The Los Angeles Angels are perhaps taking a different approach to their offseason plans, which have not been cost-effective over the past few years with the signings of Albert Pujols and Josh Hamilton. They're now looking for a cost-controlled third baseman.
Earlier in the offseason it was speculated the Angels would be looking to sign one of the top free agent pitchers, most notably Max Scherzer or James Shields. Their starting rotation poses a bit of a concern since Garrett Richards won't be ready for the beginning of the season, C.J. Wilson struggled throughout 2014 and Hector Santiago had trouble down the stretch. Despite all that, they're apparently confident with who they have.
According to Jon Morosi of FOX Sports, the team expects Garrett Richards to be back at "some point in April" and they're not looking to significantly upgrade their starting rotation. Alden Gonzalez of MLB.com adds, "The Angels' front office still has one major target as the offseason winds down, but it isn't Max Scherzer or James Shields or any other big-name starting pitcher." That target is a young prospect to succeed David Freese at third base.
Freese can become a free agent after the 2015 season as he enters his third year of arbitration-eligibility. Back in October, sources said the Angels were ready to make Freese or second baseman Howie Kendrick available in a trade so they could acquire a starter or reliever to upgrade their staff. Kendrick was traded to the Los Angeles Dodgers during the MLB Winter Meetings in exchange for young left-hander Andrew Heaney and it's certainly possible they still look to move Freese since he's due a raise, but little has developed on that front.
"The club would prefer to acquire a young third baseman in a prospect swap, so as to not further interrupt a Major League club that's coming off a 98-win season, but that thinking could change for the right player," writes Gonzalez. "The Angels like what Freese brings on the field and in the clubhouse, but don't appear to have much interest in signing the 31-year-old to an extension beyond this coming season."
Los Angeles was expecting Kaleb Cowart to the reach the majors by 2015, but the 22-year-old third baseman has logged back-to-back poor campaigns at Double-A Arkansas and is clearly not going to be ready by next season, or perhaps 2016. As a result, the search has begun for the Angels, but it's not clear exactly who they'll be pursuing. Gonzalez lists Joey Gallo (TEX), Miguel Sano (MIN), D.J. Peterson (SEA), Maikel Franco (PHI), Garin Cecchini (BOS), Colin Moran (HOU), Hunter Dozier (KC) and Jake Lamb (ARZ) as potential prospect options. With Boston signing Pablo Sandoval, Seattle extending Kyle Seager and Arizona using Yasmany Tomas at the hot corner, those three clubs would appear to be the most likely trade partners.
In fact, the Angels expressed interest in Boston's Brock Holt during the Winter Meetings, according to ESPN's Gordon Edes. Holt, 26, has been used as a utility player for the Red Sox and has logged most of his career games (59) at third base. He also slashed .281/.331/.381 with 68 runs scored, 29 RBIs and 12 stolen bases in 106 games last season. However, Gonzalez previous noted the Red Sox were asking for too much in return. Perhaps the two sides revisit talks since the Red Sox have a surplus of third baseman (Holt and Cecchini behind Sandoval), but as of right now the Angels look like they're merely poking around.
