Weighing the Angels Options
Jan 8, 2025 - Written by Jesus Barrera
Photo Credit : @MLBTradeRumors - X
The Perry Minasian led front office got off to a hot start this offseason. Minasian quickly linked up with his former boss Alex Anthopoulos to acquire OF/DH Jorge Soler in exchange for SP Griffin Canning. Soon thereafter, the Angels added veteran backstop Travis d’Arnaud on a 2 year, 12 million dollar deal. The team's biggest splash up to this point has been the acquisition of left hander Yusei Kikuchi. Kikuchi’s contract with the Angels will have him earning 61 million over 3 years.
The front office has plenty of work to do if they want to improve the ball club that lost a franchise record 99 games in 2024. Let's take a look at the options that remain available in the free agent market.
Rotation Arm
The pitching crown jewel of the offseason is Japanese phenom, Roki Sasaki. He is certainly a pipe dream that would come at a very affordable price, but the Angels have yet to be connected to the right hander. Rumors have swirled that Sasaki’s preference is to land with a team with great pitching development and overall success in recent years. The Angels last won a postseason game in 2009. I also can’t remember the last legitimate starting pitcher they drafted and developed. Weaver? I feel like Caden Dana will break that dry spell, but for now chances are slim to none so let us get back to reality.
The Angels are in dire need of another solid arm for the starting rotation. If things remain the same and Kikuchi is the only addition, the rotation will remain a weakness in 2025. The current in-house options consist of Jose Soriano, Yusei Kikuchi, Tyler Anderson, Reid Detmers, Kyle Hendricks, Jose Suarez, and Jack Kochanowicz. Caden Dana, Samuel Aldegheri, and George Klassen are viable options for the later part of 2025. Nick Pivetta is an arm that improves the starting rotation for 2025 and the future. Pivetta was a steady presence in the starting rotation for the Boston Red Sox during his time there. The 31 year old threw 145.2 innings, while making 26 starts for Boston in 2024. He held a 28.9 K%, 4.07 FIP, and a 3.59 xERA. Much like Kikuchi, Pivetta has been a durable starter for various seasons now, the Halo rotation desperately needs solid and reliable starters that take the ball every fifth day. Pivetta has the qualifying offer attached, so if the Angels were to sign him they would surrender a draft pick. I could see the Angels signing him and giving up the pick, just like they did with Tyler Anderson in the 2022-2023 offseason. Pivetta is a younger and better option than what Anderson was when they signed him. Fangraphs projects Pivetta to have a solid 2025 season.
Relief Insurance
The Angels have a collection of intriguing relievers at both the major and minor league level. Ben Joyce, Ryan Zeferjahn, Brock Burke, Jose Quijada, Jose Marte, and Hans Crouse all figure to be part of the bullpen. Robert Stephenson and Chase Silseth will return from injury sometime in 2025. Bullpen options in the system are that of Sam Bachman, Jack Dashwood, 2024 rule 5 pick Garrett McDaniels, and Camden Minacci. Joyce is poised to earn some save opportunities in 2025, but it is important for the Angels to have some insurance behind the former Volunteer in case of struggles or injury.
Photo Credit : @RangersEnjoyer - X
Kenley Jansen and Jose Leclerc fit the bill as veteran relievers who can lead a young bullpen with closing experience. Jansen is the prominent closing option, as he nears 500 career saves he might prefer to sign with a team that guarantees him the closer role. Although I believe that Joyce fits best as a pure high leverage reliever, he will get plenty of chances to close ball games in 2025. If Jansen embraces splitting duties with the young buck, sign me up. Jose Leclerc is another legitimate option for the back of the bullpen. The Dominican reliever held a 30.9 K% and 3.48 FIP while striking out 89 batters in 64 ball games for the Texas Rangers in 2024. Leclerc doesn’t have the overwhelming closing experience that Jansen has, but he can surely get it done. He has 41 career saves and is a better fit to split closing duties with Joyce and would come at a more modest AAV than Jansen.
Middle Infield Help
I don’t expect the Angels to be shopping at the premium rack for an infielder, but there’s no doubt that they need to add another. In 2024, Paul DeJong split time between the Chicago White Sox and the Kansas City Royals. When it was all said and done, he clubbed 24 homers, 6 shy of his career high he set in 2019. He slugged .427 while driving in 56 runs. Anthony Rendon, Zach Neto, Luis Rengifo, and Nolan Schanuel are shaping out to be the starting infielders once the team is at full health. With Neto out until late April, DeJong and Kevin Newman could see starts at SS in the meantime. DeJong will more than likely command a 1 year deal to arrive in Anaheim.
Photo Credit - The Baltimore Banner
Big Time Run Producer
Anthony Santander is a dude that flat out mashes the baseball. He broke out in a big way for the Baltimore Orioles in 2022. Santander set career highs in just about every offensive category in 2024. The first time all-star hit 44 bombs, drove in 102 runs, smoked 25 doubles, held a 129 wRC+ and was valued at 3.3 WAR. He is a limited fielder who will more than likely be required to see some time in the DH slot or at 1B throughout the season. If you slug the way he does, you can stomach some below average play in the OF. He would definitely aid the team that ranked in the bottom five in the league in wRC+, runs scored, and batting average in 2024. Mike Trout, Jorge Soler, and Anthony Santander in the Angels lineup would provide some serious thump. The acquisition of Santander would crowd the Angel outfield, opening the possibility for the Angels to flip Taylor Ward to address another need. Ward has been rumored in trade conversations for some time now and a trade shouldn’t be a surprise for anyone.
Let us not forget that the Angels have the 2nd overall pick in the 2025 draft and will also receive a comp pick for failing to sign their 3rd round pick, Texas A&M lefty, Ryan Prager. I don’t see them going hard after both Pivetta and Santander, due to both players having the qualifying offer attached. However, I do see them seriously pursuing one or the other. Owner Arte Moreno's track record proves that he loves dishing out big time cash for his hitters. Santander should command a multi-year deal in the nine figures.
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