3 Cubs free agents Angels suddenly seem competitive for after Stan Kroenke purchase

The Chicago Cubs are fighting for positioning in the NL playoff race right now, so figuring out the bullpen is of more interest to fans in Wrigleyville right now than the coming offseason. That's not true for every club, however, and exhibit A of that fact is the Los Angeles Angels. The team is in the midst of a seismic shift amid Arte Moreno's abrupt sale of the franchise to Stan Kroenke, and that news gives fans in Anaheim hope for the first time since Shohei Ohtani's departure.

Kroenke is best known as the owner of the NFL's LA Rams and the NBA's Denver Nuggets. He's generally a well-regarded owner, however, and certainly an upgrade over the much less celebrated Moreno. With a steadier hand finally in place at the ownership level, it seems likely the Angels will look at free agency differently than they have in recent years. Could that lead them to any Cubs free agents this winter? Here's a look at three possible fits:

Could Carson Kelly help lead the Angels into their new era from behind the plate?

Carson Kelly has been everything Jed Hoyer and the Cubs could've hoped for and more since signing with the team prior to the 2025 season. With a 112 wRC+ and 4.4 fWAR over two seasons in a Cubs uniform, he's solidified things behind the plate in a way that was greatly needed following Willson Contreras's exit from the franchise. Good as he's been, however, it's hard to see him coming back to the organization after this year.

Owen Ayers has emerged as a top 100 prospect behind the dish and should reach Wrigley next year. Between him and Miguel Amaya, the Cubs might think they're in a good enough place to not bother giving Kelly the substantial raise he'll surely be able to land in free agency this winter. He'll be a highly coveted free agent regardless of if the Cubs are in on him or not, but the Angels might be one of the teams that makes the most sense for his services.

The Angels have needed a veteran catcher who can stabilize things behind the dish for quite some time, and their decision to dump Logan O'Hoppe on a division rival served as the most definitive signal of that reality yet. Kelly's veteran presence could be just what the Angels and their young pitching staff need, and he could also create a bridge to the future for Anaheim.

That future might even include old friend Moises Ballesteros, who the Cubs dealt to the Angels last month. He's been catching once a week for the Angels since the trade, and while he's struggled with the bat perhaps getting a familiar face in Kelly to serve as a mentor could help the Angels get him right on offense and continue his development on defense at the same time.

Kevin Gausman is the exact sort of pitcher Arte Moreno used to shy away from

If Kroenke wants to make clear to his new team's fanbase that things are different, there might be no better way to do that than signing someone like Kevin Gausman. The 35-year-old veteran is a big-game pitcher with a track record of postseason success and exceptional durability. That's a foreign concept to the Angels, who have long struggled to piece together a pitching staff and haven't sniffed the postseason in over a decade.

The veteran is not the perennial Cy Young contender he was at his peak any longer, but he could still bring a level of credibility to the Angels' pitching staff, serve as a mentor for the team's younger arms, and help them compete early in the year before being a trade chip next summer if things go south. Of course, they won't be the only team in the mix for his services. That market is one the Cubs themselves could be involved in, given their substantial need for 2027 rotation help.

Tyrone Taylor would be a safe addition for the Angels- and an easy upgrade

Gausman isn't the only newly-acquired rental piece who might make sense suiting up for Anaheim next year. Clay Holmes returning to the Cubs next year needs to be the top priority in Chicago this winter, but the same cannot be said for his former Mets and current Cubs teammate Tyrone Taylor. Taylor has been phenomenal since joining the Cubs and is putting together a brilliant season overall in his role as a part-time outfielder, but that's a role Matt Shaw seems better suited for long-term.

Like Kelly, leaving the Cubs in 2027 will not preclude him from being paid handsomely elsewhere. Taylor seems like the perfect fit for a team like the Angels, as they have wide open vacancies in their outfield on either side of Mike Trout. They could credibly offer Taylor a starting job, which surefire contenders might be a bit more wary of doing, and his strong center field glove could make him an excellent backup center field option in the event that the injury bug bites Trout again.

That's a playbook the Twins were able to use with Michael A. Taylor back in 2023, when he was initially signed to play an outfield corner but wound up as the everyday center fielder due to injuries limiting star Byron Buxton to a DH-only role. While the Angels surely hope that Trout will stay healthy and in center for them all through next season, signing Taylor away from the Cubs might be the best insurance plan they can sign themselves up for.

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