The Angels announced that they have declined club options on left-hander and infielder . Both will now become free agents, with Loup receiving a $2.5MM buyout instead of a $7.5MM salary for 2024, while Escobar receives a buyout of $500K instead of a $9MM salary. Neither move comes as a surprise. Loup posted a remarkable 0.95 ERA in 2021 and parlayed that into a two-year, $17MM deal going into 2022. His first year with the Halos was fine, resulting in a 3.84 ERA, but that figure jumped to 6.10 in 2023. There may have been some bad luck in his poor results this year, with a .373 batting average on balls in play and 63.6% strand rate, but his strikeout rate has also been declining. He fanned 26.1% of batters in that strong 2021 campaign but that Cole Anthony Jersey rate dropped to 20% and then 19.5% in the two most recent seasons. He also finished the 2023 campaign on the injured list with a left shoulder strain. The Halos acquired Escobar in a midseason trade with the Mets. They hoped the veteran switch-hitter would stabilize an infield that had been wrecked by injury. It didnt go as planned, with Escobar stumbling to a .219/.259/.303 slash in 189 plate appearances. Combined with a slow start in Queens, he managed just a .226/.269/.344 line over 100 games on the season. Lefty relief and third base both stand as areas the Angels could try to addre s this offseason. They dont have any left-handers who are guaranteed spots in the season-opening bullpen, with the likes of and projecting as their top options. is the ostensible starter at third base, although hes coming off another disappointing year marred by injury. Tracy McGrady Jersey