Diaz for the Mets in 2022 and had arguably the best season of his career. The 37 year old went 6-3 with a 2.06 ERA in 66 appearances and 65.2 innings pitched.

Ottavino has always been a strikeout artist. Even when he wasn't at his best in the last two seasons prior to his stint with the Mets he struck out 12.3/9 and 10.3/9 in those seasons respectively. His big flaw was, and really always had been the walks.

Ottavino walked 4.4 batters per nine in 2020 and 5.1 batters per nine in 2021. He's walked 3.9/9 in his 12-year career. A big key to his success this past season in Queens was his improvement in that area. He walked just 2.2 batters per nine this past season. He did that while still striking out 10.8 batters per nine.

Ottavino has 33 career saves so he can step in as the closer if needed or he can set up for someone like Jimmy Herget or Carlos Estevez. Do I expect Ottavino to repeat the season he just had? Probably not. He's 37 and relievers can be extremely volatile. I do expect, however, for Ottavino to be a really good reliever in whatever role the Angels would put him in if they were to sign him. He wouldn't be signed for more than a year or two and would add another high-leverage piece which I think is needed.

5) Ranking the best FA's still available for the Angels to target: Ross Stripling

Ross Stripling is a guy I've felt makes a lot of sense for the Angels to sign all offseason. He has extensive experience as both a starting pitcher and a reliever and he makes a ton of sense for the Angels sixth starter spot.

With the news that the Angels will look to use Shohei Ohtani every sixth day instead of sixth game, this means more starts for him and fewer starts for whoever the sixth starter is. Stripling can be a guy who can make 20-22 starts for the Angels and also give them some work in the bullpen. He's been a swingman and has had success in that role.

This past season for the Blue Jays he went 10-4 with a 3.01 ERA in 32 appearances and 24 starts. By the end of the season he was the third starter for Toronto, a playoff team. He was going to start Game 3 of the ALDS had the Jays not gotten swept by the Mariners.

Stripling also allowed just 12 home runs in 134.1 innings pitched (0.8 HR/9). He doesn't strikeout many and doesn't have overpowering stuff, but he doesn't let games get out of control.

The 33 year old makes a lot of sense to me as a guy who'd start most of the time but can also be used in relief if needed.

4) Ranking the best FA's still available for the Angels to target: Taylor Rogers

Despite a down year in 2022, Taylor Rogers is the reliever I'd want the Angels to sign the most. This southpaw has been one of the better relievers in baseball since debuting in 2016.

The 31 year old is coming off his worst year in the bigs as he posted a 4.76 ERA in 66 appearances splitting time between the Padres and Brewers. Despite the high ERA, Rogers did have a 3.31 FIP which suggests he had some brutal luck behind him.

Rogers struck out 11.8 batters per nine while walking 2.7/9. He converted 31 saves which is a solid number, but he did so in 41 opportunities which is not good at all.

Rogers struggled particularly in Milwaukee after being traded there, posting a 5.48 ERA in 24 appearances. He walked 3.9 batters per nine which is very unlike him as he's limited walks well in his career. He ended up losing the closer job.

Despite his struggles, Rogers still held lefties to a .167/.261/.250 slash line in 69 plate appearances without giving up a home run. If the Angels don't view him as a closer anymore, they can use him as a late-game reliever against the likes of Yordan Alvarez, Kyle Tucker, and Corey Seager and expect him to come through.

I am not of the belief that the Angels need a closer and can go by committee. If there's a matchup that favors Rogers, use him to close. If it favors someone like Herget or Estevez use one of them. Rogers would be a good veteran lefty to have. I'd rely on him bouncing back and the Halos would get him coming off a down year so the price wouldn't be as high as it probably should be.

3) Ranking the best FA's still available for the Angels to target: Chris Bassitt

All along, Chris Bassitt has been the guy I've wanted the Angels to sign for the rotation. I think he fits exactly what they need and wouldn't require the insane price tag that someone like Jacob deGrom, Justin Verlander, and Carlos Rodon would.

Bassitt is a guy who doesn't have the stuff any of those aces have, but he's a workhorse who can keep his team in any given game. He's as reliable of an arm as they come for a variety of reasons.

