The Angels have a second-base problem, and it’s the kind that can’t be papered over with another round of wishful thinking. After a 100-loss season, the infield needs real surgery, not another patch job, and the hole at the keystone stands out as one of the clearest places to start.
That’s why J.P. Crawford makes so much sense.
The free-agent infielder is available after years of anchoring the Seattle Mariners, and the Angels should be looking hard at a player who has spent much of his career at premium spots such as shortstop and third base. His athleticism and baseball IQ make the move to second base look natural, and he’d bring a steadier presence to a unit that badly needs one.
Crawford also checks the kind of boxes the Angels have lacked for years. He’s a Long Beach product who played at Lakewood High, and he carries the reputation of being a strong clubhouse presence. This wouldn’t be the splashiest move on the market, but it could be one of the smartest.
The bat is a big part of the appeal. The Angels have been desperate for consistent, professional hitters around core pieces like Zach Neto, and Crawford has been that kind of player for a long time.
Over his last six seasons, he has posted a steady 110 wRC+, a sign of dependable above-average production. Even in 2026, with the rest of the Seattle lineup largely stuck in place, he still finished at 105 wRC+, which was five percent better than league average.
That matters for an Angels offense that has been near the bottom of the league in major categories. It also matters because the team’s issues go beyond simple power or contact.
The Angels have struggled to draw walks and avoid empty outs, and they led the league in team strikeouts, which helped drag down their on-base percentage. Crawford offers a direct answer to that problem.
His plate discipline has been a calling card throughout his career. He has consistently posted a chase rate well below average, and in 2026 he put together a .335 on-base percentage with 64 walks in 116 games.
His career .340 OBP tells the same story. Crawford works counts, gets on base, and keeps innings moving instead of killing them.
Put that left-handed bat at second, and the Angels get a cleaner path to traffic on the bases for the middle of the order.
The financial fit is just as clean. The Angels have burned themselves in the past by chasing giant contracts that left the roster thin elsewhere.
This front office needs to spend with more discipline, and Crawford fits that approach. Coming off his previous five-year extension, he is projected to land a short-term deal in free agency, likely around two years and $20 million.
At an average annual value of $10 million, he would be a bargain the Angels can handle.
That kind of contract would also leave room to address other needs, especially the bullpen, while giving the farm system more time to develop. Crawford does not have a Qualifying Offer attached to him, so the cost is only money. For Anaheim, that would mean a proven hitter, postseason experience, a strong clubhouse reputation, and a realistic fix at second base without paying superstar prices.
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Complicating matters is the timing. The Angels are in the middle of an ownership transition from Arte Moreno to Stan Kroenke, a change expected to be completed by early spring, and the front office picture is still taking shape. With the negotiation window for posted Japanese players compressed, the club has less room than usual to sort through its internal changes while trying to land a prized target. [Read more 🡒]
Angels Face A Zach Neto Decision Fans Never Expected
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For now, though, this is just a scenario, not a confirmed front-office plan, and the questions around it are bigger than one name on a rumor board. Netos contract situation and the Angels roster needs both factor into whether anything like this ever gains traction, and the debate says as much about the teams long-term direction as it does about the shortstop himself. [Read more 🡒]
Angels Top Job Finally Has Buzz But One Delay Still Looms
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John Mozeliak, serving as interim GM, already confirmed that manager Kurt Suzuki will not return once his contract expires in December, adding another layer to the clubs reset. Even before the Angels can start filling out the front office, they may have to navigate the upcoming GM meetings without their full decision-making structure in place, a delay that could shape how quickly the next era actually begins. [Read more 🡒]