Angels: Trading C.J. Cron should be the next move this offseason

The Los Angeles Angels have been very busy this offseason. To stay busy, the Angels should look into trading C.J. Cron.

Billy Eppler’s front office has been very busy with the Los Angeles Angels this offseason. After missing the playoffs for the seventh time in the last eight years, Eppler and company have worked with urgency. Now, as the calendar turns to 2018, Angel fans have a team they can be proud of.

It all started when the Angels hit the jackpot with Japanese phenom Shohei Ohtani. Ian Kinsler, Zack Cozart and Jim Johnson all followed suit. Returning guys Garrett Richards, Tyler Skaggs and Andrew Heaney add to the Angels prospective flame.

Just because the Angels have been busy though does not mean they should stop there. There are still many more possibilities to come out of this offseason. So many holes to fill, so many guys available on the market.

With all their recent acquisitions in mind, there is one man that sticks out in trade talks. That man is infielder C.J. Cron, who has been in the bigs with the Angels since 2014.

Cron is a fairly solid player with some good upside. Last season, Cron hit .248 with 16 home runs and 56 RBIs in 100 games played. In his 408 game career, Cron is a .262 hitter with 59 home runs and 213 RBIs. At just 27 years old, the former first-round draft pick still has a lot to look forward to in the big leagues.

That future is better off away from Angel Stadium. Cron has no real place on this team anymore. His roster spot could be used elsewhere.

There is simply no room for Cron at first base or in the designated hitter spot. Right now, Luis Valbuena looks to be the most likely candidate to start at first base for the Angels. Valbuena played 48 games at first last season and slugged 22 home runs over the course of 117 games played.

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Behind him is Albert Pujols, who figures to be the Angels starting designated hitter. Although Pujols is not the same Pujols of five years ago, he is still as good of an option as Cron. With $114 million still tied to his name, Pujols is going to get his reps in.

However, the player that throws everything off is Ohtani himself. The two-way superstar is likely going to pitch and DH for the Angels on his off days. This moves Pujols to first if need be and Valbuena to the bench. All of a sudden, Cron is the fourth option in the crowded first base/designated hitter role.

While trading Cron is no blockbuster, it is an easy deal for the Angels to make and can be made with significant ease. Los Angeles could use one more outfielder behind Mike Trout, Justin Upton and Kole Calhoun. Right now, Jefry Marte is the only viable outfield backup.

The Angels could then flip Cron and his roster spot to a team that needs a backup first baseman for a backup outfielder. Heck, even if the Angels wanted to toy around with the outfield free agent market they could still flip Cron for a depth piece in the pitching staff. Regardless, trading Cron can get the Angels something useful.

Next: Can Ohtani live up to lofty expectations?

And that is exactly why the Halos should look to deal Cron. Cron has no real place on this team with the new faces in the mix; it’s best for both sides.

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