The Angels' projected 2026 payroll currently stands at approximately $165 million. With a slight increase over their 2025 Opening Day payroll, that should leave them with $45-50 million to spend this offseason. That likely takes them out of the running for any big-name free agents this winter, including Alex Bregman, Kyle Tucker, or Framber Valdez. Here are a few more realistic targets the Angels could pursue this offseason.

The Needs:

1. At least one mid-rotation starter and one back-end starter: The Angels currently rank 26th in ERA and 29th in fWAR among their starting pitchers this season. They enter the offseason with only two starters penciled in for their 2026 rotation. It's possible they choose to move Reid Detmers back into a starting role next year, but doing so would create another vacancy in the back of the Angels' bullpen.
2. Two Relievers capable of pitching in high leverage situations: With Kenley Jansen, Luis García, and Andrew Chafin set to re-enter free agency, and the possibility of Detmers moving back into the rotation, the Angels' bullpen faces a lot of questions heading into 2026. It also remains to be seen how Ben Joyce will fare in his return from major shoulder surgery, and whether Robert Stephenson can stay healthy for a full MLB season.
3. A healthy option at third base: The last time the Angels had a single player appear in 100+ games at third base was 2019 (shoutout Yunel Escobar). The Angels can't afford to rely on Oswald Peraza's career 56 wRC+ or the corpse of Anthony Rendon to play meaningful games in 2026.
4. A deeper lineup with quality complimentary players: The top half of the Angels' lineup—players batting 1 through 5—has combined for a 109 wRC+ in 2025, placing them firmly in the middle of the pack compared to the rest of MLB. However, the bottom half of the lineup—players batting 6 through 9—has combined for a 70 wRC+, ranking 28th, ahead of only Colorado and Kansas City.
5. Improve defensive play: It should come as no surprise that the Angels rank near the bottom of the league in nearly every defensive category this season. Some improvements will need to come internally, particularly at catcher and first base, but there is still room for external upgrades at third base, second base, and center field.

Starting Pitchers:

RHP Merrill Kelly (2025 stats: 171 IP, 156 SO, 75 ERA-, 2.9 fWAR)

Since 2016, only two starting pitchers aged 37 or older have been signed to multi-year contracts: Max Scherzer and Justin Verlander (Rich Hill was signed just 3 months before his 37th birthday). Kelly will likely add his name to the list after an excellent platform season split between Arizona and Texas.

On the mound, Kelly’s fastball velocity has remained consistent since his MLB debut in 2019. He’s also on pace to surpass 175 innings for the third time in the past four seasons. His ability to mix pitches and get outs with a low three-quarter release would complement Yusei Kikuchi and José Soriano in the Angels’ rotation.

Kikuchi (left), Soriano (middle), and Kelly (right) / Source: baseballsavant.mlb.com

Kelly checks most of the boxes the Angels have prioritized in their free agent signings in recent years. There’s also some familiarity with pitching coach Barry Enright from their time in the D-Backs organization. He even went golfing with Mike Trout this past Spring! A two-year deal would solidify the top half of the Angels’ rotation without blocking the paths of their young arms.

Contract Projection: 2 years, $35mm

RHP Tyler Mahle (2025 stats: 77 IP, 56 SO, 57 ERA-, 1.7 fWAR)

Mahle enters the offseason as one of the most intriguing arms on the market. He has only thrown 114 innings since the start of the 2023 season due to elbow and shoulder injuries. The results, though, have been spectacular, particularly if you exclude the 12.2 innings pitched in late 2024 after he returned from Tommy John surgery.

There are reasons to be skeptical about Mahle’s success this season. His actual ERA of 2.34 is significantly lower than both his xERA and FIP, although the latter is still a career-best 3.41. Despite the concerns, when healthy, he has been a respectable mid-rotation starter for the past several seasons.

It’s also worth noting that Mahle should be quite familiar with the Angels organization. He was born, raised, and still resides in Orange County. His brother, Greg, was drafted by the Angels and appeared in 24 games for the MLB club in 2016. A heavily incentivized, two-year deal would make sense for both sides.

