Angels fans' frustrations simmer as a key free agent acquisition sparks questions about the team's spending philosophy and ongoing struggles.
Third baseman Eugenio Suarez had his name tied with the Los Angeles Angels for much of the offseason, with rumors swirling about a potential deal between the two after an All-Star season. All the hype ended up being for nothing, as Suarez signed with the Cincinnati Reds on a one-year, $15 million contract. It may just be one more free agent signing in an offseason full of them, but it offers a deeper insight into the frustration of Angels fans over recent years.
Arguably, the biggest positional need for the Angels heading into the offseason was at third base. Despite signing a $245 million deal before the 2020 season, third baseman Anthony Rendon played just 257 games in an Angels uniform. His constant absences left the Halos scrambling to find a short-term replacement time and time again.
It has gone down as one of the worst contracts not only in Angels history, but in baseball. Still, there was positive news this winter regarding Rendon’s contract. He and the club agreed to restructure his contract in December, allowing the club to spread out his remaining $38 million over several years.
The news offered a sigh of relief for Angels fans. They would no longer have to wonder whether or not he’d play, and suddenly, the Angels had more money available to them this offseason. Theoretically, this means they could spend more, but fans have been let down by the front office’s failure to sign anybody to a deal larger than $5 million.
This brings us back to Suarez. Not only was Suarez a top third baseman in this year’s free agency, but he would provide an immediate fix to the Angels' third base problems. Signing Suarez after Rendon’s contract restructuring would be the perfect way to make good of what were bad years at the hot corner.
Suarez hit 49 home runs and drove in 118 RBIs last season for the Arizona Diamondbacks and Seattle Mariners. His 126 OPS+ made him one of the most potent bats in this year’s free agency class despite his age.
Instead of seriously pursuing Suarez, however, the Angels chose to re-sign Yoan Moncada to be their third baseman in 2026. Now knowing that a one-year, $15 million deal was all it would take to land Suarez, it highlights the problem within the Angels organization. Even their history of not signing players past a one-season rental was clearly not a dealbreaker for Suarez, but the Angels still chose to go with the cheaper option.
It’s a pattern that been repeating in Anaheim for many years. Owner Arte Moreno seemingly refuses to spend the necessary money to make his team competitive. It’s no surprise why the Angels haven’t had a winning season in a decade or why they are the laughing stock of baseball. In the big picture, Suarez alone wouldn’t have been enough to suddenly make the Angels competitors, but it is yet another example of a cheap owner being satisfied with less-than mediocrity.