After posting yet another disappointing season in 2018, the Los Angeles Angels are looking to upgrade both their starting rotation and bullpen.
According to Jon Morosi, the Halos have reported interest in free agents Nathan Eovaldi and J.A. Happ.
Sources: #Angels active in the market for both starters and relievers and have shown interest in free agents Nathan Eovaldi and J.A. Happ, although it’s not clear if they have a strong chance to sign either of them. @MLBNetwork @MLB
— Jon Morosi (@jonmorosi) November 26, 2018
We’re certainly not surprised to see Los Angeles looking to upgrade its pitching. The Angels have posted three consecutive losing seasons and haven’t made the playoffs in any of the last four years. The lack of quality pitching has frequently been the culprit.
Overall, the Angels had a 4.15 ERA and 1.32 WHIP in 2018, which both ranked 19th in the league. The starting rotation had a 4.34 ERA and 1.31 WHIP. Both of those totals were also 19th in the league. The bullpen had a 3.92 ERA and 1.34 WHIP, good enough for only 13th and 15th, respectively.
So, there’s plenty of room to improve.
Happ went 17-6 between the Toronto Blue Jays and New York Yankees in 2018. He posted a 3.65 ERA, 1.13 WHIP, and struck out 193 hitters in 177.2 innings.
Eovaldi, meanwhile, went 6-7 with the Tampa Bay Rays and Boston Red Sox. He had a 3.81 ERA, 1.13 WHIP, 101 strikeouts in 111 innings, and thrived in the postseason.