NY Mets: Top 5 teams that will compete to sign Marcus Stroman

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ARLINGTON, TX – JULY 04: Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim players wear Skaggs 45 buttons on their caps in memory of their teammate Tyler Skaggs during a baseball game against the Texas Rangers at Globe Life Park July 4, 2019 in Arlington, Texas. Skaggs suddenly died on Monday, July 1, 2019. Texas won 9-3. (Photo by Brandon Wade/Getty Images) /

The Los Angeles Angels have always been my pick to land Marcus Stroman

Last offseason, prior to Stroman accepting the qualifying offer from the Mets, I thought for sure he would be bound for the Los Angeles Angels. It made total sense. The club has employed Mike Trout for years and never seem to come without shouting distance of the World Series. Now that they have Shohei Ohtani doing Babe Ruth things, the urgency to build a winner should force them to do whatever they can to accomplish this.

Pitching has been the Angels’ weak point in many of these failed attempts at winning it all. This was the case yet again in 2021. A portion of the blame can go on the health of their starters. Ohtani was the only guy on the entire staff to reach 100 innings.

Starting pitching will again be a priority for the Angels. Signing Stroman gives them a reliably consistent guy who can fight for a quality start each night. I think moving Stroman from the National League to the American League can also boost his innings. Even an extra frame a night can make a major difference by the season’s end. There’s no pitcher hitting or needing to be pinch-hit for. This might not be an issue in the NL this coming season with the potential return to the DH. You get my point, though.

The Angels haven’t been shy about spending money. With a credible offense, it’s time they spent some of those bucks on top pitching.

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