Angels Free Agent Pitching Target Reportedly Interested in AL East Squad

This right-hander might prefer to stay on the East Coast.

As the Los Angeles Angels have been connected to several free agent pitchers capable of improving their starting rotation, one potential target seems more interested in signing with the New York Yankees.

According to Bob Nightengale of USA Today, right-handed pitcher Marcus Stroman has informed the Yankees that he would like to play for them next season.

"Free-agent starter Marcus Stroman has informed the Yankees he’s seriously interested in signing with them, but the Yankees have declined to make an offer."
Per Bob Nightengale of USA Today

Stroman pitched for the Toronto Blue Jays from 2014-19, then spent his last four seasons with the New York Mets and Chicago Cubs.

The 32-year-old right-hander has a career record of 77-76 with an ERA of 3.65 and an opponents' OPS of .684. 

To his credit, Stroman has never had a career-threatening injury. He is coming off a solid year in Chicago where he went 10-9 with a 3.95 ERA while striking out 119 batters.

After opting out of the COVID-shortened 2020 season, Stroman has lost no more than 1 mph off his velocity over the last three years, per Statcast. And in spite of the lost season, only nine major league pitchers have made more starts than Stroman since 2016.

Over the years, the Angels have been in the mix to acquire Stroman via trade or free agency. General manager Perry Minasian could plausibly have a longstanding interest in Stroman, as the two have a relationship dating to their shared time in Toronto (2012-16).

If Stroman is serious about playing for the Yankees next year, it would be another blow to an Angels front office that has seen two of their top targets — Shohei Ohtani and outfielder Teoscar Hernández — go to the Los Angeles Dodgers.

With Stroman potentially off the board, the Angels might have to consider acquiring starting pitching help via trade, as just Blake Snell, Jordan Montgomery, and Shōta Imanaga remain as impactful starters.