The Los Angeles Angels aren’t exactly making a splash this offseason, but they’re certainly stirring the waters. With big-name arms like Framber Valdez and Zac Gallen likely out of reach, the Angels appear to be sticking to a familiar playbook - betting on upside and hoping a change of scenery brings out the best in some under-the-radar talent.
That’s been the theme of their winter so far. Instead of chasing high-priced, front-line starters, the Angels have leaned into the reclamation project route, bringing in players like Grayson Rodriguez, Josh Lowe, and Vaughn Grissom - all of whom come with talent, potential, and question marks. It’s a strategy that suggests the front office is operating under financial constraints, and it makes the search for rotation help a matter of creativity rather than checkbooks.
Enter J.P. France.
The Houston Astros just designated France for assignment after acquiring Kai-Wei Teng, a move that could open the door for the Angels to swoop in. France, 28, was a late bloomer who made his MLB debut in 2023 and made the most of it.
He posted a 3.83 ERA across more than 136 innings - solid production that hinted at a reliable, back-end starter in the making. But things unraveled in 2024.
A shoulder injury derailed his season, limiting him to just five starts and inflating his ERA to 7.46 before he was shut down. He made a couple of appearances late in the year, but by then, the writing was on the wall - Houston had moved on.
Still, there’s reason to believe France could be a worthwhile gamble for a team like the Angels. His velocity at the end of 2025 was back up to 93.4 mph, nearly identical to his rookie year average. That’s a sign his arm might be healthy again, and if that’s the case, there’s a real shot he can recapture the form that made him a bright spot in Houston’s rotation just a season ago.
For the Angels, this is the kind of move that fits both the budget and the blueprint. No, France isn’t a frontline ace, but he’s exactly the kind of low-cost, high-upside arm that can help stabilize the back end of a rotation - or at the very least, eat innings while the team figures out its long-term plan.
And if he does bounce back? Suddenly, you’ve got a valuable trade chip come August.
This isn’t the kind of move that dominates headlines, but for a team trying to stay afloat in a competitive AL West without breaking the bank, it’s the kind that can quietly pay off. The Angels don’t need a miracle - they need depth, durability, and a few things to break their way.
J.P. France might just check all those boxes.