The Los Angeles Angels are now in re-evaluation mode, as they’ve lost their biggest free agent in two-way superstar Shohei Ohtani and must figure out if they want to try and land other big names in an attempt to compete in 2024 or if they’d like to sell some of their best players in order to restock their farm system. Both options remain viable at this stage of the offseason with good names like Teoscar Hernandez still available.
Hernandez has been one of baseball’s most consistent producers over the last four seasons. He burst onto the scene with the Toronto Blue Jays in the shortened 2020 season by posting a .919 OPS and winning a Silver Slugger award. But of course he, like many other 2020 stars, had to prove it wasn’t a fluke. He did so by hitting 32 home runs, collecting 116 RBI and posting an .870 OPS in 2021, winning a Silver Slugger and being named an All-Star for his efforts.
He has been solid in the two years since, seeing a bit of a downturn after being dealt to the Seattle Mariners ahead of the 2023 campaign. But he is now a marquee free agent, and one the Angels have reportedly checked in on, according to Ken Rosenthal of The Athletic:
As active as the Angels are in the trade market, it behooves them to check in on most of the top remaining free agents, and they are doing that, from left-hander Blake Snell to outfielder Teoscar Hernández.
Their interest in Snell has been well-documented up to this point. But Hernandez would be an intriguing piece to add from an American League West rival. Hernandez has primarily played in right field over the course of his eight-year career, a spot that currently belongs to Taylor Ward for the Halos.
But this is where Ohtani’s absence may actually provide a small consolation benefit for the Angels. Instead of having a guaranteed designated hitter each game, the Angels can rotate between Ward, Mike Trout, Hernandez and several infielders to cover the DH spot.
That way, they can preserve some of their more injury-prone players without having to deal with positional battles. If needed, Hernandez can also play in left field, a position that has seen more fluctuation in recent years as the battle between Mickey Moniak and Jo Adell has taken shape.
Moniak, Rengifo receiving trade interest
If the Angels choose to go the other direction with the rest of their offseason, they have several players that are reportedly seeing league-wide trade interest. That list includes Monaik, Luis Rengifo, Jose Suarez, Ward and Matt Thaiss.