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MLB Free Agency 2017: 5 potential teams for Mike Moustakas

By Joshua Sadlock

NEW YORK, NY - SEPTEMBER 25: Mike Moustakas #8 of the Kansas City Royals at bat against the New York Yankees at Yankee Stadium on September 25, 2017 in the Bronx borough of New York City. (Photo by Adam Hunger/Getty Images)
NEW YORK, NY - SEPTEMBER 25: Mike Moustakas #8 of the Kansas City Royals at bat against the New York Yankees at Yankee Stadium on September 25, 2017 in the Bronx borough of New York City. (Photo by Adam Hunger/Getty Images) /
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OAKLAND, CA – SEPTEMBER 04: Luis Valbuena #18 of the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim in action against the Oakland Athletics in the bottom of the first inning at Oakland Alameda Coliseum on September 4, 2017 in Oakland, California. (Photo by Thearon W. Henderson/Getty Images)
OAKLAND, CA – SEPTEMBER 04: Luis Valbuena #18 of the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim in action against the Oakland Athletics in the bottom of the first inning at Oakland Alameda Coliseum on September 4, 2017 in Oakland, California. (Photo by Thearon W. Henderson/Getty Images) /

4. Los Angeles Angels

The Los Angeles Angels have two positions of need this winter — first base and third base. The Halos figure to at least show early interest in Eric Hosmer and Mike Moustakas. Already having signed left fielder Justin Upton to a five-year deal to stay in LA, Moustakas might fit better with the team’s budget.

With high-priced veterans like C.J. Wilson, Jered Weaver and Josh Hamilton finally coming off the books, the Angels will be ready to spend big this winter after sitting the last few offseasons out. Their first basemen were among the worst in the league, as were their third basemen, who combined for a .713 OPS last season.

Luis Valbuena was the biggest problem for the Angels. Signed to play both corner infield positions, he hit only .199/.294/.432 with 22 home runs in 117 games. Valbuena had a .816 OPS for the Houston Astros in 2016, but was in a platoon role. The 31-year-old was never a high-average hitter, but he has slipped even further and is a pure boom-or-bust bat at the plate.

A team like the Angels should not be relying on platoon bats and role players at first and third base. They need stabilization at one of the positions. The total collapse of Albert Pujols this early into his long-term deal could not have been predicted, but the Angels now have no choice but to try and spend through it. Both Hosmer and Moustakas would continue blossoming into upper-echelon stars surrounded by Upton and Mike Trout in the Angels lineup. With a few other holes to fill, it makes more sense for Los Angeles to target the cheaper option in the pair.

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