The Los Angeles Angels enter the offseason with plenty of questions. The future of the franchise is in limbo, the Angels will have another new manager coming in, and free agency should be a busy time for the team after missing the playoffs once again.
There are a number of directions that this team could go, but one option is Toronto Blue Jays pitcher Shane Bieber.
Kerry Miller of Bleacher Report named the Angels as a dark horse option for Bieber.
"Spending big on pitching isn't typically the Angels' M.O. After 11 straight years of missing the playoffs, though, it's long past time to switch things up. They did invest $63 million in Yusei Kikuchi last winter, and they ought to be motivated to bring in this former ace who was born and raised not far from Angel Stadium," Miller wrote.
While Miller named the Blue Jays as the most logical fit for Bieber, the Angels make sense for the veteran.
Adding some pitching is an area of need, and general manager Perry Minasian said it would be a focal point in his interview recently, via Rhett Bollinger of MLB.com.
“We've got two open spots and we’re going to look at all different avenues to make the rotation situation significantly better,” Minasian said. “In my opinion, this is the best collection of young arms we've had since I've been here. But pitching-wise, you always need depth.”
Bieber, the former Cleveland Guardians ace, made just two starts in 2024 and just seven appearances for the Blue Jays in 2025 after being acquired at the deadline in exchange for prospect Khal Stephen.
Bieber underwent Tommy John surgery in 2024, but he went 4-2 with a 3.57 ERA in a short time in the regular season with Toronto.
In Game 3 of the ALDS against the New York Yankees, Bieber got the start and went 2.2 innings, giving up fits and two earned runs.
The Blue Jays will get first priority at re-signing him, and Bieber also has an option, but if he hits the open market, the UC Santa Barbara graduate who was born in Orange County could be intrigued by a return to Southern California.