Angels Linked to Top Lefty Starting Pitcher on Free Agent Market

Angels linked to left-handed pitcher.

As the Los Angeles Angels are preparing for the post-Shohei Ohtani era, the team is now in a position to fill multiple roster holes. They are currently looking to retool the current state of the roster, hoping to end their long playoff drought. 

According to Jon Heyman of The New York Post, he believes the Angels will be aggressive in trying to sign free agent starting pitcher Blake Snell.

"The Angels are a possibility I think, they're certainly looking at pitching." Said Heyman. "They're not gonna stand put. They're gonna go out there and get some pitchers and right now, that'd be my guess for Blake Snell."

Per Jon Heyman

Jon Heyman just now on WFAN, when asked about Blake Snell:

“The #Angels are a possibility I think. They’re certainly looking at pitching…

They’re not gonna stand pat. They’re gonna go out there and get some pitchers and right now, that’d be my guess for Blake Snell.” pic.twitter.com/do9uUHuHZk

— BTH (@BeyondTheHalo) December 10, 2023

If the Angels are going to be in on Snell, it would be a step in the right direction.

Snell is coming off his best season with the San Diego Padres. Last year, he finished  with a 14-9 record and a 2.25 ERA while striking out 234 batters.

With the potential of Snell on the roster, he would come in and immediately command the staff as the ace, giving the Angels four lefties in the starting rotation.

After a season filled with such high expectations, the Angels finished fourth in the AL West with a record of 73-89.

Since then, they recently elected to hire former Atlanta Braves third base coach and Texas Rangers manager Ron Washington to a two-year deal to manage the team, moving on from Phil Nevin after two years at the helm.

So far, Washington has put together a very impressive staff that would have any baseball player excited to play for him.

The Angels have never been one to shy away from spending in free agency, as they have signed players like Albert Pujols, Josh Hamilton, and Anthony Rendon to massive deals. While they missed out on the Ohtani sweepstakes, the organization currently sits just under $75 million below the luxury tax threshold, in prime position to make a splash.

The Angels also have a promising core of position players in Nolan Schanuel, Logan O'Hoppe, and Zach Neto while being led by three-time AL MVP Mike Trout.

After changing managers and coaching staff, and saving money from the loss of Shohei Ohtani, the opportunity to play in Orange County around a young core could be an appealing sales pitch to Snell or any other free agent.