Assuming the Los Angeles Angels don’t re-sign David Freese, Opening Day 2016 will see the seventh different player to start for the Angels at third base in the last eight years. Barring injury (or Freese), Yunel Escobar will be that man.
For the second straight offseason, the Angels traded a hard-throwing reliever for a hitter who could fill a hole in their lineup. Prior to the 2015 season, Kevin Jepsen was dealt to the Rays for left-fielder Matt Joyce. The Angels are confident that this year’s version, Trevor Gott to the Nationals for Escobar, will have a more positive result.