The Los Angeles Angels have been busy over the course of the past few offseasons. They locked up superstar outfielder Mike Trout to a record-breaking deal last winter, and they recently hired veteran manager Joe Maddon to steer the team into the future.
Things could get even busier after Angels owner Arte Moreno declared that payroll will increase in 2020:
Arte Moreno: “Payroll will go up next year.”
— Bill Shaikin (@BillShaikin) October 24, 2019
Payroll concerns would not even be an issue were it not for the massive contracts tied to the likes of Albert Pujols and Justin Upton, as well as over $12 million owed to Zack Cozart.
However, Moreno's willingness to spend money bodes well for 2020. The Angels payroll hovered around $160 million in 2019, well below the luxury tax threshold. The team can also save some money by declining Kole Calhoun's club option.
Similarly, Moreno was the driving force behind Maddon's hiring, and Maddon understands that his owner is not worried about spending money (via Fabian Ardaya of The Athletic):
“Obviously, Arte’s never been worried about spending money,” Maddon said Wednesday. “That’s a big part of being successful in this industry.”
The Angels are expected to pursue Houston Astros ace Gerrit Cole in free agency. Cole is a native of Newport Beach, CA, and some of his current teammates have hinted that he may look to go out West after this year.
Los Angeles might also pursue fellow California native Stephen Strasburg (should he opt-out of the remaining four years on his deal), and other pitching options such as Hyun-Jin Ryu, Zack Wheeler and Madison Bumgarner are sure to garner interest from the Angels.
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