As the Los Angeles Angels head into a crucial offseason, they will have decisions to make on several important free agents, including Alex Cobb and Raisel Iglesias, who both impressed during their respective debut seasons with the organization.
Iglesias recently expressed his desire to remain with the Angels after posting a 2.61 ERA, 2.87 FIP and 0.93 WHIP with 34 saves in 69 innings across 58 appearances.
As for Cobb, he went 8-3 with a 3.76 ERA, 2.92 FIP and 1.26 WHIP in 93.1 innings across 18 starts. He missed a significant amount of time this season due to right wrist inflammation but looked solid upon returning from the injured list at the start of September, even when factoring in a rough outing against the Texas Rangers.
Like Iglesias, Cobb hopes to work out a new contract with the Angels, although those talks have not taken place yet, via Jeff Fletcher of the Southern California News Group:
“There’s a mutual respect there and a mutual desire to reunite next year,” Cobb said. “We haven’t had those talks yet, but it’s obviously something I’d be really happy to do.”
Part of why Cobb wants to stay with the Angels is because he believes they will field a competitive team next season:
“They’re in win mode right now,” Cobb said. “As a player in the big leagues, all you can ask for showing up in spring training is that chance to win. I’ve been on both sides. It’s not fun showing up when the front office and ownership are not all-in, but it definitely seems like they are here.”
Despite missing the playoffs this year, the Angels have plenty of reason for optimism as they look to the 2022 season. They already have an excellent core in place, led by Shohei Ohtani and Mike Trout, and younger building blocks that figure to only get better with more experience.
General manager Perry Minasian is well aware that the upcoming offseason will be his biggest test since taking the helm last year. With plenty of money to go around, his biggest priority will be upgrading a rotation that finished in the bottom-five across several categories this year.
Along with potentially re-signing Cobb, some potential options the Angels may consider include Max Scherzer, Clayton Kershaw, Kevin Gausman, Marcus Stroman, Robbie Ray and Zack Greinke.
Maddon: Suarez earned spot in 2022 rotation
As it currently stands, only Ohtani and Patrick Sandoval are locks for the Angels rotation next season. After ending his season on a high note against the Seattle Mariners, Maddon suggested that Jose Suarez could factor into the mix as well.