Even as the MLB playoff race is beginning to heat up, some teams are instead looking ahead to the upcoming free agency period. For one, the Los Angeles Angels have an eye on possibly making a run at new Los Angeles Dodgers starting pitcher Max Scherzer.
According to MLB Network insider Jon Heyman, the Angels may be a “big player” for the Scherzer sweepstakes later this year. Heyman speculates that it could wind up being a showdown between the Angels and the Dodgers for the three-time Cy Young Award winner.
The Angels may be a big player for Max Scherzer in winter as I just said on @MLBNetwork. It could be an LA-LA showdown. Even on outskirts of race, they looked into him as a rental so it makes sense they’d cover him as a free agent. And based on his trade list he clearly likes LA!
— Jon Heyman (@JonHeyman) August 12, 2021
The Angels reportedly showed an intrigue in acquiring Scherzer from the Washington Nationals at the July 30 trade deadline. One report noted that the Angels were tabbed as the “mystery” team for the future Baseball Hall of Famer, but it is not known on whether they made an offer to the Nationals for him.
Scherzer has not provided a firm stance on his upcoming free agency period. Even as the Dodgers are expected to engage in extension talks with Scherzer at the end of the season, one report before the trade deadline did note that he would be open to a return to the Nationals in free agency.
As the Angels' odds of making one last push in the AL wild-card race are currently slim to none, the front office is well looking ahead to bolstering the team in the offseason. Most notably, pitching depth is slated to be a major need for the Angels, as they currently hold a 4.72 team ERA, which ranks 25th in all of baseball.
The Los Angeles Angels will have plenty to work with in the offseason, especially as Albert Pujols' 10-year contract deal with the team will officially be off the books. More so, Angels front office team will be under hefty pressure to build a playoff-contending team around star talents Mike Trout and Shohei Ohtani.
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