Report: Angels have had internal talks about Wieters
After finishing the 2016 season with a disappointing record of 74-88 despite having American League MVP Mike Trout on their roster, the Los Angeles Angels have had an active offseason, and it may not be completed just yet.
The Angels are having internal conversations about free-agent catcher Matt Wieters, reports Jon Heyman of FanRagSports. They've already acquired Cameron Maybin, Ben Revere, Danny Espinosa, Jesse Chavez, and Martin Maldonado, among others.
Although the Angels have been busy, they haven't made a big splash yet. Landing Wieters - a four-time All-Star and former first-round draft choice - may help them stay competitive in what's expected to be a tough AL West division.
The Angels could have competition for the services of the two-time Gold Glove winner, however, as the Washington Nationals and Atlanta Braves are reportedly showing interest in the 30-year-old.
Wieters - who didn't receive a qualifying offer from his former team, the Baltimore Orioles - would certainly be an upgrade over Maldonado and Carlos Perez, who are projected to begin the season as the Angels' catchers.
Career Stats
| PLAYER | G | PA | HR | RBI | OPS | WAR |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Matt Wieters | 882 | 3468 | 117 | 437 | .739 | 17.8 |
| Martin Maldonado | 355 | 1094 | 28 | 111 | .640 | 2.7 |
| Carlos Perez | 173 | 574 | 9 | 52 | .607 | 1.1 |
Wieters, who earned $15.8 million in 2016, hit .243/.302/.409 with 17 home runs and 66 RBIs across 124 games for the Orioles last season. He did rank second in the AL among qualified catchers in defensive runs saved with plus-3.