Several Los Angeles Angels, Including Former All-Star, Elect Free Agency
The offseason roster churn has begun for the Los Angeles Angels with several players electing free agency.
According to the MLB Transaction page, first baseman Jared Walsh, outfielder Brett Phillips and pitcher Jaime Barria will all head to the open market this winter.
Walsh is the most notable name of the bunch, having made the American League All-Star team in 2021. However, he hasn't been the same player since, and his availability has struggled as well.
He broke out in 2021, hitting .277 with 29 homers and a whopping 98 RBI. He looked a cornerstone player for the Angels, but slumped to a .215 average in 2022. He hit only 15 homers and drove in 44. He played just 118 games.
He struggled even worse in 2023, playing just 39 major league games and amassing a .125 batting average with four home runs and 11 RBI.
As for Phillips, he's one of the more charismatic and likeable players in baseball. A good defender and a good runner, he may find another opportunity elsewhere this offseason. He hit just .175 this season and is a lifetime .187 hitter. He's played parts of seven seasons in the big leagues with the Brewers, Royals, Rays, Orioles and Angels.
Barria struggled on the mound this year, going 2-6 with a 5.68 ERA. Lifetime, he's 22-32 with a 4.38 ERA.
While these moves may not seem like big deals for the Halos, there are bigger moves coming. The team has to deal with the uncertainty of Mike Trout's future and Shohei Ohtani's free agency.
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