Contract Projection: 2 years, $33 million + incentives for innings pitched

RHP Chris Bassitt (2025 stats: 156 IP, 154 SO, 100 ERA-, 2.1 fWAR)

Bassitt has been a reliable mid-rotation starter for the majority of his 11 year MLB career. His fastball velocity has dipped a bit since his lone All-Star season in 2021, but he still generates a ton of soft contact and posts league-average strikeout rates. He is also one of the most durable pitchers in baseball, having spent only 44 days on the injured list since 2020.

With a lockout looming in 2027, the Angels could opt to avoid signing any multi-year contracts. It’s possible that Bassitt, who is only a few months younger than Kelly, could command a two-year contract due to his durability. However, a one-year deal seems more likely given his 4.13 ERA over the past two seasons.

Contract Projection: 1 year, $15mm

RHP Kona Takahashi (2025 NPB stats: 116 IP, 66 SO, 98 ERA-)

Takahashi profiles as a spot starter or long reliever in MLB and should command a contract similar to the two-year deal that Shinnosuke Ogasawara signed this past offseason. The Angels have been scouting his starts in Japan and could use him as a cheap 5th starter while their younger arms develop in the minors.

Contract Projection: 2 years, $5mm

RHP Paul Blackburn (2025 stats: 31 IP, 24 SO, 185 ERA-, 0.1 fWAR)

Blackburn is another cheap option that the Angels could use to backfill the rotation or bullpen. He was a serviceable back-end starter from 2022 to 2024 before injuries derailed his 2025 season. The Mets released him in August, but he quickly signed with the “other” New York team and has been pitching out of the bullpen since.

Contract Projection: minor league deal

Relievers:

RHP Kenley Jansen (2025 stats: 53 IP, 50 SO, 69 ERA-, 0.3 fWAR)

Jansen, one of two players on the list who played for the Angels in 2025, has been a valuable addition to the back end of the bullpen. He will also turn 38 years old before the end of the season and is on pace to finish with the lowest strikeout rate of his career. In comparison to Aroldis Chapman, who is 37 years old and recently signed a $13 million extension with Boston, the difference is stark.

Jansen (left) vs Chapman (right) / Source: baseballsavant.mlb.com

It’s difficult to imagine the Angels matching Chapman’s contract. It’s also unlikely that Jansen would be willing to take a pay cut after converting 26 of 27 save opportunities this season. All signs point to a potential standoff that could last well into the offseason. Re-signing Jansen would undoubtedly be a popular move, but it might not be the right move if the Angels hope to contend next year.

Contract Projection: 1 year, $12mm

LHP Gregory Soto (2025 stats: 51 IP, 59 SO, 82 ERA-, 0.9 fWAR)

If the Angels opt to move Detmers back into the starting rotation, they’ll need to find another arm to fill his spot in the bullpen. Enter Gregory Soto: a hard-throwing lefty with experience in high-leverage situations, including two All-Star seasons as a closer for Detroit.

Soto’s underlying metrics are encouraging. He generates a lot of whiffs and ground balls thanks to his sinker/slider combination. His xERA of 3.32 and FIP of 3.10 also indicate that his success this season is no fluke. The Angels will be one of many teams vying for his services this offseason.

Contract Projection: 2 years, $16mm

RHP Hunter Harvey (2025 stats: 10.2 IP, 11 SO, 0 ERA-, 0.5 fWAR)

Bryan Harvey spent six seasons and accumulated 126 saves for the California Angels. His son, Hunter, has also carved out a career as a hard-throwing reliever. Although Harvey’s 2025 season has been derailed by injuries, he’s looked as good as ever in his limited innings. This would be a high-upside move, but perhaps one that’s too risky for an Angels bullpen that already has injury concerns.

Contract Projection: 1 year, $5.5mm with team option for ‘27

LHP Justin Wilson (2025 stats: 43 IP, 50 SO, 58 ERA-, 1.1 fWAR)

The Angels have a soft spot for Anaheim-born players, and Wilson has put together a strong season that should put him on his hometown team’s radar. Most importantly, he has been dominant against left-handed hitters this year—an area in which the Angels will need to improve if they lose Chafin and Detmers.

