The Angels crossed one merchandise off their winter to-do record final evening, including some potential rotation assist by touchdown righty Grayson Rodriguez in a commerce sending Taylor Ward to the Orioles. There’s nonetheless loads of work to be accomplished. The Halos had been identified to be searching for at the least two beginning pitchers this winter, and whereas Rodriguez technically counts towards that finish, he’s coming off a season misplaced to harm and hasn’t pitched in an enormous league recreation since July 2024. He’s stated to be wholesome now, however even when that’s the case, the Angels can’t merely pencil him in for 30 begins subsequent yr.
Anaheim figures so as to add at the least another beginning pitcher, per Rhett Bollinger of MLB.com, who provides that GM Perry Minasian can be on the hunt for upgrades in heart discipline and at third base. A second base addition hasn’t been squarely dominated out, both. Minasian has already instructed that, all else equal, he’d favor a brand new bat within the lineup to be left-handed. Following final evening’s commerce, he additionally instructed that shifting Ward — and his projected $13.7MM wage — may enable the Angels to swim deeper free agent and/or commerce waters.
“It’s not solely buying someone we really feel like can influence the rotation, however releasing up cash to possibly get into areas the place we wouldn’t have been capable of earlier than,” Minasian stated. Rodriguez, notably, is just not but arbitration-eligible and can thus make scarcely greater than the league minimal in 2026.
At the least one outstanding title that matches with the Angels has already come off the board; Trent Grisham, the lefty-swinging heart fielder, accepted his qualifying provide and can return to the Yankees subsequent season. The free agent market nonetheless contains at the least a pair of fairly inexpensive names to contemplate within the infield and in heart discipline: Jorge Polanco and Cedric Mullins. Each hit left-handed — Polanco is a switch-hitter — and each should be obtainable for annual charges akin to, if not decrease than what Ward may’ve commanded in free company.
If the Angels look to take a much bigger swing, then Japanese star Munetaka Murakami stands as an choice at third base, whereas Cody Bellinger looms as a viable heart discipline candidate. Neither is an ideal match. Murakami has vital swing-and-miss points and is seen as somebody who’ll finally want to maneuver to first base. The Angels’ 27.1% workforce strikeout price was already simply the best in MLB final yr. The Rockies (25.9%) had been the one different workforce north of 25%. Bellinger doesn’t include those self same strikeout considerations (only a 13.7% price in ’25), however he’s additionally been extra of a part-time heart fielder lately. He hasn’t performed heart frequently since 2022 with the Dodgers.
The commerce market should current different alternatives. Boston’s Jarren Duran has loads of expertise in heart discipline, although he’s primarily performed left lately in deference to defensive wizard Ceddanne Rafaela. Cardinals infielder Brendan Donovan is not any stranger to 3rd base. If the Angels wish to observe the Rodriguez mould and add a former prime prospect whose inventory is down in the meanwhile, somebody like D-backs heart fielder Alek Thomas or Cardinals third baseman/second baseman Nolan Gorman may possible be had. (Gorman, once more, comes with main strikeout considerations, although.)
Whichever path Minasian and his lieutenants choose to pursue, the payroll area ought to be there. With Ward not factoring into subsequent yr’s finances, RosterResource initiatives the Angels for a payroll round $166MM. That’s practically $50MM shy of final yr’s Opening Day mark. They’re additionally down to at least one extra yr of Anthony Rendon’s ill-fated contract. After the 2026 season, the one gamers assured something are Mike Trout (signed by 2030) and Yusei Kikuchi (signed solely by 2027).
Whereas the Angels’ current historical past of long-term offers is checkered at finest, there’s room for the membership to be aggressive each by way of gives to free brokers and taking over wage in trades. There’s no agency indication but that they’ll pursue marquee names like Bellinger, Murakami, Alex Bregman, Dylan Stop, Framber Valdez, Tatsuya Imai, and so forth. — however there’s additionally no actual motive to suppose they’ll’t make aggressive bids for at the least one free agent from that bunch, based mostly on the present state of the payroll.
