Los Angeles Angels: Big Moves the Angels Could Actually Pull off This Offseason

Count on it. The Los Angeles Angels will come unexpectedly close to pulling off a big deal this offseason.

While the safe bet for the Angels this winter is to add depth to the rotation via trades and low-cost signings, the organization could sway from the predictable by pulling off a big move, or two, or three.

And why not? When it comes to offseason deal-making, there is always a chance the Angels will be the old dog you can’t teach new, cost-controlled tricks.

Sure, I understand the track record in Anaheim—missing the playoffs and big names not making an impact—but that doesn’t mean keep searching for the next minor league deal with an invite to spring training while ignoring the bigger moves out there.

"You can’t corner yourself off," general manager Jerry Dipoto told FOX Sports’ Ken Rosenthal. And he is exactly right.

Ignore the pricier and nonsensical moves, for sure. Those won't help. But don't give a cold shoulder to the trade-worthy and international assets currently dangling among the pages of mlbtraderumors.com.

By my count, there are three that would qualify as such...

(Worth noting: Either Max Scherzer or Rick Porcello would make four, but the packaged deals, no matter how they are skewed, just won’t work.)

The biggest move: David Price

I Googled “David Price Trade” yesterday (I did for you here) just to see how much of an internet stir the possibility of landing the Tampa Bay Rays' left-hander had caused.

The guy is popular.  David Price is right, I guess.

And it makes sense. When organizations are faced with the idea of shelling out $80 to $100 million for the services of arms like Ervin Santana, Matt Garza or Ricky Nolasco, peaking in to see what the Rays are up to is not a bad idea.

The amount of interest, however, will also make it difficult to negotiate the deal.

Do the Angels stand a chance?

General managers, currently in the beginning of their meetings in Florida, have already weighed in on the matter. According to ESPN's Jerry Crasnick, 17 of the 21 GMs he recently surveyed believed Price will get traded.

Of those 17, one GM believed the Angels had the best chance. (I'm not sure if that was Jerry Dipoto's vote.)

To me, it still looks like a waste—especially if the Rays really do want a young arm like Garrett Richards to make the deal happen (per MLB.com’s Alden Gonzalez).

However, I haven’t been nailing too many of these predictions…so…there is a chance.

It would take giving up Mark Trumbo—which seems to be a general theme so far—and Howie Kendrick. Because we are talking about a Cy Young-type arm, I wouldn’t be surprised if another need for the Rays—maybe a reliever or a catcher—is thrown into the deal, too.

Upside? It’s David Price. The Angels would have probably one of the most impressive rotations (on paper) in the MLB.

Downside? The sacrifice for a two-year fix (Price’s time before free agency) might leave the team in the same situation they have been digging out of for three years—a depleted system because of big offseason moves.

A big move that won’t grab major headlines but should: Felix Doubront and Will Middlebrooks

Landing Will Middlebrooks and Felix Doubront—an idea first brought up by The Boston Globe's Nick Cafardo—may not produce the instant headlines that something like the David Price deal might get, but still, it would be a big move for the Angels.

A few weeks back, I had expressed the opinion that going after someone like Jon Lester would be a smart move for the Angels.

Well…

Landing Doubront would also be a good deal, sort of a next-best-thing scenario for the Angels. Like Lester, Doubront is a strong left-hander that was impressive in the postseason, showing decent command with a good fastball.

He would fit perfectly into the rotation, and with his youth, he'd be a good option for the long haul. However, Doubront is not the biggest attraction. Middlebrooks wins that title.

The one area that will certainly get overshadowed by pitching needs this offseason is the Angels’ third-base situation. Right now, it’s a committee effort—and that’s not great.

Adding a guy like Middlebrooks would certainly be an upgrade to in-house options like Andrew Romine and Luis Jimenez. More importantly, it could make trading Howie Kendrick a little easier to swallow.

With Middlebrooks at third, the pressure for Grant Green to take over the hot corner on a learn-on-the-fly basis would not be necessary. Green, who adapted fairly well at second base last season, could stay on the right side of the infield, allowing the organization more flexibility with Kendrick.

The cost?

As you would probably expect, Trumbo would be the bat to go in return. Because the talent involved isn’t as high on the proverbial tier as it would have been for Lester, however, I wouldn’t expect a second piece like Peter Bourjos to go as well—though I would not say it is a forgone conclusion he isn’t mentioned in the discussion.

The waiting game: Masahiro Tanaka

The time it takes for the MLB and the NBP (Nippon Professional Baseball) to haggle over new posting-fee regulations is the most crucial factor with Tanaka, no question.

According to The LA Times' Dylan Hernandez, there is progress in the talks, and both the Angels and their NL neighbors (Los Angeles Dodgers) are awaiting the final results—along with most of the MLB, I would imagine.

Tanaka is considered to be a hard-throwing right-hander with excellent command. Last season, he struck out 183 batters while only walking 32, finishing the year with a record of 24-0—losing Game 6 in the playoffs— with the Tohoku Rakuten Golden Eagles.

Regardless of the league, that’s impressive.

But how long can a team wait?

How much money is a team willing to “post” just to earn the exclusive right to negotiate a deal?

Because the posting fee would not count toward the tax threshold ($189 million), interested teams, initially, have an equal opportunity.

So, it’s really a matter of timing: wait or don’t wait.

Chances the Angels win the bidding war?

When it comes to this kind of deal, I don’t think any willing team should be counted out. So, by default, the Angels’ willingness gives them a chance.

The contract might be a different story, though. Unfortunately, teams with more wiggle room—like the Dodgers and the New York Yankees—could offer a bigger deal.

But I wouldn't count out the Angels.

Not during an offseason, anyway.

Unless otherwise noted, all stats were courtesy of baseball-reference.com.

Salary info courtesy of mlbtraderumors.com.

Follow Rick Suter on Twitter@rick_suter