Taking a Devil’s Advocate Look at the Angels Options
December 13, 2025 - Written by Brayden Zielke & Jacob Firmage
Austin Hays was one player who was not talked about as much as the other names on the team but still put up SOLID numbers. In 103 games Hays put up:
— SleeperReds (@SleeperReds) October 15, 2025
▫️.266 BA
▫️.768 OPS
▫️15 HR
▫️64 RBI
What were your thoughts on Austin Hays? pic.twitter.com/Kp7eRJ3o1l
Isaiah Kiner-Falefa
Brayden:
I am a huge advocate for having someone who can play 3 infield positions and at least 1 outfield position on the team every season. With the departure of Luis Rengifo, the Angels need to fill that role this offseason. Rengifo’s biggest flaw was that despite being able to play 6 different positions, he wasn’t that good at any of them. Isiah Kiner-Falefa doesn’t have the power upside that Rengifo provided, but he can be trusted to play every position outside of 1B and can be an emergency catcher if needed.
IKF won a Gold Glove with the Rangers in 2020 and has very impressive defensive numbers. Throughout his career, IKF has 54 Defensive Runs Saved, compared to Rengifo’s -16. IKF is someone you can put almost anywhere on the field and can do enough with the bat. I expect him to be relatively cheap but highly sought after. My projection is a 1 year deal in the 5-6 mil range.
Jacob:
Isiah Kiner-Falefa is a fine bench piece, but that isn’t what the Angels need. If they were to start opening day with IKF at third base, I think it is fair to assume the offseason did not unfold the way Perry intended it too. With a career 82 wRC + and little to no power to speak of he just isn’t really an upgrade offensively over what they have. He is a good defender, decent baserunner, but for little to nothing the Angels could try Kyren Paris at 3rd and likely get more offensive production with some defensive flexibility. I don’t think bench bat is where the Angels should live in this free agency unless they plan to spend significantly more than in years past, no matter the defensive value he could provide.
Austin Hays
Brayden:
The loss of Taylor Ward brings about not only a hole in left field, but the loss of a veteran presence in the outfield. I am a huge Nelson Rada fan, but he has never played left field, which leaves the Angels with a conundrum on their hands in terms of who and where when it comes to the outfield. Hays brings a solid glove to Left Field, with a career .988 fielding percentage and 20 defensive runs saved. He has the ability to hit 15-20 home runs and 60-70 RBIs if he plays the full season. He was an All Star in 2023 and has shown what he can do. I would only want Hays as a short term option until the Angels can figure out exactly how to move forward in Left Field. My projection would be a one year deal for around 5.5-6.5 mil.
Jacob:
Austin Hays was a name I really liked last year ahead of the Jo Adell breakout. Coming off a down year for him offensively was being just a hair under the 100 wRC+ average and could fill in a corner spot just fine. Now looking at the Angels roster, we do see a Taylor Ward sized hole in LF, where he primarily played, but this empty spot gives the Angels a chance to add a lefty bat into that spot. He is affordable, he could keep the spot warm but he feels like a bat that if the Angels want to get into that playoff world you have to aim just a little higher. His defense is slightly below average in left, where Angel Stadium typically plays a little bigger and doesn’t walk a ton. You are looking at a lesser version of Ward. I’m not saying you have to replace his production in one move, but you have to at least make a dent. He has dealt with injuries yearly and Angels need to spend where the player can stay on the field.
Andrew Chafin
Brayden:
The Angels traded for Andrew Chafin at this past year's trade deadline, and he was extremely efficient as an Angel. He appeared in 16 games for the Angels and only gave up 3 earned runs, pitching to a 1.98 ERA with 18 strikeouts in 13.2 innings pitched. He had an ERA+ of 221 and had a 2.57 SO/BB ratio.
Although Chafin initially expressed a distaste for California, he later talked about fishing on his off-days and called it a “good place”. I think his success with the Angels and a nice pay raise would be enough to lure him back. I think a 1 year deal worth 3-4 mil would suffice.
Jacob:
Andrew Chafin came in and filled the spot the Angels needed, but also saw is BB/9 balloon to a 5.08. His velocity dipped below 90 for the first time in his career. Threw the least innings since the covid shortened season. At seasons end next year he is going to to be 36, which most relievers can keep going at, but in today's game, a soft tossing lefty is a risky move in a bullpen with so much volatility. The Angels already were not one of the harder throwing teams in 2025, and I think this is an area they look to improve. Chafin likely lands a one year deal which is hard to argue against, but at current rates relievers are getting, I do wonder if he prices himself outside the Angels liking and whether or not he would prefer to even come back to the west coast.
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