Free Agent Pitchers the Angels Should Pursue

Entering the 2026 season Freddy Peralta looked like a surefire bet to cash in huge on the free agent market. However, a rough start with the Mets snowballed until he was eventually traded to Tampa Bay while sporting an ugly 4.99 ERA due to a WHIP of nearly 1.5. But with the Rays he has looked more like his usual self, pitching to a 3.25 ERA and WHIP of only 1.012.

A major part of Peralta's struggles in NY were the result of some mechanical breakdowns that led to a drop in velocity and spin rate. Batters were able to get better contact than usual against the 30 year old. That better contact was in front of a Mets defense that was among the worst in the league.

Tampa Bay is the perfect place for a pitcher to revive and thrive. But the Angels have added a new pitching coach and organizational philosophy that aligns with the Rays organization. Given the fact he is only 30, will command far less money than Skubal, and carries a career ERA+ of 133 while showing years of 147 and 155, Peralta would be an excellent addition to the Angels rotation.

The Bounce-Back Target: Brady Singer

If a guy plays long enough he will have a career best season and a career worst season. Brady Singer is currently having the worst season of his MLB career. Considering he is only 29 years of age it seems difficult to imagine that his days as a quality starting pitcher are already behind him.

From 2022 through 2025 the right hander averaged 29 starts, 165.2 innings pitched, and 2.7 bWAR with an ERA+ of 103. Never a pitcher with overpowering stuff, Singer relied on a five pitch mix and benefitted from both the ballpark and defense behind him in Kansas City for three of those four years. But he also put up an ERA+ of 108 in 32 starts as a Red last year.

Singer's cutter and four seamer have been tattooed this season and he has thrown them far less often. By limited himself to essentially three pitches he is making life easier for batters, who are hitting him harder than ever.

If the Angels think new pitching coach Tim Leveque and the analytics staff can help Singer turn back into a rotation workhorse, he could buy the young arms some much needed development time. Even in a down year, Singer took the hill 31 times and completed 157 innings.