The Angels have expressed interest in free agents Amed Rosario and Enrique Hernández as they continue their search for infield depth, according to Jon Heyman of the New York Post. Ken Rosenthal of The Athletic previously linked the Halos to Hernández. However, this is the first time they have been directly connected to Rosario.
Rosario had a mediocre season split between the Guardians and Dodgers. The right-handed middle infielder had a batting average of .263, an on-base percentage of .305, and a slugging percentage of .378. He hit six home runs and stole 15 bases in 545 plate appearances. Although his power numbers improved slightly after the trade to the Dodgers, his overall performance was still below average. The Dodgers left him off their playoff roster.
In the preceding two seasons, Rosario had posted average numbers for Cleveland. He had a slash line of .282/.316/.406 and was a consistent presence in the lineup as a shortstop. While he doesn’t possess much power, his strong contact skills have allowed him to have three seasons with a batting average above .280.
Defensively, there are concerns about Rosario’s performance. Public metrics have consistently rated his glove as below average, with particularly poor grades in the first half of last season. Statcast and Defensive Runs Saved metrics indicate that he was 11 to 16 runs worse than an average shortstop in less than 800 innings with the Guardians. The Dodgers utilized him more at second base towards the end of the season, marking his first time playing on the right side of the infield in the MLB.
Despite his lackluster performance last year, Rosario is still considered one of the better middle infielders available in a weak free agent class. He garnered interest from the Blue Jays and Red Sox earlier in the offseason, but those teams ultimately signed other right-handed hitting infielders. Recently, the Marlins have shown significant interest in Rosario, along with Gio Urshela, as potential shortstop options.
While the Marlins have a clear opening for an everyday shortstop, the Angels would likely see Rosario as insurance for multiple positions. The Angels currently have Zach Neto as their starting shortstop, with Anthony Rendon, Brandon Drury, and Luis Rengifo splitting time between second and third base. Rendon has struggled with injuries and hasn’t played a full season at third base since 2019, while Rengifo is a below-average defender who underwent biceps surgery last September. The Angels have yet to replace Urshela, who served as a versatile right-handed hitting infielder before suffering a pelvis fracture last season.
Owner Arte Moreno recently stated that he doesn’t expect the team’s spending to match last year’s level. However, pursuing Rosario should still be financially feasible for the Angels. The 28-year-old infielder is likely seeking a one- or two-year contract. The team’s projected payroll is estimated to be around $173 million, compared to approximately $212 million in player commitments at the start of last season.
According to the Source mlbtraderumors.com