Ranking the Los Angeles Angels’ 5 Biggest Offseason Needs
Ranking the Los Angeles Angels’ 5 Biggest Offseason Needs
As the world of Major League Baseball gets settled nicely into the offseason, some teams have clear needs and other teams clearly have something to prove. The Los Angeles Angels have a clear stake in both territories this offseason. They have something to prove for sure but that point will go unproven without improvement in a few key areas and those areas are the focus of this article as we try and pick apart what the Angels need to do in order to shed the losing and disappointing 2013 season.
One thing they need to do is to continue being smart this offseason. Whether they take the advice given here with a grain of salt or seriously, they have to be smarter with the moves they make. For now it appears that they are off to a very good start which bodes well for most of the things I’ll put on this list. For beginners they are willing to bring Jason Vargas back but don’t appear willing to get into a bidding war for him. That is a very good sign.
Other big questions will arise as they go through the offseason but the five listed here are the ones we think are the most important for them to improve quickly. Not everything listed will be a roster move however as some of the greatest needs are things that can only be handled in house. Regardless, please leave a comment below and let your voice be heard on this subject or any other Angels news.
David Miller is a Senior Writer for www.RantSports.com. Follow him on Twitter @davidmillerrant, “Like” him on Facebook or add him to your network on Google.
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5 – Bring in a Closer
There are a ton of good closers on the market but the Angels need someone with almost automatic stuff and I think someone like Joe Nathan would be the perfect fit. They certainly need to go for someone on that level of success.
4 – Solidify Starting Rotation
Whether they bring back Vargas or not they still need to solidify the starting rotation with one or two more moves. Even if the offense were to show up all season it won’t matter without improved pitching.
3 – Keep Howie Kendrick
Though he continues to be the object of trade rumors, I think one key need for the Angels is to hold on to Kendrick for all he is worth. Within a year or two he could improve offensively and all around to the point of being one of the top second basemen in the game. There is no huge need to trade him.
2 – Good Return for Mark Trumbo
Also the object of constant trade rumors, it seems Trumbo now may be the most probable to actually move away from the Angels. If he does the key to their next couple of seasons will be how well they do getting good return. If they cannot get something sizable back then they shouldn’t trade him.
1 – Healthy Albert Pujols
It doesn’t involve a signing or a trade but making certain that their veteran slugger Albert Pujols is healthy before he starts his season is critical for the Angels. Even if he started a month late it would be a ton better than starting slightly injured.
