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Charlie Blackmon could be the answer to Angels’ outfield woes
Sunday’s Say Hey, Baseball includes the Angels’ ongoing search for outfield help, an underwhelming Yankees trade, and Drew Storen’s poodle.
Ron Chenoy-USA TODAY Sports
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It’s that point in the offseason where every team is linked to every free agent, with nary a scrap of meaning between rumors. The Angels are no exception. They’ve been shopping almost every outfielder available, from Gerardo Parra to Carlos Gonzalez. Although no deals have been struck quite yet, they might want to accelerate their game plan: over the last few days, both left fielder Alex Gordon and center fielder Denard Span have been scooped up by the Royals and Giants, respectively, thinning out the remaining candidates for the Angels’ outfield. Some of the bigger names -- among them, Yoenis Cespedes and Justin Upton -- remain, but it looks like the Angels have turned their attention to another Rockies’ outfielder: Charlie Blackmon.
Blackmon may not garner a superstar’s contract, but his numbers are more than impressive enough to fill a hole in the Angels’ roster. In 2015, he batted .287/.347/.450 with the Rockies, tacking on 17 home runs and 43 stolen bases in 682 plate appearances. He’s proven himself consistent over the past two seasons, and his left-handed bat could certainly balance out a heavy right-handed lineup. Even better, he’s likely to be a more affordable alternative to outfielders like Cespedes, whose price tag could scale $140 million in 2016.
In order to net a player as well-rounded as Blackmon, the Angels might have to sacrifice some of their pitching depth. Beat writer Jeff Fletcher mentioned right-handers Nick Tropeano and Cam Bedrosian as potential returns, both of whom exceeded their rookie limits in 2015 and will remain under team control through 2020. Neither pitcher has tossed a season’s worth of outings yet, but Tropeano has a polished repertoire that would mesh nicely with the back end of the Rockies rotation, and Bedrosian would be a boon in the bullpen if he cleaned up his control issues. On paper, it looks like a smart trade for both clubs. Nothing is set in stone yet, but if the Angels plan on beefing up their outfield before spring, they should act fast.
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- It’s too early to tell if the Giants will lock down a fourth championship title in 2016, but their offseason moves are putting them on the right track.
- The Nationals have one fewer Drew Storen than they did yesterday. What does that mean for Jonathan Papelbon’s future in the ‘pen?
- The Tigers’ best shot at bolstering their outfield lies with free agents Justin Upton and Yoenis Cespedes, but there are a few more players who could round out their 2016 lineup.
- The White Sox are taking a laid-back approach to their roster acquisitions this offseason.
- The Yankees are also playing it cool this winter, despite signing Indians reliever Kirby Yates and three minor leaguers.
- Here are 12 things you might not know about the newest member of the Blue Jays’ bullpen, including his burgeoning art career and possession of the world’s most photogenic poodle.
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