Angels evaluating roster improvements post-Ohtani

This story was excerpted from Rhett Bollinger's Angels Beat newsletter. To read the full newsletter, click here. And subscribe to get it regularly in your inbox.

ANAHEIM -- Despite losing two-way superstar Shohei Ohtani in free agency to the rival Dodgers, the Angels still have money to spend in free agency and have several avenues available to improve the roster.

The Halos won 73 games in back-to-back seasons despite having Ohtani as a fully two-way player, so the club obviously has plenty of areas it needs to improve upon. The Angels recently signed veteran relievers Luis García and Adam Cimber to one-year deals, and it appears that adding to the pitching staff is the most likely scenario this offseason.

Without Ohtani, the Angels can utilize a five-man rotation, and they have several in-house candidates for the rotation such as Patrick Sandoval, Reid Detmers, Chase Silseth, Tyler Anderson and Griffin Canning. But with the loss of Ohtani, the Angels could use a top-of-the-rotation starter to replace him.

Fellow Japanese right-hander Yoshinobu Yamamoto is the top starting pitcher available, but he’s likely out of the club’s price range, as the Angels are looking to spread around their money. They are roughly $70 million under the luxury tax, and Yamamoto is reportedly seeking a deal worth more than $300 million guaranteed with more than $30 million annually.

But there are other top starters available in free agency such as Blake Snell and Jordan Montgomery, while others are reportedly available via trade such as Guardians right-hander Shane Bieber, Rays right-hander Tyler Glasnow and Brewers right-hander Corbin Burnes. Bieber, Glasnow and Burnes are all in the last year of their contracts, and the Angels have not been hesitant to make moves for players in a similar situation, much like last year when they traded for Hunter Renfroe and Gio Urshela.

There are also starters available in the second tier such as Marcus Stroman, Jack Flaherty, Lucas Giolito and Japanese lefty Shōta Imanaga, who could make some sense to add to the mix. The Angels, just like every club, could use more starting-pitching depth.

The Halos also could look to fortify the bullpen, even after adding García, Cimber and lefty Adam Kolarek on one-year deals. They also traded for Braves lefty Tyler Thomas last week, although he’s not on the 40-man roster. Right-hander Carlos Estévez is expected to be the closer again, but relief ace Josh Hader is available in free agency.

And on the offensive side, the club could use some help in replacing Ohtani’s production at designated hitter. One small ancillary benefit is that the Angels have the DH spot open for the first time in six seasons, which could free up at-bats for Mike Trout and Anthony Rendon in a bid to keep them healthier. Rendon, in particular, could see more action at DH given his injury concerns in recent years and his throwing issues at third base.

Ohtani's departure also gives the Angels some options if they want to add a bat-first player such as J.D. Martinez, Jorge Soler or Rhys Hoskins in free agency. Los Angeles could use a little more thump to its lineup, and any of those three would add some much-needed production to the DH spot. Hoskins could also split time at first base with rookie Nolan Schanuel. Outfielder Cody Bellinger is the biggest bat available in free agency and could make sense, but he’s expected to command a sizable deal, and much like with Yamamoto, the Angels could look to spread their money around more.

Otherwise, the Angels are likely to have a combination of Logan O’Hoppe and Matt Thaiss at catcher, Schanuel at first base, Brandon Drury at second base, Zach Neto at shortstop, Rendon and Luis Rengifo at third base, Taylor Ward in left field, Trout in center and Mickey Moniak in right. Jo Adell will also give the club some outfield depth.

But the Halos could now also use a corner infielder/utility player and an outfielder. Adding a catcher wasn’t a priority at the Winter Meetings, but it could be now after they traded Max Stassi to the Braves. Pitching remains a bigger need, but the Angels need all the help they can get right now.