It’s been a slow offseason for the Angels, but that can all change by signing any of these five free agents.
The New Year has begun, and the Los Angeles Angels have still done mostly nothing this offseason. Activity has finally begun to pick up with players getting signed and traded, but all the Angels have done is sign three relievers to cheap one-year deals and sign Zach Plesac for rotation depth.
This team won 73 games with Shohei Ohtani, and looks a whole lot worse without him. The pitching remains subpar in both the rotation and bullpen, and the lineup is in desperate need of a middle-of-the-order bat.
Fortunately for the Angels, there are still several quality players out there for Perry Minasian to go out and sign. It’s time for this team that refuses to rebuild to show reasons why fans should get excited by signing some big-name free agents. Here are the five best remaining targets ranked.
5) Adam Duvall
Adam Duvall is far from the big name Angels fans are craving, but that’s not to say he wouldn’t make a difference. The Angels are reportedly looking for some outfield help and have checked in on Duvall. He makes a lot of sense for this roster.
This past season, Duvall slashed .247/.303/.531 with 21 home runs and 58 RBI in 92 games. Durability has been a concern in recent years for the 35-year-old, but hitting 21 home runs in 92 games is awfully impressive. While he likely won’t hit home runs at that pace if he were to sign with the Angels, he’s hit 30+ home runs three times in his career, launching as many as 38 back in 2021.
Duvall provides excellent power and is a really solid defender in both corner outfield spots with the ability to play center field as well. Duvall would give the Angels an excellent depth option in the outfield, and would come at a relatively low cost.
4) Matt Moore
Matt Moore made the transition from starter to reliever in 2022 with Texas and had an outstanding year. He didn’t have many believers which is why the Angels couldn’t agree to terms with him until mid-February, but Moore was able to replicate his outstanding year with another great one in 2023.
This past season, Moore posted a 2.77 ERA in 46 appearances and 48.2 innings of work. While he did end up playing for three teams, the southpaw did most of his damage with the Angels as Carlos Estevez’s primary set-up man. Bringing him back in that same role would make a lot of sense.
This Angels bullpen needs a late-game arm, particularly from the left side. Jose Suarez is the only southpaw in the bullpen now after the Angels outrighted Adam Kolarek. It’s safe to say that’s going to have to change if this team wants to go anywhere. Bringing Moore back would go a long way.
No, he’s not Hader, but this team isn’t really in position to give an absurd deal to a guy like Hader when they have many other needs to fill. Moore would come in fairly cheap if he were open to coming back to Anaheim, and could have another good year in 2024.
3) Teoscar Hernandez
The Angels lost Shohei Ohtani and have done nothing to replace him on either side of the ball. No legitimate frontline starter, and no DH or middle-of-the-order bat either. Teoscar Hernandez, while he’s nowhere near as good as Ohtani obviously, would at least fill one of those needs. A middle-of-the-order bopper.
Hernandez strikes out a lot and isn’t known as a great defender, but boy, can he mash. He’s hit at least 25 home runs in each of the last four full seasons (excluding 2020) and has hit at least 20 in each of the last five full seasons. He’s hit as many as 32 home runs in a season with as many as 116 RBI. He’s also taken home a pair of Silver Sluggers in the last four years.
He’s coming off a bit of a down year in which he only posted a 105 OPS+, but Hernandez still hit 26 home runs and drove in 93 runs while playing half the time at pitcher-friendly T-Mobile Park. He has a career .901 OPS at Angel Stadium, proving he sees the ball quite well in Anaheim.
The Angels can use Hernandez as their primary DH, but also put him in the field when necessary. They’d be adding a big bat to the DH spot but can also use guys like Mike Trout and Anthony Rendon there when necessary. The Angels probably shouldn’t go beyond three years for the 31-year-old Hernandez, but if they can get him on the right terms, it’d be a really solid addition.
2) Jordan Montgomery
One of the biggest names left in free agency is Jordan Montgomery who has gone from a mid-rotation arm to a legitimate frontline starter with his performance in the last two seasons. He went from a pitcher the Yankees didn’t believe in to pitch in the playoffs to one of the biggest reasons that the Rangers won the World Series.
Montgomery posted a 3.20 ERA in 32 starts and 188.2 innings of work during the regular season. He was even better in the playoffs. This Angels team is in desperate need of an ace. Montgomery might not look like one with the lack of an overpowering fastball or the insane strikeout numbers, but he’s pitched like one in the last two years.
When it comes to free agent starters, the best ones available are clearly Montgomery and Blake Snell. While Montgomery does not have Snell’s upside, he offers a whole lot more reliability which is what this Angels team needs.
Snell might win another Cy Young Award in 2024, but he also might post an ERA of 4.20 in 27 starts like he did in 2021. Montgomery is a guy the Angels can rely on to take the ball every fifth day, eat innings, and give his team a chance to win. He’s made at least 30 starts in each of the three full seasons he’s pitched in (excluding 2020) after rehabbing from Tommy John Surgery. He’s delivered at least 157 innings in those seasons, all of which ended with him posting a sub-4.00 ERA.
No, he’s not flashy, but he’s productive. The Angels need productivity and reliability in a big way. Montgomery would provide that, albeit at a steep cost.
1) Justin Turner
Having 39-year-old Justin Turner as the best fit for this Angels team probably isn’t encouraging, but it’s hard to dismiss just how perfect of a fit he is on this team.
To start, Turner would slot in as the team’s primary DH. That was his role last season with Boston, and he had a great year for the Red Sox. While he’d primarily be the DH, Turner can play the field at both corner infield positions and even second base. Anthony Rendon is incredibly injury-prone. Nolan Schanuel is far from proven. Having Turner as a backup plan for both of them would be great. He’s far from a great defender, but Turner can at least play the field, unlike Ohtani.
Another thing Turner would provide is clutch hitting. Lots of it. This past season, Turner put up a .943 OPS with runners in scoring position. He has an .893 OPS with RISP in his career. This Angels team was absolutely horrific with runners in scoring position in 2023. Adding Turner, a hitter who has been incredibly clutch throughout his entire career, would be a big add.
While his age is less than appealing, Turner can be a leader on and off the field for this young team. He’d also likely require just a one-year deal, giving the Angels the chance to trade him at the deadline if he’s good and the team is bad, or simply not bring him back for 2025 if he struggles.
Again, it might not be the most exciting thing having a 39-year-old DH as the Angels’ best fit remaining. Still, for the reasons outlined, he’s the player they need to be targeting the most right now.
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