Los Angeles Angels to complete two important deals

Despite signing Shohei Ohtani to the Los Angeles Angels in 2017, the team’s failure to make the playoffs year after year has been disheartening. However, Mike Trout, another generational talent, remains on the roster, and it is not too late for the Angels to assemble a contending squad for 2024, despite the fact that Opening Day is quickly coming.

Trout, who has only made the postseason once in his career, has reportedly asked Angels management to sign the top free players available.

And, to their credit, the Angels may be on the verge of making some significant changes, but for the time being, they’re moving like a “real G” according to Lil Wayne. According to Jon Heyman of the New York Post, the Angels are not only talking to reigning NL Cy Young Award winner Blake Snell about perhaps giving the team its much-needed ace, but also to designated hitter JD Martinez about adding some punch to the lineup behind Trout.

 

 

For the time being, the Angels are only talking to those two, and Heyman did not say how close they are to signing them. However, the MLB insider “believes” that Snell “would relish the idea of the Angels as a West Coaster from Seattle who’s spending his winter (and now spring) in Orange County”.

As excellent as Reid Detmers and Patrick Sandoval are for the Angels, Blake Snell would provide them with a proven and battle-tested strikeout artist, increasing their chances of competing for at least a Wild Card position.

 

 

Meanwhile, JD Martinez may be past his peak, but he made a significant comeback at the plate in 2023. He hit 33 home runs and drove in 103 runs, and the Angels may be Martinez’s favored landing location because he does not have to transfer after spending last season with the Los Angeles Dodgers. If the Angels sign Martinez, he should be a significant upgrade over Brandon Drury, who is anticipated to be the team’s designated hitter.