The Los Angeles Angels are once again having a disappointing year.
Angels fans have suffered through five consecutive losing seasons and six consecutive seasons without a playoff appearance.
Throughout that span, the club has wasted two MVP seasons from superstar Mike Trout and a Rookie of the Year campaign from rising superstar Shohei Ohtani.
The Angels could ultimately end up wasting another MVP campaign in 2021 (this time, it looks like it’s Ohtani’s award to lose) if things don’t change quickly.
The Angels are 39-41 and are struggling to stay afloat in a solid American League West division.
If the club wants to change its fate, it’s going to need to address its biggest weakness: pitching.
The Angels could potentially salvage their season by trading for these three arms.
3. Josh Hader – Milwaukee Brewers
Trading for Josh Hader would be a massive statement by the Angels.
Not only would it suggest that they aren’t punting on the 2021 season just yet, but it would also show fans the club is committed to putting a contending team on the field in the near future.
Why?
Because Hader isn’t a free agent until 2024.
The 27-year-old is arguably the best reliever in baseball.
He had a great track record even before the 2021 season started (having earned All-Star and Reliever of the Year honors twice each), but he has taken his game to another level this season.
Over 33 appearances, Hader has a ridiculous 0.55 ERA, 0.88 FIP, 0.735 WHIP, and has fanned 55 batters in 32.2 innings.
Congrats to Josh Hader, the fastest to 400 career strikeouts in @MLB history! (234.2 IP)#ThisIsMyCrew pic.twitter.com/udRr8BKP83
— Milwaukee Brewers (@Brewers) May 9, 2021
He would immediately become the top relief option in an Angels bullpen that lacks reliable arms.
2. Matthew Boyd – Detroit Tigers
It seems very likely that the Detroit Tigers will move Matthew Boyd at the upcoming deadline.
His value is at an all-time high, and although he is under contract for one more season after this one, the Tigers aren’t expecting to contend in that time frame.
The contract situation could make him a great fit for the Angels, however, as Los Angeles will need quality arms going forward in hopes of contending this season and beyond.
Boyd has a 3.44 ERA over 13 starts this season.
His 3.73 FIP suggests that his success has been legitimate.
It has been a big-time turnaround for the 30-year-old—he allowed the most home runs in the league in 2019 and 2020 and had a career 5.08 ERA prior to this campaign.
1. Max Scherzer – Washington Nationals
The Angels’ rotation needs an overhaul.
Adding one middle-of-the-rotation arm wouldn’t be enough.
Adding a player like Max Scherzer, however, might do the trick.
Scherzer has gotten no less impressive with age.
The soon-to-be 37-year-old is enjoying another outstanding season.
He has a 2.14 ERA, 3.07 FIP, and 0.85 WHIP across 15 outings.
Another 10 strikeout game for @Max_Scherzer, and it only took him 4 innings today. 👀 pic.twitter.com/ncxqhKaIHL
— MLB (@MLB) May 8, 2021
Scherzer is a seven-time All-Star, a three-time Cy Young Award winner, and a future Hall of Famer.
For his 14-year career, he has a 3.17 ERA.
Scherzer is the definition of reliable.
All of these great things being said, he is a free agent after the season.
The Angels might not want to roll the dice on a rental unless they are really serious about turning this campaign around.
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