Angels Reportedly 'Like' Free Agents Cody Bellinger, Blake Snell

The Halos are looking to make a splash.

The Halos have patiently waited to dip their toes into the deep end of the free-agent pool. The need to make a splash is there. 

After they lost two-way superstar Shohei Ohtani to the crosstown Los Angeles Dodgers, the Angels had nearly $70 million to spend before incurring a luxury tax and plenty of roster holes to fill. 

The New York Post's Jon Heyman reported the Angels like free agent starting pitcher Blake Snell and outfielder Cody Bellinger. The two Boras Corporation clients have been linked with the Halos already this offseason — enough smoke to suggest a fire below.

"The Angels like Bellinger, and could make sense. The Angels, who lost their best hitter and pitcher (Shohei Ohtani), like Blake Snell, too. But Angels owner Arte Moreno typically favors everyday players over pitchers."

— Jon Heyman of The New York Post

As Heyman points out, Angels owner Arte Moreno has typically been hesitant to shell out large deals to free-agent pitchers. The Angels have never paid more than $21 million to a pitcher in a single season — Noah Syndergaard's salary in 2022. 

Tyler Anderson’s 3/$39M deal with the #Angels is the first multi-year contract the Angels have given to a starting pitcher since Joe Blanton’s 2/$15M deal in 2013.

— BTH (@BeyondTheHalo) November 16, 2022

The Angels would need to make an exception to sign someone like Snell. Last season with the San Diego Padres, Snell went 14-9 with a 2.25 ERA and 234 strikeouts in 180 innings.

The left-hander would be an absolute game-changer for their starting rotation. He would give them a true ace-level pitcher to work around, and the fan base could rally around the signing. 

Additionally, bringing in Bellinger could do wonders as well. He had a resurgent season with the Chicago Cubs, and now is looking to cash in on the open market.

Bellinger would add another solid bat to the middle of the Angels' lineup, and help replace the production of Ohtani. The Angels could use his left-hander power in the lineup, and it would help round out their roster.

Bellinger could also help take some of the load off Mike Trout in center field, helping to ease his injury issues. Both Bellinger and Snell would be great fits for the Angels. Hopefully we learn where they'll fit before pitchers and catchers report to spring training.