Top 5 LA Angels free agent targets after MLB lockout, ranked

The LA Angels have a lot of work to do once this MLB lockout ends.

They have made some moves to try to help their core areas of need in the starting rotation, bullpen, and shortstop, but they are far from finished if they want to contend next year.

We can't sit back and just assume we'll be better with Trout, Rendon, Sandoval, and Upton healthy next year. We need to be go-getters and make sure we 100% improve the roster heading into 2022. It starts with re-evaluating where we're at as far as free agency goes as of right now, and who the targets are coming out of the lockout.

No. 5 LA Angels free agent target after MLB lockout: Brad Hand

Brad Hand would be an excellent pickup for the LA Angels.

Hand has been stellar in the pen for quite some time now, beginning in his first sub-3.00 ERA season in 2016 (2.92). Since, Hand then had three straight All-Star seasons and would have made that four straight if there was an All-Star Game in 2020. For anyone that thinks he was great from 2017-2019, check out what he did in 2020.

He had a 2.05 ERA, an absurd 1.37 FIP, and a MLB-leading 16 saves. This year, he saw a little bit of a regression, but finished strong.

The only reason his numbers dipped were mainly because of his rough stint in Toronto (he started the year in Washington). He finished the year, however, with the Mets and recorded a 2.70 ERA to go along with a 152 ERA+.

The overall numbers from last year (6-7, 3.90 ERA, 4.58 FIP) aren't what we're used to with Hand, but he proved that he's still a great pitcher by the way he ended the year.