First, his durability is outstanding. If you take away a stint on the Covid IL and a comebacker to the face Bassitt wouldn't have missed a start in each of the last three seasons.

What he does on the mound is also extremely reliable. He's a guy who can give you six or seven innings most of the time while allowing three runs or fewer, giving your team a chance to win. He went six or more innings in all but seven of his 30 starts this season with the Mets and had another two starts when he was one out shy of completing six frames. He allowed three earned runs or fewer in all but eight of his starts. He allowed more than four runs just four times.

Bassitt's consistency is what makes him such a good option to put at the front of any rotation. If the Angels were to sign him, their rotation would be one of the game's very best.

Bassitt is attached to the Qualifying Offer and wouldn't come cheap, so it might not be very likely the Halos sign him, but they'd be missing out if they didn't.

2) Ranking the best FA's still available for the Angels to target: Dansby Swanson

The Angels need a shortstop. Plain and simple. I'm not in love with Dansby Swanson or think he's going to be worth whatever contract he ends up getting, but he'd still be a massive upgrade over what the Angels have right now in David Fletcher.

Swanson is coming off a career year which saw him slash .277/.329/.447 with 25 home runs and 96 RBI. He also stole 18 bases and smacked 35 doubles. Swanson's 115 OPS+ tied his career best from his rookie season in which he only played 38 games.

I'm of the belief Swanson is not a great hitter. He had a good year this year but he still struck out 182 times (26.2%) while walking just 49 times (7.0%) in 696 plate appearances. He ranked in the 20th and 36th percentiles in those categories respectively according to baseball savant. Those numbers were around where he's been his whole career so I don't expect any radical change there.

What Dansby can do at the plate is hit for power. He hit 25 homers this season and 27 in 2021. David Fletcher has hit four home runs combined in the last two seasons.

Swanson was an all-star, finished 12th in the MVP balloting, and won a Gold Glove. He was eighth in the National League with a 6.4 fWAR. Angels shortstops were 27th in baseball with 1.1 fWAR.

While I'm not a believer in his bat, I am a believer in two things. His glove, and his durability. Swanson is an extraordinary defender at shortstop and he led the league in outs above average, ranking in the 100th percentile. He's been an elite defender for years.

Swanson is also great at staying on the field. He's missed two total games in the last three seasons which is unheard of nowadays. He played in all 60 games in the shortened 2020 season, played in 160 out of 162 games in 2021, and he played in every game this past season. For a team that gets hurt as much as the Angels do, Swanson's durability would be very welcome.

I don't love the player, but the need is glaring. If the Halos want to compete they need a shortstop. Swanson is a good option.

1) Ranking the best FA's still available for the Angels to target: Carlos Correa

I understand it's extremely unlikely, but I'm hoping to manifest it. Carlos Correa coming to Anaheim would make the kind of statement this franchise has lacked for years.

As mentioned prior, the need for a shortstop is glaring, and to some, Carlos Correa is of the four free agent shortstops who were available. I personally don't believe he's better than Trea Turner, but he's not so far off. The Angels would obviously be very fortunate to land this guy.

Correa was a free agent last offseason and signed a short-term deal with the Twins that included an opt out after the first year.

Correa ended up opting out after slashing .291/.366/.467 with 22 home runs and 64 RBI in 136 games. He had a 140 OPS+ and lived up to the lofty expectations the Twins put on his shoulders.

Can you imagine a 2-3-4-5 of some order including Trout, Ohtani, Rendon, and Correa?

Where Correa did take a step back was with his defense. After winning a Gold and Platinum Glove in 2021, he ranked in the 18th percentile in outs above average according to baseball savant this past season. He also went from 20 DRS in 2021 which is absurd to just 3 DRS this past season which is nothing special.

With that being said, Correa has been a great defender in the past and it's very possible he has a better showing in 2023 and beyond. He's 28 years old and should command a lot of years on the market, especially after Bogaerts and Turner, two players who are older than Correa, got 11 years.

Again, I don't see this as likely at all. I don't even think the Angels have been linked to Correa. If they were to shock the world and sign him they'd sign a superstar to play shortstop for the next decade or so and really show Shohei Ohtani that the Angels are trying to compete in 2023 and beyond.