Despite having the best baseball player on the planet in Mike Trout, the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim have been predominately mediocre throughout his career. There was one 98-win season and a division title in 2014, but they were swept in the American League Division Series by the Kansas City Royals and have been non-factors since.

Trout had the opportunity to test the free agent waters after the 2020 season, but instead chose to sign a record-breaking contract extension worth $426.5 million. He committed to the Angels. Following another poor season in 2019, owner Arte Moreno fired manager Brad Ausmus after one season and jumped at the opportunity to bring Joe Maddon back to where he spent most of his baseball career before starting his managerial journey with the Tampa Bay Rays.

Hopes were high that when they hired a “star” manager, they were set to take major steps toward becoming a contender again. The goal was to shun the long, slow rebuild and take a dramatic jump from 72-90 to what it would realistically require for a shot at a playoff spot: around 90 wins.

In addition to hiring Maddon, the Angels signed free agent third baseman Anthony Rendon to a 7-year, $245 million contract. Although the hiring of the manager is only a portion of turning a 90-loss club into a contender, the Rendon signing was a major step in giving Trout reinforcements. Still, the Angels largely swung and missed in trying for a dramatic boost in free agency and via trade.

They pursued Gerrit Cole, but he signed with the New York Yankees. They kicked the tires on Corey Kluber, but he was traded to the Texas Rangers for a package that was widely panned. They had a trade in place for Ross Stripling and Joc Pederson that was contingent on the original Mookie Betts and David Price trade being completed between the Boston Red Sox and the Los Angeles Dodgers. When that deal came apart and needed to be reengineered, the Dodgers-Angels trade fell by the wayside.

Instead, they acquired two pitchers whose stock had dropped by signing Julio Teheran and trading for Dylan Bundy. To help their pitching staff, they signed catcher Jason Castro. Castro is well-regarded for his framing behind the plate and has some pop. To oversee the pitching staff, well-respected pitching coach Mickey Callaway was hired after two years managing the New York Mets.

These are positive maneuvers. However, the expectations when they hired Maddon were higher. That he only signed a three-year contract added to the urgency. Rather than get the likes of Cole no matter the cost, they set limits and missed out on opportunities. There is some logic in deciding to rely on their admittedly excellent defense, signing a catcher with a reputation for maximizing pitchers, and acquiring starters who could only be categorized as reclamation projects to join what was already in place with Andrew Heaney, Griffin Canning and a cast of youngsters. Canning is having an MRI for an elbow issue. Shohei Ohtani will be watched carefully in his first year back on the mound after Tommy John surgery and that he is so vital a part of the batting order when he’s not pitching.

Do they have upside? Sure. Is it a team that is a contender in a tough American League West? It would take a series of best-case scenarios to come to pass. This is the problem with hiring Maddon, signing Rendon and basically whiffing on every other attempt to make significant acquisitions.

The perception that Maddon is a manager who will maximize the talent on his roster is a shaky premise at best given his last two seasons with the Chicago Cubs and that he was essentially fired. The Cubs organization has been making passive aggressive comments blaming him for their woes. While a part of that is the ever-present Theo Epstein “I GM’d great, these guys didn’t perform” attitude, a part of that is Maddon himself and his style. Him being new with the Angels will benefit him and the team. But is that enough?

Led by Trout and Rendon, they can bash. They catch the ball defensively. Even with Albert Pujols’ onerous contract still on the books, he is no longer relied upon as an offensive linchpin – he’s more of a “slugger emeritus” whose presence is neither a boon nor a hindrance. He won’t play every day. They are certainly better than they were in 2019. That aside, the AL West houses the still dangerous AL champion Houston Astros; the 97-win Oakland Athletics; and a potentially solid team in the Rangers. The only team in the division that could be considered a non-factor is the Seattle Mariners.

It seems that the Angels are putting an unreasonable amount of stock in Maddon’s reputation. The Angels were not a team with a good but mismanaged roster like the Philadelphia Phillies were. The Phillies hired another “name” manager in Joe Girardi, but their 2019 roster clearly underachieved based on its talent level. Many of their problems stemmed from former manager Gabe Kapler’s new age managerial style clashing with his veteran players. They were better than they showed in 2018 and 2019. Had they brought back the identical roster for 2020, the Phillies would be projected to win 90 games based solely on having a manager who knows what he’s doing and who the players trust.

What about the Angels?

They’ve got the “manager the players trust” part right, but that trust does not overcome the need for talent. Give Maddon that exact same team as Ausmus had in 2019 and the results would likely have been the same. In 2020, the Angels are better, but being better than 72-90 isn’t all that difficult. If their young arms rise to the occasion and the veteran arms experience a renaissance, there’s no problem. But that’s asking a lot. Maybe too much.

The biggest Major League Baseball free agent names are generally off the board. Of course, players who can and will have some use are waiting for an offer they deem acceptable. That includes Pat Neshek, Ben Zobrist, Russell Martin and Jason Vargas. At this point in their careers, none are likely to be the difference maker between a playoff run and being an also-ran, but all can help a team in some capacity. With spring training having just begun, there will be injuries and sudden needs to be filled. A versatile player like Zobrist could find work relatively easily despite his apparent ambivalence about playing in 2020.

There is, however, one player who could be categorized as a “star” waiting out the market: Yasiel Puig.

