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MLB rumors: 5 favorites to trade for Willson Contreras

By Tim Boyle

CHICAGO, ILLINOIS - MAY 18: Willson Contreras #40 of the Chicago Cubs throws the ball to first base in the game against the Pittsburgh Pirates at Wrigley Field on May 18, 2022 in Chicago, Illinois. (Photo by Justin Casterline/Getty Images)
CHICAGO, ILLINOIS - MAY 18: Willson Contreras #40 of the Chicago Cubs throws the ball to first base in the game against the Pittsburgh Pirates at Wrigley Field on May 18, 2022 in Chicago, Illinois. (Photo by Justin Casterline/Getty Images) /
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MLB rumors, Willson Contreras
BOSTON, MA – MAY 5: Catcher Max Stassi #33 of the Los Angeles Angels and Shohei Ohtani #17 congratulate each other after their 8-0 win over the Boston Red Sox at Fenway Park on May 5, 2022 in Boston, Massachusetts. (Photo By Winslow Townson/Getty Images) /

3) MLB rumors: Los Angeles Angels should be in the market for what Willson Contreras can give them

This season needs to have a happier ending for the Los Angeles Angels. One way to improve the conclusion is to get whatever they can onto their roster. This might mean making a swap with the Cubs for Contreras.

The Angels went to battle this year with the combination of Max Stassi and Kurt Suzuki behind the plate. Similar to the one in Houston, they’re two older guys better known for their defense especially in recent years. The Angels would run into the same predicament with minor-league options and whatnot. With Shohei Ohtani on the roster taking DH duties regularly, Contreras wouldn’t be a fit to do much more than catch.

For the sake of improving the offensive production from behind the plate, the Angels might just DFA one of their catchers. Stassi and Suzuki have been weak hitters early on this season and it’s not as if they should be expected to get much better.

The Angels should be a team in the market to sign Contreras when he does eventually reach free agency over the winter. Their catching core in recent seasons has not been excellent. In fact, Houston’s current duo started on Opening Day in 2017 and 2018 then again in 2020 for them—Maldonado taking the first two and Castro getting the last. For many years, the franchise has preferred affordable and defense-oriented backstops. What has it gotten them?

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