The Angels can dream on the splashy names all they want this winter. Freddy Peralta would light up the fan base.
Tarik Skubal would feel like a fantasy come true. But the cleaner fit might be the quieter one: Nick Martinez.
That’s because the Angels don’t just need star power at the front of the rotation. They need somebody who can take the ball, give them innings, and keep the rest of the staff from getting dragged into the ground every fifth day.
Reid Detmers gives them a potential ace. Walbert Urena gives them a young arm worth watching.
What’s missing is the veteran stabilizer in the middle of all that.
Martinez, at the peak of his career, is about to hit the market after an All-Star season with the Rays. He went 15-6 with a 3.10 ERA in 2026 and earned the kind of trust Tampa Bay only gives to pitchers it truly believes in: he started Game 1 of the World Series.
There will be skepticism, of course. A career year in Tampa Bay comes with the obvious question of how much of it was the Rays’ pitching machine at work.
But Martinez’s rise didn’t come out of nowhere. It’s been building over several seasons, with the kind of steady major league workload that teams covet even if it doesn’t always make headlines.
The Angels, for their part, have tried to drag themselves closer to that modern model. They’ve built a pitching lab of their own and moved on from old school coach Mike Maddux specifically to bring more data and analytics into the operation.
That makes Martinez even more attractive. He isn’t just coming off one big year; he’s been durable and versatile across multiple seasons, able to start or work out of the bullpen.
From 2024 to 2025 with the Reds, Martinez appeared in 82 games and made 42 starts. On average, that came out to 41 games and 21 starts per year, along with 154 innings and a 3.83 ERA. That stretch was worth 3.1 bWAR per season, a level of production the Angels would happily take.
Then came the leap in 2026: 180.6 innings in 31 starts, 3.9 bWAR, and an ERA+ of 137. It was a true breakout, but the Angels would be wise not to ask for that exact version of Martinez. The Reds version would already be plenty useful.
There’s also a contract angle that makes this all the more sensible. Martinez and the Rays have a one-year $20 million option for 2027, but it’s widely expected to be declined.
Martinez, now 36, should get his shot at a multi-year deal once he reaches free agency. And because he won’t be attached to a qualifying offer, the team that signs him won’t have to surrender draft compensation.
The appeal is pretty straightforward: Martinez’s game is built on sequencing and command, not premium velocity and the injury risk that can come with it. That should make a three-year commitment look a lot less dangerous than the nine-figure swings that go with younger frontline arms like Peralta.
For the Angels, the upside is obvious. Martinez could give them 150-plus reliable, quality innings at a price and term that fit their current position. They’ve spent years clearing out long-term financial messes, and they have room to work with right now.
And the value goes beyond 2027. Martinez would give the Angels room to keep developing young pitchers like George Klassen and Ryan Johnson. If those two, along with the emerging Joel Hurtado or the highly touted Tyler Bremner, force their way onto the roster, Martinez can slide back into a flex role.
So while the biggest-name starter might grab the headlines, the smarter move could be the one that shores up multiple parts of the staff at once. Nick Martinez, paired with bullpen help, would give the Angels a far more cost-effective upgrade than chasing only the headline ace.
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 🡒]