The Angels are considering whether to pursue Blake Snell or Jordan Montgomery to bolster their rotation, according to Jon Heyman of The New York Post. However, Heyman suggests that they are more likely to target a back-end pitcher like Michael Lorenzen. While the team has been loosely linked to Snell and Montgomery earlier in the offseason, no significant progress has been made.
The current rotation for the Angels is projected to be led by a combination of Reid Detmers, Patrick Sandoval, Tyler Anderson, and Griffin Canning. Options for the fifth spot include Chase Silseth, José Suarez, and Zach Plesac. However, Sam Bachman, who could have been part of the competition, underwent arthroscopic surgery last fall and will not be ready for Opening Day, as reported by Jeff Fletcher of the Orange County Register.
Although the rotation has some talented pitchers, there are also many uncertainties. Detmers’ ERA increased from 3.77 in 2022 to 4.48 last year. Sandoval’s ERA rose from 2.91 to 4.11, while Anderson’s jumped from 2.57 to 5.43. Canning managed to pitch 127 innings last year, but that was a career-high for him due to injuries and the pandemic. Suarez missed most of last season due to a shoulder strain. Silseth has limited MLB experience with only 81 innings pitched and 45 2/3 at Triple-A. Plesac struggled with a 7.59 ERA with the Guardians last year and was eventually waived.
Considering the uncertainties and the likelihood of pitcher injuries throughout a long baseball season, it would make sense for the Angels to add to their rotation. Pursuing Snell or Montgomery would be intriguing, but there are reasons to doubt the possibility. The Angels have historically not spent much on starting pitching, and owner Arte Moreno has indicated a lower payroll for this year. Therefore, it would be surprising to see them suddenly splurge on Snell or Montgomery.
However, even with a lower payroll, the Angels may have some financial flexibility. Last year, they had an Opening Day payroll of $212 million and flirted with the luxury tax line. This year, their payroll is projected to be around $173 million, almost $40 million lower than the previous year. Their Competitive Balance Tax (CBT) number is $188 million, nearly $50 million below the threshold of $237 million for this year. This could give them some room to make a significant signing while still reducing their spending.
Before the offseason began, it was predicted that Snell could secure a seven-year, $200 million contract, while Montgomery could get a six-year, $150 million deal. The fact that they are still unsigned in mid-February suggests that they may be struggling to find offers in that range. This could present an opportunity for the Angels to make a deal work, despite their previous reluctance to sign long-term contracts for starting pitchers.
If either Snell or Montgomery were added, they would immediately become the top pitcher in the Angels’ rotation. Snell is coming off his second Cy Young victory and had a 2.25 ERA with the Padres last year. Although he has had ups and downs, he is undoubtedly one of the best pitchers in the league when he is performing well. Montgomery has been steadily increasing his innings and lowering his ERA since returning from Tommy John surgery. He had a 3.20 ERA in 188 2/3 innings last year and also performed well in the postseason.
On the other hand, signing someone like Lorenzen would align more with the Angels’ usual approach. They previously gave him a one-year, $6.75 million deal and allowed him to start in 2022 after being primarily used as a reliever by the Reds. He made 18 starts and recorded a 4.24 ERA in 97 2/3 innings. Lorenzen then signed a one-year, $8.5 million deal with the Tigers and had a 3.58 ERA in 105 2/3 innings before being traded to the Phillies. While he had two excellent starts, including a no-hitter, his performance declined afterward, resulting in a 4.18 ERA for the season. It is possible that his struggles were due to an increased workload.
MLBTR predicted that Lorenzen could secure a two-year, $22 million deal this offseason. As he remains unsigned, he could be the best available starter in free agency after Snell and Montgomery. Unless the Angels change their strategy and consider a major deal for a pitcher, signing Lorenzen would be the most realistic option to solidify their rotation. Other notable free agent starters still available include Mike Clevinger, Hyun Jin Ryu, Eric Lauer, Noah Syndergaard, Rich Hill, Zack Greinke, and Johnny Cueto.
According to the Source mlbtraderumors.com