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(Allen J. Schaben / Los Angeles Times via Getty Images)
Like all other teams across MLB, the Los Angeles Angels are preparing for their first pitchers and catchers workouts next week. The Angels’ first workout will be on February 11 in Arizona.
Expectations going into the season are not as high as they usually are. The American League West Division has gotten tougher with the emergence of the Seattle Mariners. Last year’s division winners are primed for another run in 2026. The Houston Astros are trying to retool on the fly. Jim Bowden of The Athletic predicted the Athletics to finish in fourth place, one spot ahead of Los Angeles.
As far as the Angels’ rotation goes, it is still a work in progress, and there are still some free agent options available. One of them was linked to Los Angeles with a higher probability of being a destination than some think.
Los Angeles Angels Linked to Free Agent Pitcher Zac Gallen
Arizona Diamondbacks right-hander Zac Gallen remains a free agent. He is not the top name still available. That goes to Framber Valdez of the Astros and Lucas Giolito of the Boston Red Sox. Joel Reuter of Bleacher Report listed the top destinations for Gallen, and surprisingly, the Angels were high on the list. The San Diego Padres were the top team, followed by the San Francisco Giants, and Los Angeles was third.
“The Angels were not at the top of anyone’s list of landing spots for Yusei Kikuchi last offseason when they inked the left-hander to a three-year, $63 million contract, and Gallen could come at a similar cost for a team that finished 28th in the majors with a 4.91 ERA from the starting staff in 2025. There is also obvious risk in relying on Reid Detmers to make a smooth return to the rotation after a breakout season in the bullpen, and even more so in a return to form from Alek Manoah,” wrote Reuter.
This is somewhat surprising. The Angels’ staff currently has a ton of questions for first-year manager Kurt Suzuki. Alex Manoah is certainly someone with a lot of questions after his injury with the Toronto Blue Jays. When healthy, however, he can be a difference-maker. Reid Detmers going from the bullpen to the rotation is a huge risk. Grayson Rodriguez was acquired from the Baltimore Orioles as part of the return for Taylor Ward.
Angels Would Be a Fallback Option For Zac Gallen
This would be a case of the team needing the player more than the player needing the team. Gallen would like to return to Arizona, but the longer he remains available, the less likely it is to happen. What the Angels can offer, according to Reuter, is more money than other clubs.
“The Angels have felt like something of a sleeping giant all offseason as a team with money to spend and holes to fill. Would Gallen prefer a one-year, $20 million deal or a three-year, $54 million deal? The Angels might be the only club that offers something resembling that second hypothetical,” wrote Reuter.
Gallen’s numbers were down last year. He went 13-15 in 33 starts with a 4.83 ERA and a career-low 1.1 WAR. A one-year prove-it deal with an opportunity to be traded at the deadline is an option if he wants to go that route. Given the state of the Angels’ rotation, they would likely take any deal at this point.
Scott Roche Scott Roche covers college football, NFL, NBA and MLB for Heavy.com and has three decades of sports writing, covering everything from college to professional sports. More about Scott Roche
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