MLB Rumors: Angels Eyeing 10-Year Versatile Veteran Free Agent

January 14, 2024


It hasn’t been the best off-season for the Los Angeles Angels, to say the least. They lost two-time MVP and all-time great Shohei Ohtani to the crosstown LA Dodgers, while on the positive side of the ledger, they don’t have a lot to show.

And after years of handing out ill-advised, long-term, insanely expensive free agent deals (see: Rendon, Anthony; Hamilton, Josh; Pujols, Albert; etc), this time around they’re being linked to much more moderate targets. The latest is former Dodger and Boston Red Sox utilityman, infielder/outfielder, Kike Hernandez.

Angels fans, understandably, aren’t too keen on this being their big winter signing.

Hernandez has had a dreadful previous two seasons split between the Red Sox and the Dodgers, batting a combined .230 with a .640 OPS, and an OPS+ of 74… That makes him 26% worse than the average big-league hitter. His 20-HR season from 2021 with Boston dried up into a six-homer year in 2022 and 11 dingers last season. But as usual, he continued to show the defensive versatility that has marked his entire career. In 2023 he played every single position on the field except for catcher.  

The 32-year-old is obviously familiar with the LA area having spent seven seasons up the I-5 with the Dodgers. 

There aren’t too many other teams linked to Hernandez, so it’s likely that the Angels can get him at a good price if that truly is their goal.

The only other moves of any note made this off-season by the Angels include signing starting pitcher Zach Plesac and relievers Adam Cimber and Luis Garcia. They also added DH Willie Calhoun on a minor league deal and brought in first baseman Evan White in a trade with the Atlanta Braves. 

Again, Angels fans aren't exactly celebrating this offseason. 

Photo: ayne Kamin-Oncea-USA TODAY Sports

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