The Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim have already added to their pitching rotation this offseason.
They swung a 1-for-1 trade with the Baltimore Orioles, sending out slugger Taylor Ward in exchange for promising righty Grayson Rodriguez.
If the Angels are serious about contending sooner rather than later, they can't stop there.
The Athletic's Andy McCullough makes the case that the Angels should go after pitching in free agency, too.
His suggestion: Tyler Mahle.
Mahle most recently pitched for the Texas Rangers.
"The trade for Grayson Rodriguez delivered a pitcher with upside but injury risk," McCullough writes. "The Angels might as well roll the dice on things working out in 2026. New manager Kurt Suzuki is on a one-year deal alongside general manager Perry Minasian. Let it ride! Mahle posted a 2.18 in 2025 but made only 16 starts as he dealt with shoulder issues. He missed almost the entire summer for the Rangers, but made it back in time to put together two solid starts to showcase his health for potential suitors."
There remains a sentimental case here that the Angels should try to be good before Mike Trout is gone, but given Trout's own decline, that may be fool's gold.
The reality is that LAA has to start figuring out how to be a better ballclub year in and year out.
If Mahle comes on the cheap because of injury concern, then the Angels should get involved. There isn't a ton of risk to signing him, and there is potential for real reward.
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