Angels Reportedly Interested in Top Free Agent Outfielders
As the free agency period is expected to ramp up, the Los Angeles Angels have plenty of holes to fill.
One of the most significant areas of need is outfield help -- particularly someone with some pop. After losing Shohei Ohtani, the team has a real need to add length to the lineup. Signing such a player with the ability to slug is imperative.
Reporter Robert Murray of Fansided came out with some nuggets on Thursday evening. He touched on a plethora of teams. One of those teams was the Angels.
According to Murray, there are a handful of outfielders the Halos are potentially considering. With Harrison Bader (Mets) and Kevin Kiermaier (Blue Jays) off the market, attention will reportedly turn to Adam Duvall and Michael A. Taylor.
"The Angels have discussed free-agent outfielders Michael A. Taylor and Adam Duvall, as well as Kevin Kiermaier and Harrison Bader before they agreed to one-year deals elsewhere, sources say."
Taylor is an interesting player. He's an elite fielder in center (winning a Gold Glove in 2021). Despite approaching age 33, Taylor also can swipe a bag when given the opportunity. He's coming off a year in Minnesota where he hit .220 with a career-high 21 HRs and 51 RBIs (in only 355 at-bats).
With postseason experience and positional versatility, he could be a nice fit on a short-term deal.
Duvall is more of your traditional slugger. He's coming off a year in which he hit 21 HRs for the Boston Red Sox. A former Gold Glove winner in right field, Duvall is a fly-ball hitter with an unfortunate penchant for getting injured.
He's a better hitter than Taylor, and is most certainly more of a threat to knock the ball out of the park. However, Duvall strikes out a lot. He also will be 36 years old next September.
Taylor could be available at a bit of a discount comparatively speaking. The Angels could face some stiff competition for Duvall's services -- namely from the Pirates, the Braves, and even the Dodgers.
