Angels decline Kole Calhoun option, making him a free agent

Although somewhat inevitable, it became a reality Monday afternoon when Jeff Fletcher of the OCR reported that the Angels declined Kole Calhoun’s option.

At $14 million, it was a little too pricey for the Angels, who have other options in right field in Brian Goodwin and Jo Adell. The Angels save payroll to make a push for starting pitching.

Calhoun, 32, has spent his entire big league career with the Angels. Though he played sparingly in 2012 and 2013, he became a regular in 2014 and basically never relinquished his job. Over the seven seasons, he hit .249/.322/.424/.747 with 140 home runs while playing sterling defense. That defense won him a Gold Glove in 2015. Calhoun became known for his diving catches and otherworldly arm, which allowed him to make throws that didn’t seem possible at times.

He often hit leadoff, setting the table for Mike Trout. A power surge in 2019 meant that he was one of the Angels’ more prolific home run hitters.

The Angels could still re-sign Kole Calhoun. But as of now, he gets a $1 million buyout and gets to hit the market, where he could sign with any other team.

If this is it, thank you Kole.