Angels show interest in Pirates' Walker
Los Angeles also could attempt deal for CarGo if club doesn't sign a free-agent outfielder
NASHVILLE, Tenn. -- The Angels were among the teams interested in Pirates second baseman Neil Walker, with the Pittsburgh Tribune-Review going so far as to say that the club was "very serious" in its pursuit. However, Walker is reportedly headed to the Mets.
Walker is a switch-hitter who can also play a little bit of third base, but he is very limited at that position.
The Angels still have a chance at landing one of the premier free-agent outfielders, a list that includes Jason Heyward, Alex Gordon, Yoenis Cespedes and Justin Upton.
If that foursome is deemed too pricey, the Angels could turn their attention to Rockies outfielder Carlos Gonzalez, who's 30 years old and owed $37 million over the next two years. Gonzalez, a left-handed hitter, has a lengthy injury history. But he went on a tear in the last four months of the 2015 season and finished the year batting .271/.325/.540 with 40 homers and 97 RBIs.
The Rockies, looking to contend in 2017 and '18, may be willing to take on left-hander C.J. Wilson, owed $20 million in the final year of his contract. One deterrent with Gonzalez is his home/road splits. He sports a career .986 OPS at the hitter-friendly Coors Field and a .752 OPS elsewhere.