Ever since they traded Josh Hamilton back to the Texas Rangers, the Los Angeles Angels have had trouble filling left field with a player of their liking (and even Hamilton didn't work out). Could they add one of the top outfielders in free agency to join Mike Trout and Kole Calhoun?
The latest rumors from FOX Sports' Jon Morosi suggest they might.
Sources: #Angels and Justin Upton's representatives having ongoing conversations. @FOXSports
— Jon Morosi (@jonmorosi) December 8, 2015
#Angels also have considered signing Jason Heyward and moving Kole Calhoun to left field.
— Jon Morosi (@jonmorosi) December 8, 2015
Both young outfielders have long been linked to the Angels due to the vacancy in their outfield. Upton would probably be the better fit because he's primarily a left fielder, but Heyward is younger and a better defender.
However, there's a bit of an issue with signing either of these players. If they add Upton, that means they'll have yet another right-handed power hitter to join Mike Trout and Albert Pujols, which wouldn't give them much versatility against right-handed pitching (they also just acquired Andrelton Simmons, who is a right-handed bat).
On the other hand, if they sign Heyward, they'll have to shift around the outfield and probably move Calhoun, who has played 348 of his 359 career MLB games in right field, to left.
Perhaps the best fit for the Angels would be free agent outfielder Alex Gordon, who is the best defensive left fielder in the MLB and is also a left-handed bat who can hit anywhere in the order. Additionally, the 31-year-old would be much cheaper because he's at least three years older than Upton and Heyward.
Under new general manager Billy Eppler, there's no telling what the Angels have in store, as FOX Sports' Ken Rosenthal made a good point earlier today:
Noteworthy: #Angels historically make splashes under new GMs. Signed Torii Hunter under Reagins in 2007; Pujols, Wilson under Dipoto in '11.
— Ken Rosenthal (@Ken_Rosenthal) December 8, 2015
The bottom line is that the Angels are in the market for an outfielder and they have few, if any, payroll restrictions under aggressive owner Arte Moreno.