The negatives with Puig are well-known. He’s mercurial; he doesn’t always hustle; he has a terrible temper; being on time for him is whenever he decides to show up to the park; and he rarely listens to his manager and coaches regarding offensive and defensive game plans. The nickname “Wild Horse” fits in every conceivable context.

Still, when he feels like it, he is one of the single most game-wrecking forces in all of MLB. His reputation for trying the patience of his managers and teammates is well-known. That is not why he is still waiting for a job. Puig could have gotten a short-term deal by now had he been willing to sign one, but given his age (29) and his five-tool talent, it’s understandable for him to want a contract that is commensurate with his abilities.

Understandably, teams are reluctant to give him such a deal worth what “X player not named Yasiel Puig” would get with an identical playing history: around $100 million. While many teams would sign Puig to a contract favorable to them, Puig is clearly waiting out a fair contract. As the season draws closer, that will change. Let’s look at the six teams where there may be a match.

Cleveland Indians

Puig was traded to the Indians at the 2019 trade deadline. He played well in Cleveland with an .800 OPS in 207 plate appearances. There were no reported issues in the clubhouse and his on-field demeanor was good. Terry Francona is one of the easiest managers in the world to play for.

The Indians are limited in what they can do financially, but a one-year deal for Puig with a mutual option is presumably doable, especially when factoring in the production he brings. The window is closing for the Indians in their current configuration. With Francisco Lindor just about guaranteed to be traded at some point and Corey Kluber already gone, the Indians are heading for a retool, if not an outright rebuild. The club was middle of the pack in runs scored and their offense can use the Puig’s power.

Oakland Athletics

The A’s have been a go-to place for players in need of a one-year, mutually beneficial deal to rehabilitate their reputation and enhance their value for another try at free agency the next off-season. General manager Billy Beane and manager Bob Melvin are known to handle difficult players.

There is space for Puig in their lineup. Stephen Piscotty is listed as their primary right fielder. He’s a productive player, but not a star talent on the level of Puig. With the Houston Astros reeling and vulnerable and the rest of the American League West not having improved to a major degree, the A’s could see the opening to go for the division title and sign Puig to enhance their chances.

Texas Rangers

The Rangers are in that unique “what are they?” place where it’s difficult to pigeonhole them. They’ve had three consecutive bad seasons, but have enough talent on the roster to justify categorizing them as a darkhorse contender in 2020. They’ve added Kluber, Kyle Gibson, Robinson Chirinos and Todd Frazier. These are not earth-shattering moves, but for a team that has a decent foundation, they’re good additions.

Joey Gallo is listed as their right fielder, but he’s so flexible defensively that if they chose to, they could find a spot for Puig. They’re no longer in the offensive launching pad at Rangers Ballpark at Arlington and are set to begin play in the new Globe Life Field this season. Will the landscape be different for their hitters? If so, they could account for that and sign Puig, whose power cannot be constrained by any park. They did well in 2019 with their low-cost signing of Hunter Pence. Puig could be a bigger addition.

Much like the Athletics, they too can be aggressive in trying to take down the Astros.

Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim

Joe Maddon has a history of corralling players with dicey reputations. The Angels hired Maddon with great fanfare and were expected to dive deeply into free agency. They did…to a point. Anthony Rendon signed a $245 million contract. They signed Jason Castro. Apart from that, they acquired Dylan Bundy and signed Julio Teheran. These moves were not sufficient to bridge the gap between them and the Athletics, let alone the Astros.

Their starting pitching is weak. Their bullpen is mediocre. They can hit and they can catch the ball. There are two ways to go about addressing team issues: improve weaknesses or bolster strengths. The Angels are limited to the latter with Puig.

Currently, their depth chart lists Brian Goodwin in right field. Goodwin is a solid bench player. Their best prospect, Jo Adell, is a right fielder, but he’s turning 21 in early April and only has 248 games of professional experience. Puig would be a good stopgap as they wait for Adell. On days Shohei Ohtani pitches, they could use the extra offensive pop with Puig.

Miami Marlins

The mutual loathing between Puig and Marlins manager Don Mattingly is well-known from their days with the Los Angeles Dodgers. There was speculation that the Marlins might be a good spot for him earlier in the winter, but it petered out.

This is the ultimate win-win situation for both parties. Time is running out for Lewis Brinson to show he can be an everyday player. They could be shifting players around the field with a fair number of at-bats for Puig in right field. Although the Mattingly-Puig relationship could be problematic, there is something to be said for familiarity. At least each knows what to expect from the other and it’s possible that Derek Jeter and Jorge Posada could have a decent influence on Puig so he would at least try and behave a little more professionally.

Since the Marlins are not contenders in 2020, he would also be trade bait for a contender at midseason and the Marlins could accrue a few prospects in exchange.

St. Louis Cardinals

The Cardinals had offensive woes in 2019, finishing 10th in the National League in runs scored. This winter, they lost Marcell Ozuna who had 29 home runs and an .800 OPS. They also traded away Jose Martinez. They are relying heavily on a rebound season from Matt Carpenter, a major improvement from Harrison Bader and youngsters Tommy Edman and Tyler O’Neill. O’Neill has an extensive injury history.

They won the National League Central based on the Chicago Cubs having a down year and the Milwaukee Brewers playing inconsistently until a scorching hot September. The division is parity-laden, so they can win it again. Adding Puig’s offense is an insurance policy, difficult to handle though he may be.