The Angels have had discussions about (blank) to fill their second base void for 2017.
Plug in just about any name you’d like.
As Billy Eppler and his staff head to suburban Washington for the Winter Meetings, which begin Monday, the Angels general manager said he’s still looking just about everywhere to solve the club’s most pressing question.
“A lot of lines in the water,” Eppler said. “Continuing dialogue with a few free agents and a few teams. Still exhausting both markets.”
In other words, anyone who can play second base in the major leagues has likely been one of the Angels potential targets.
Eppler gives few hints as to where he’s leaning, but he’s said his preference is to find a left-handed hitter or a switch-hitter to help balance the right-leaning lineup.
We can also assume, based on Eppler’s history and the manner in which the club dispatched Johnny Giavotella, that defense is a priority.
That’s why the best fit is still probably the Philadelphia Phillies’ Cesar Hernandez, an outstanding defensive second baseman. He’s a switch-hitter who had a .371 on-base percentage last year. However, it was clear to the Angels early in the offseason that the Phillies wanted too much for Hernandez, so talks never got off the ground.
Still, the free agent and trade markets include plenty of second basemen who are attainable.
The San Diego Padres alone have four left-handed hitters who can play second, and all but Ryan Schimpf could be available. The others are Yangervis Solarte, Corey Spangenberg and Carlos Asuaje.
Jace Peterson, a left-handed hitter, could be available because he’s due to lose his job with the Atlanta Braves sometime this season. Top prospect Ozzie Albies is on the way.
Derek Dietrich, another left-handed hitter, already lost his job with the Miami Marlins when Dee Gordon returned from his suspension.
The St. Louis Cardinals could make left-handed-hitting Greg Garcia available, with Kolten Wong set to return to his job as their everyday second baseman.
Chase Utley and Stephen Drew are both left-handed-hitting second basemen on the free-agent market.
The Angels also could swing a trade for a veteran right-handed hitter such as Brandon Phillips or Zack Cozart from the Cincinnati Reds or Josh Harrison of the Pittsburgh Pirates. All are available, but that’s because all are likely to be overpaid, short-term fixes.
Beyond finding a second baseman, it seems the Angels are looking mostly to tweak the roster.
They have at least 12 starting pitchers on their depth chart – from Garrett Richards down to newly acquired Brooks Pounders – but every one has major questions. The only one of the group whose performance isn’t an issue is Richards, and he’s coming off a relatively unproven treatment to avoid Tommy John surgery.
“I’m looking at arms, in general,” Eppler said. “I can’t say I’m sitting there just looking in the starting pitching market. Flexibility and durability are going to be important aspects for us. If there are guys who do both, great. Guys who are flexible to start or relieve or guys you can send to Triple-A and back up. All that flexibility will help us navigate an area that has some uncertainty and risk.”
It is possible that the Angels will deal from this glut to get their second baseman. The Padres, who have a surplus of infielders, need starting pitching.
The Angels also could be in the market for outfield or catching depth. They don’t have an experienced fourth outfielder or a veteran catcher.
The Angels have some financial flexibility. They are currently at about $165 million for 2017, as calculated for purposes of the luxury tax threshold, which is $195 million for the upcoming season.
Despite that, it’s unlikely they would spend much because the market is thin, and any money they use overpaying middling players this winter is money that won’t be available when better players are available in future seasons.
Eppler said the Angels have, however, considered some outside-the-box scenarios in which they acquire a player – likely using their financial flexibility – at a spot that is seemingly filled. They could then trade from the surplus.
For example, the Angels could sign a free-agent starting pitcher like Ivan Nova. Although they’d almost certainly have to overpay for him in this market, they would then have the ability to trade a starter such as Matt Shoemaker or Tyler Skaggs.
Either of those pitchers could help them get a second baseman such as Hernandez or Brian Dozier, whose cost now is talent the Angels can’t afford to trade.
Contact the writer: jlfletcher@scng.com
