Angels target the offseason's top starting pitcher, a Cy Young contender, to finally solidify a struggling rotation and avoid another losing season.
Pitching has haunted the Los Angeles Angels for some time now, and it’s still an area that the club needs to improve heading into the 2026 campaign. The front office has brought in several arms to the pitching staff that will see a lot of innings next season, but they still don’t pose much of a threat compared to other teams across the league.
The Angels finished 2025 allowing the third-highest runs per game at 4.89. The staff also allowed the third-highest batting average and walks/hits per nine last season. It comes as no surprise that the Halos lost 90 games last season with one of the bottom three pitching staffs in the league.
With that said, they’ve brought in some intriguing players this offseason in hopes of getting closer to league-average levels. Trading for starting pitcher Grayson Rodriguez and signing relievers Drew Pomeranz and Kirby Yates were just some of the moves made by the Angels so far. It puts them in a better spot for 2026, but by no means is the staff in Anaheim one that the league will have to take note of – there’s plenty of work still to do.
Luckily, there are still plenty of ways to fill out the starting rotation and bullpen. The Angels really only have a solid four-man rotation right now, making the need for an additional starter or two a real priority before spring training. In a recent Bleacher Report article from Kerry Miller providing one realistic option to fill each MLB team’s biggest hole, the Angels were listed as a suitor for free agent starting pitcher Framber Valdez.
Valdez is the biggest starting pitcher name left in free agency, receiving Cy Young votes in four of his last five seasons. The two-time All-Star has spent eight years with the division rival Houston Astros, with whom he posted a 3.66 ERA last season.
The Angels aren’t exactly one of the most desirable spots for free agents, but the current situation in Anaheim may make it a real possibility. After restructuring Anthony Rendon’s contract, the Angels should have plenty of money to work with as they continue to retool their roster ahead of 2026. What better way to use that saved money than to bring in the biggest arm still on the market?
They may be able to offer him a big contract, but it’d still be wishful thinking to expect Valdez to end up in a Halos uniform in a couple of months. The front office doesn’t have a history of committing to pitchers with long-term contracts, instead taking pitchers on one or two-year deals. That’s not going to cut it for Valdez, but maybe general manager Perry Minasian is willing to break his norms in his final year under contract for the Angels. What is likely, however, is that the Angels will find a lower-tier starter to round out the rotation and watch Valdez land with one of baseball’s big market clubs.