Angels Rumors: Insider Thinks LA Should Target Veteran Catcher, Orange County Native in Free Agency

The Angels are officially starting their offseason and with many questions surrounding the Halos internally, the team also may look to externally to add some veteran experience.

Jeff Fletcher of the Orange County Register tossed out an interesting name the Angels could be looking at in a position of need: Catcher Austin Hedges.

"If the Angels are going to add anyone to this mix, it would have to be a low-cost veteran known for his work with pitchers. Austin Hedges, an Orange County product, would be the perfect fit."

(Jeff Fletcher, The Orange County Register)

Hedges may be just the veteran experience the Halos need in that catching room with young star Logan O'Hoppe currently being the only strong option at catcher for next season.

Hedges would provide a good glove behind the plate and allow O'Hoppe to not catch every single game of the season along with Hedges being able to work with many of the young or struggling pitchers.

While Hedges does not bring much to the plate with a bat, only being a career .189 hitter, his value comes on defense.

Hedges has recorded a career 6.5 defensive WAR while only playing more than 100 games in a season three times in his career.

Hedges is also a low-value veteran due to the Angels most likely spending most of their money trying to bring back Ohtani, although it doesn't seem they'll have much success doing it.

Austin Hedges might be a good veteran leader who can help corral this group of youngsters as this team will look to shock the world in 2024.