Here’s some new information on the Angels second base search: they are now exploring trades with the San Diego Padres for a second baseman. As you’ve now read, the Padres have multiple intriguing second basemen, all of whom could be good fits with the Angels next year: Ryan Schimpf, Cory Spangenberg, and Carlos Asuaje.
Heard the #Angels have been talking to Padres, who have 4 LH IF's who can play 2B: Solarte, Schmipf, Spangenberg and Asuaje.
— Jeff Fletcher (@JeffFletcherOCR) December 6, 2025
Solarte is likely out of the Angels price range, while Schimpf carries a tremendous power bat as a second baseman.
Schimpf, 28, hit 20 home runs in just 330 at-bats in what was his rookie season last year. He had an unlucky .260 BABIP last year but also has a gruesome 31.8% strikeout rate. While he isn’t the ideal second baseman, he represents a huge upgrade over what the Angels have. However, as the Padres’ second baseman of the future, he would likely require cost-controlled big league pitching in a deal which makes acquiring him unlikely.
Spangenberg or Asuaje are much more affordable and realistic gets.
Spangenberg, a 25 year old speedster, put up 2 WAR in 2015 but tore a quad which sidelined him this year. He is still extremely fast though, and put up a 104 wRC+ in 2015. Controllable through 2021, Spangenberg represents a more affordable long-term option if his leg heals properly.
Asuaje, 25, was never a big prospect but put up terrific offensive numbers in the minor leagues nonetheless. He is a contact hitter with doubles power. For context, here is Eric Longenhagen’s take on the matter.
Asuaje has great bat-to-ball skills thanks to great hand-eye coordination, a compact stroke with good bat control and the ability to hit the ball to all fields. He’s at least a future plus hitter. Beyond that, there isn’t a whole lot here about which scouts are excited. Asuaje is an average runner and an unspectacular defender at second base, only projecting to average there, as well...I’m willing to bet heavily on the bat and project Asuaje as a low-end regular but he has very little margin for error.
He seems like another Johnny Giovatella type, where everything has to go right in order for him to make it as an everyday big league second baseman. He put up some solid numbers in the minors, but he’s still not much to be excited about.
Presumably the #Angels would be trading one of their 12 SPs, since that's what the Padres need most.
— Jeff Fletcher (@JeffFletcherOCR) December 6, 2025
The Padres are projected for the worst starting rotation in all of baseball, as most of their pitching prospects are still in the minor leagues. It makes sense that they want big league pitching.
For Solarte or Schimpf, the Angels would have to trade away Skaggs - which I’m not a fan of, especially since Utley already provides a cheap, 1 WAR option.
For Spangenberg or Asuaje, however, it would likely come from the war chest that are the Angels starting pitching candidates. That means it would be anyone from Nate Smith, Troy Scribner, or Daniel Wright to all of the candidates that have been acquired since the offseason begun.
Having a second base platoon could be the best option as opposed to trading away affordable pitching for a second baseman. Signing Utley to a cheap one year deal and trading for an affordable, expendable player like Spangenberg, Asuaje, or Jace Peterson would be a smart, low-risk move in this “stopgap” season before Andrew Heaney and Nick Tropeano return.
In any case, it will be fascinating to see what else Eppler has up his sleeve.