The Angels have declined Right Fielder Kole Calhoun’s club option for the 2020 season making him a free agent. Calhoun’s 2020 club option was worth $14MM and the Angels will pay him $1MM for buying him out.
Kole Calhoun was an 8th round pick by the Angels in the 2010 draft out of Arizona State University and he would go on to make his debut on May 22nd, 2012. Calhoun would go on to play in 79 games combined in the 2012 and 2013 seasons. During those short stints in the big leagues, he hit .271/.336/.436 while hitting 8 Doubles, 2 Triples, 8 Home Run’s and driving in 33 runs.
Calhoun has been the Angels starting Right Fielder since the 2014 season in which he started in 112 games that season in RF while playing in 127 games all together. He’s been a key part of the Angels lineup since the 2014 season and even won a Gold Glove for Right Fielders in the American League in 2015.
Since his mainstay in 2014, he’s played in 887 games, posted a slash line of .248/.321/.424, scored 499 Runs, hit 159 Doubles, 15 Triples, 132 Home Run’s while driving in 418 runs. Calhoun provided the Angels with a stellar defense even when he was not doing as well at the plate.
The Angels could, of course, try to bring back the fan-favorite Calhoun back, but that does not seem likely with top prospect OF Jo Adell seeming to be ready for the big leagues and OF Brian Goodwin, who performed well in his first season with the Angels.
If this is indeed the end of Kole Calhoun’s tenure with the Angels, he always played his heart out and it showed as always gave it his all.
Personally, I would like to thank Kole Calhoun for his hard work and dedication while wearing an Angels uniform and I wish him the best of luck in the future.
Featured Image: John Froschauer / AP