Contract Projection: 1 year, $3mm

Infielders:

UTIL Willi Castro (2025 stats: 413 PA, 95 wRC+, 0.6 fWAR)

The 28 year-old Castro has become one of the more difficult contracts to project this offseason. On one hand, his versatility and track record since signing with Minnesota make him one of the more intriguing “secondary” bats on the market. On the other, underwhelming batting metrics and declining defense should make teams think twice before offering an eight-figure salary.

If the price is right, Castro would be a good fit in the Angels’ lineup. But this could easily turn into a situation where a lack of quality infield options leads to a bidding war for his services. The Angels should be cautious in their pursuit of Castro and steer clear if the price exceeds two years or $20 million.

Contract Projection: 2 years, $18mm

3B Song Sung-mun (2025 KBO stats: 577 PA, 154 wRC+)

Song is a personal favorite of mine and someone who the Angels should target for their third base opening in 2026. A late bloomer by baseball standards, Song wasn’t on MLB scouts’ radars until the 2024 season. He’s followed that up with an even more impressive campaign for the Kiwoom Heroes in 2025. His numbers over the past two seasons are reminiscent of his former KBO teammate, Ha-Seong Kim.

Source: fangraphs.com

Song’s patient, low-strikeout approach would be a welcome addition to the Angels’ lineup. A 95-105 wRC+ along with double-digit home runs and stolen bases is a reasonable expectation while he adjusts to Major League pitching. The left-handed batter also provides solid defensive versatility, with an average glove at third base and over 1,000 innings of experience at second.

Contract Projection: 2 years, $12mm with team option for ‘28

3B Yoán Moncada (2025 stats: 238 PA, 116 wRC+, 0.8 fWAR)

The second returning player on the list, Moncada’s tenure with the Angels has been complicated by a lingering knee injury that has continued to limit his playing time. When healthy, he’s given the middle of the lineup a big boost. However, multiple IL stints and poor defensive play (-8 DRS, -8 OAA in 500+ innings) might force the Angels to find another third baseman for 2026.

Contract Projection: 1 year, $8mm

UTIL Amed Rosario (2025 stats: 176 PA, 108 wRC+, 0.4 fWAR)

To say Rosario has “bounced around” over the past few seasons would be an understatement. Still, his versatility and ability to hit left-handed pitching (career .800 OPS vs LHP) is valued around the league. Rosario could see time at second base, third base (perhaps in a L/R platoon with Song) and right field. Given their past interest in Rosario, the Angels will likely check in on him again this offseason.

Contract Projection: 1 year, $3mm

Outfielders:

CF Harrison Bader (2025 stats: 415 PA, 123 wRC+, 2.9 fWAR)

The 31 year-old is having a career-best offensive season and will look to turn his success into a multi-year contract this winter. As with others on the list, there's reason to be skeptical. Bader's .342 BABIP is 40 points higher than his career average, and his strikeout rate is the highest it's been since 2020. The one area Bader can point to in defense of his success is his bat speed, which has improved significantly this season.

Source: baseballsavant.mlb.com

The Angels need a center fielder for 2026, and they also have to decide on the future of left fielder Taylor Ward. Signing Bader could kill two two birds with one stone: he could start in center in 2026 and then shift to left once top prospect Nelson Rada is ready for regular MLB at-bats. An outfield of Bader in left, Rada in center, and Jo Adell in right would undoubtedly rank among the best in baseball.

Signing Bader to a multi-year deal could be a risky proposition. However, his outstanding defense and above-average speed give him a solid floor of 1-1.5 fWAR per year. He's also regarded as a great clubhouse presence and would bring a “swagger” similar to that of Zach Neto. Like Rosario, the Angels have shown interest in Bader before and will likely do so again in the coming months.

Contract Projection: 3 years, $36mm

CF Michael A. Taylor (2025 stats: 290 PA, 71 wRC+, 0.0 fWAR)

Taylor is the definition of a defense-first outfielder, with just enough offense to remain a viable MLB player. For comparison, his career 78 wRC+ is three times that of Bryce Teodosio. His defense has taken a small step back in 2025, which could be due to age or the need to split time evenly between all three outfield positions. Still, Taylor remains a well above-average defender and would be a cheap upgrade for the Angels' outfield.

Contract Projection: minor league deal