The Los Angeles Angels have a need in their rotation. Reigning National League Cy Young award winner Blake Snell remains a free agent, and his price tag and asking price continue to drop.
Seems like a match made in heaven.
And yet, the Angels are yet to sign the multi-time Cy Young award winner, and the latest report only brings more bad news to Angel fans.
According to Jon Heyman of the New York Post, the Angels are now considered "long shots" for Snell.
"Snell has been linked to the Angels, but that seems like a long shot, as the Astros, Giants and a mystery team or two seem more likely now."
The Angels just last week were considered one of the favorites for Snell, but with the recent emergence of the Houston Astros in the race, and the reported unwillingness of Angels owner Arte Moreno to approve of a deal, they now appear to be falling out of the running.
This is a tough blow for Angels fans, who watched their team decline to offer Shohei Ohtani the contract he was looking for, but haven't replaced him yet in the rotation or the lineup.
The Angels haven't made an addition to the starting rotation — outside of Zach Plesac who isn't going to open the season in the rotation — and have only made one major league addition to the position players, a one-year, $740,000 deal to outfielder Aaron Hicks.
That doesn't exactly help replace Ohtani, and it's not like the Angels were contenders last year, as they went 73-89 and missed the playoffs for a ninth consecutive season.
Mike Trout has reportedly been pushing Moreno and the Angels higher-ups to make a move for a big free agent, but up until this point, they remain quiet.
If the Angels don't make any major additions before Opening Day, their roster is projected to have them finish in fourth place in the American League West.
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