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Los Angeles Angels: It might be time to part ways with Garrett Richards

By Jason Reed

ANAHEIM, CA - APRIL 28: Martin Maldonado #12 of the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim looks on as starting pitcher Garrett Richards #43 walks off the mound after he was pulled by manager Mike Scioscia #14 after allowing eight runs by the second inning of the game against the New York Yankees at Angel Stadium on April 28, 2018 in Anaheim, California. (Photo by Jayne Kamin-Oncea/Getty Images)
ANAHEIM, CA - APRIL 28: Martin Maldonado #12 of the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim looks on as starting pitcher Garrett Richards #43 walks off the mound after he was pulled by manager Mike Scioscia #14 after allowing eight runs by the second inning of the game against the New York Yankees at Angel Stadium on April 28, 2018 in Anaheim, California. (Photo by Jayne Kamin-Oncea/Getty Images) /
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The Los Angeles Angels biggest free agent this winter is Garrett Richards and it might be time for the two sides to go their separate ways.

The Los Angeles Angels have some questions that need to be answered this winter. The team missed out on the postseason four the fourth year in a row and are yet to win a single playoff game since 2009 — the same year Mike Trout was drafted.

That is the big storyline for the Angels this winter and in the coming seasons. The team has been blessed with having the best player in baseball, and when it is all said and done probably a top-five hitter all-time, since 2011.

Despite having the most dangerous weapon in their arsenal, the Los Angeles Angels have found very limited success. What is even more concerning is the fact that the front office has made some great deals, like the trade for Andrelton Simmons, and still is yet to piece it together.

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A big reason for that is the pitching staff, which certainly is talented but can never seem to stay healthy all at the same time.

At one point, this pitching staff had a legitimate frontline ace in Garrett Richards. However, multiple injuries have considerably hurt Richards production and he now enters the free agent market coming off of a season in which he threw just 76.1 innings.

This is concerning for the Angels, who want to build a reliable pitching staff this offseason. I would not define Richards as “reliable” considering that he has pitched 138.2 innings over the last three seasons combined.

Yet still, he put together decent numbers in his limited appearances in 2016 and 2017 and with a free agent class that lacks any true aces, Richards might be a risk that many teams are willing to take.

Heck, just in our FanSided Network, Nolan Writin‘ (Texas Rangers), Climbing Tal’s Hill (Houston Astros), Rum Bunter (Pittsburgh Pirates) and Jays Journal (Toronto Blue Jays) have all made the case for their respective teams to sign Richards.

Even if those teams, in particular, do not pursue Richards there is still going to be a relatively competitive market for the former ace.

That is going to push his value up to a level in which the Los Angeles Angels should not match. Richards is probably the sixth or seventh-best pitcher this winter. The sixth and seventh highest-paid starting pitchers last winter were both paid around $10 million.

Quite frankly, I do not think it is even remotely worth paying Richards anywhere close to $10 million over several years. If the Angels cannot land another arm, and he takes one-year, $10 million, the fine.

Next. Three players to target from Seattle. dark

However, if Richards has multiple offers in the three-years, $30 million+ ballpark, the Angels’ front office must simply take its medicine and move on.

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