Report: Angels looking for leadoff and/or power upgrade
The Los Angeles Angels are on fire, entering play Wednesday 53-40 and in first place in the AL West - but they're not content to rest on their laurels.
According to Alden Gonzalez of MLB.com, the club is looking to improve in two specific areas: at the leadoff spot and in the power department.
The desire for a power upgrade might seem redundant considering the seasons being put together by Mike Trout and Albert Pujols, but with David Freese struggling (.241/.308/.399 with 11 home runs) the club would like to find a middle-of-the-order bat to complement the pair of All-Stars.
Gonzalez notes that recent talk around the Halos has linked them to Jay Bruce of the Cincinnati Reds, Adam Lind of the Milwaukee Brewers, Andre Ethier of the Los Angeles Dodgers, Josh Reddick of the Oakland Athletics and others - including Chase Utley of the Philadelphia Phillies, whose rehab the Angels are said to have been 'monitoring'.
With the deadline coming quickly, it's apparent that the Halos are eager to further distance themselves from the rest of the pack in the AL West. Given the state of their pitching staff, boosting the offense seems like the most appropriate area in need of an upgrade for a late-season push and, they hope, a lengthy October postseason run.
