As the Angels head into a murky offseason, the biggest question may not be who they chase - it’s what kind of team they’ll even be able to build.
Los Angeles is staring at plenty of roster holes, but that’s only part of the problem. The uncertainty around new ownership, plus a looming lockout threat, has made the franchise’s free-agent outlook especially hard to pin down.
Around the league, the expectation is that 70% to 80% of the 2026 offseason’s free-agent activity will happen before the end of November, with Dec. 1 looming as the point where the current collective-bargaining agreement expires. At that point, an owners’ lockout of players is widely expected.
That means free agency could hit the market fast once the 2026 season ends - possibly as soon as Wednesday if the Milwaukee Brewers finish off the World Series Tuesday night - and teams are likely to move aggressively before the labor uncertainty takes over in five weeks.
The Angels are in a uniquely strange spot. They are the only franchise - maybe ever? - to enter this kind of stretch without a manager or general manager in place, while also waiting for a new ownership group to fully take over. In the best-case scenario, that final handoff won’t happen until early 2027.
That’s why projections about what the Angels can actually do in free agency keep shifting.
Still, not everyone is skeptical about where this team could be headed. Tarik Skubal thinks a new ownership group led by Stan Korenke could change the Angels’ fortunes quickly.
Yep, that Tarik Skubal - the most sought-after starting pitcher to reach the open market since Gerrit Cole in 2019.
"You bring an owner that really cares about winning and is willing to do whatever it takes to win and invest, not only with players on the field but all the stuff behind the scenes, like clubhouse renovations," said Skubal in a Sept. 3 report from the Los Angeles Times via Yahoo Sports. "I'm sure there will be a lot of stuff there that changes to make it state-of-the-art, because all that stuff matters."
That comment helped land the Angels on Zachary D. Rymer of Bleacher Report’s Oct. 16 list of five teams with the best chance to sign Skubal.
Rymer pointed to Skubal’s own belief that Kroenke could turn the Angels into a desirable destination, adding, "It is...interesting that Skubal himself expects Kroenke to turn the Angels into coveted destination for free agents. Provided Skubal is willing to wait until the sale of the franchise is final, perhaps he'll be willing to put…er, accept money where his mouth is."
Jim Bowden of The Athletic is less convinced the Angels are ready to swing big, but he still tied them to a handful of players in his Tuesday list of Top 40 Free Agents and their prospective destinations.
Skubal sits at No. 1 on Bowden’s board, with the Dodgers, New York Mets and - surprisingly - the Chicago White Sox listed as the best team fits.
For the Angels, Bowden connected them to five names. The highest-ranked is Jazz Chisholm at No. 8, a player others have already floated as a possible fit in Anaheim, either at second base or in center field if Mike Trout shifts to left.
Another name is Kaima Taira, the right-handed Japanese pitcher who might be the most interesting of the bunch. Taira is only 5-foot-8, but he’s listed at around 225 pounds and has the nickname "fire hydrant." He backed that up in 2025 by leading the Seibu Lions with 31 saves before moving to the rotation and finishing with a 1.36 ERA, the best in Japan’s National Professional Baseball League.
Bowden’s remaining Angels targets are Detroit’s Gleyber Torres at No. 23, who posted a career-best .364 OBP but was limited to 96 games by injury; Philadelphia’s Alec Bohm at No. 24, a possible fit at first or third base after batting .274 with 14 home runs and 73 RBIs over his final 120 games; and Cincinnati catcher Tyler Stephenson at No. 31, who would upgrade the position after hitting 15 homers, driving in 54 runs and finishing with a .241 average and .727 OPS in 2026.
In Other News...
Angels Have A Clear Third Base Answer For A Lineup That Needs Help
The Angels are looking at ways to bolster a lineup that needed more help than it got from the hot corner, and third base has quickly emerged as one of the clearer offseason targets. Alec Bohm is on the radar as a potential fit, bringing the kind of durable, steady offensive presence that can soften some of the lineups uneven stretches while giving the club a more settled answer at a position that has been in flux.
There is still some risk in the profile, particularly on the defensive side, but the appeal is obvious for a team trying to raise its floor without overcomplicating the winter. Bohms track record over the past two seasons makes him an attractive option for a club that wants production and stability, and the Angels also like the fact that the move would not come with the usual draft-pick baggage attached to some free-agent pursuits. [Read more 🡒]
Angels Could Command A Huge Price In This Dodgers Trade Idea
Speculation around the Angels has taken an interesting turn with a Bleacher Report trade idea that would have the crosstown Dodgers looking to add youth and athleticism to their roster. The concept, floated by Zachary D. Rymer, centers on a move that would reshape both clubs long-term plans, even though nothing has been reported or agreed to by either side.
What makes the proposal stand out is how aggressively it values one of the Angels most intriguing young pieces, with the suggested return featuring Justin Wrobleski, Roki Sasaki and Daulton Rushing. It is the kind of framework that underscores both the appeal of the player involved and the steep price a rival club might have to pay if it ever decided to seriously pursue him. [Read more 🡒]
Angels Prospects Are Giving Fans Early Reasons For Hope And Concern
The Arizona Fall League has become a useful early barometer for the Angels farm system, and the Mesa Solar Sox have given the organization a little bit of everything so far. Nine Angels prospects are getting extended run there, with the 30-game schedule set to wrap up on Nov. 14, and the results have offered a snapshot of both upside and uneven development as the club continues to search for young talent that can eventually help in Anaheim.
Among the headliners, shortstop Arjun Nimmala has been one of the more encouraging names since arriving from the Blue Jays, showing the kind of offensive impact that can make a prospect stand out in a short stint. On the other side of the ledger, Kyle Robinsons line has been a tougher read, and the broader Solar Sox picture reflects that same mix of promise and frustration, with the club sitting 7-10 as the Fall League grind continues. [Read more 🡒]