What if the LA Angels had signed a superstar Free Agent Shortstop?

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Despite dropping a disappointing three-game set to the Texas Rangers Monday through Wednesday, the LA Angels still sit eight games above .500, at 24-16 through 40 games in the 2022 season. Currently, that would put them as the #4 seed in October, behind the AL East leading New York Yankees, AL Central leading Minnesota Twins, and AL West leading Houston Astros.

The list of things that have gone right for the Angels this season goes on and on, starting with the vastly improved starting pitching, to the emergence of young homegrown outfielders Taylor Ward and Brandon Marsh, and finally to everyone’s surprise, the decently consistent middle infield play.

It was no secret that the Angels desperately needed some stability at the middle infield positions coming out of the 2022 off-season. In 2021, the Angels ranked 28th in MLB in overall SS WAR at exactly 0.0. For reference, 18 other teams in MLB had an overall SS WAR rating of 3.2 or higher. Similarly, the Angels ranked 28th in MLB in overall 2B WAR at 0.4. 17 other teams had an overall 2B WAR rating of 3.0 or higher. Between 2B and SS, the Angels experienced close to a 6 win swing in their overall lose record when compared to the league average.

With a star studded middle infield free agent crop that included Carlos Correa, Marcus Semien, Javier Baez, Corey Seager, Chris Taylor, and Trevor Story, the mood around Major League Baseball was that the Angels would address this glaring hole, and sign one free agent from this rich list.

However – Perry Minasian and the Angels' front office had other thoughts, and decided to lean on the well-known David Fletcher and new acquisitions Matt Duffy and Tyler Wade. Although the sample size is about 1/4th of the entire 2022 season, let’s take a look at how that decision has played out, and what the Angels would look like, had they signed one of the free agent studs:

How have the signed free agents performed thus far?

Player/Games/Slash Line/HR/xwOBA/wRC+/WAR

1. Carlos Correa - 25 G - .265/.333/.388 - 2 HR - .324 xwOBA - 116 wRC+ -> 0.5 WAR

2. Marcus Semien - 35 G - .173/.235/.223 - 0 HR - .240 xwOBA - 38 wRC+ -> -0.5 WAR

3. Javier Baez - 29 G - .204/.244/.310- 2 HR - .281 xwOBA - 62 wRC+ -> 0.1 WAR

4. Corey Seager - 35 G - .244/.322/.437- 8 HR - .387 xwOBA - 125 wRC+ -> 1.4 WAR

5. Chris Taylor - 34 G - .248/.333/.410- 3 HR - .327 xwOBA - 114 wRC+ -> 0.5 WAR

6. Trevor Story - 32 G - .205/.293/.320- 2 HR - .320 xwOBA - 80 wRC+ -> 0.4 WAR

The prized free agent of the off-season, Carlos Correa has missed some time due to a finger injury, and the “injury prone” conversations were back in full force. Thankfully, the injury was a brief one, and it has yet to be seen just how impactful Correa can and will be for the Twins.

Marcus Semien has been terrible, plain and simple. A serious MVP contender last year looks like a shell of who he was in Toronto, and that is putting it lightly – hopefully for him and for baseball, he can turn it around. Similar to Semien, Javier Baez hasn’t played the part of a superstar yet in Detroit.

Chris Taylor was never believed to have been on the verge of leaving the Dodgers, but he has been about league average through the first quarter of the season. Trevor Story looked completely lost through 30 games of the season, but has managed to turn it on over the past two weeks. He still sits at a measly 80 wRC+ and bats just barely above the Mendoza line at .205. Finally, Corey Seager has put the Rangers $325 million to good use, swatting 8 homeruns at a 125 wRC+ clip through 35 games.

So – where does that put the LA Angels?

Would an investment into one of these middle infielders have been worth it for the LA Angels? The trio mentioned above of David Fletcher, Matt Duffy, and Tyler Wade have been underwhelming. Fletch has spent the majority of the year on the shelf with a hip injury and has been transferred to the 60 Day IL, while Duffy has dealt with injuries himself; only having played 17 games thus far, having been inconsistent while on the field.

Wade on the other hand has provided spurts of impressive speed and great defense, pushing him to the positive fWAR category at 0.2 and 76 wRC+, essentially the same as Story, and better than Semien and Baez both.

That trio however couldn’t have possibly helped the Halos win like they have up until this point – insert Andrew Velazquez and Luis Rengifo. Claimed off waivers on November 5, 2021, Velazquez played a below league average bench role with the Rays, Orioles and Yankees from 2018-2021. With the Angels however, Velazquez has been simply unbelievable on defense. He has put on highlight reel level defense on a nightly basis, leading to a 5.0 DefWAR, and an 0.4 fWAR overall. Although he leaves a lot to be desired at the plate, Velazquez has saved four defensive runs (DRS).

Rengifo on the other hand, has only played nine games, but has provided a great offensive boost for the Angels off the bench, slashing .304/.385/.348 through 27 PA along with a great glove on defense, leading to a 0.2 fWAR.

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Overall, these numbers and standings are going to look completely different come the All-Star break, let alone the end of the season in September. However, at least 40 games through the season, the Angels have received phenomenal defensive play from their middle infielders, and just enough offensive input to make the $35.1M owed to Correa, $32.5 owed to Seager, $23.3 owed to Story, $23.3 owed to Baez, $25M owed to Semien, and $15M owed to Taylor look like good financial decisions from the front office.

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How have the signed free agents performed thus far?

Player/Games/Slash Line/HR/xwOBA/wRC+/WAR

So – where does that put the LA Angels?

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