The Los Angeles Angels are talking to C.J. Wilson right now, but the starting rotation is one of the strengths of the team right now. They need to get more thump out of 3B and they need to get some offense out of the catcher position in 2012. With that in mind, here is how I would spend owner Arte Moreno’s money:

1. Aramis Ramirez - The Angels need to get some power out of 3B and Ramirez is by far the best player on the free agent market. Alberto Callaspo did a decent job last year, but 3B is a power position.

2. Ramon Hernandez - The Angels were essentially a National League style team last year as their catchers hit like pitchers last year. Hernandez is a solid .270 hitter who can whack 10-15 homers in a season.

3. LaTroy Hawkins - LaTroy Hawkins would essentially replace Fernando Rodney in the Angels’ bullpen and that would be a nice upgrade.

I just don’t see the Angels making any big changes this week. They could use a power hitting 3B, a righty reliever and a backup outfielder. The 3B that are likely available (Ty Wigginton, Edwin Encarnacion, Chone Figgins, Kevin Kouzmanoff, Casey Blake and Juan Uribe) don’t offer much of an upgrade over Alberto Callaspo. Wigginton is the best of that group but he won’t come too cheap as a lot of teams are going to be in on him. The Angels will likely be after Frank Francisco, Jon Rauch, Octavio Dotel, Jason Frasor, Grant Balfour, Koji Uehara, Kerry Wood, Rafael Betancourt, Matt Lindstrom, Matt Guerrier and maybe even Mike Adams. They only really need one of them, so they might be able to improve the bullpen before August 1st. The Angels also should be able to get one of these backup outfielders (Felix Pie, Scott Hairston, Jason Michaels, Chris Denorfia, Corey Patterson, Ryan Sweeney, Reed Johnson or Willie Harris) by next weekend. The Angels might be a better team on August 1st with only minor tinkering to the roster.

The Angels need a spark on offense and I think I have a solid solution. The Mariners just can’t figure out how to get Chone Figgins going and he’s rotting away on the bench for them. With that in mind, I think the Angels should offer 3B Alberto Callaspo, catcher Bobby Wilson and outfielder Reggie Willits to the Mariners for Chone Figgins and cash. I think a return to the Angels would give Figgins the spark needed to get his career back on the right path. I wouldn’t stop there though. I would call up the Blue Jays and offer them righty reliever Kevin Jepsen, Trevor Bell, Bobby Cassevah, Ysmail Carmona and IF/OF Alexi Amarista for outfielder Corey Patterson and righty relievers Jon Rauch and Octavio Dotel. Those moves would tighten up the bullpen and the bench, and if Chone Figgins gets back to the player he was earlier in his career with the Angels…..3B.

Angels’ owner Arte Moreno has deep pockets so don’t be surprised to see the Angels trying to make big moves at the trade deadline to improve the roster. I think the Angels are going to try to take advantage of the Mets’ money situation and try to make a play for 3B David Wright if he proves he’s healthy in July when he comes off the D.L. I also think the Angels could use some righty relief help and I think they will be placing calls to the Nationals (about Todd Coffey), the Cubs (about Kerry Wood), the Orioles (about Koji Uehara) and the Blue Jays (about Frank Francisco, Jon Rauch, Jason Frasor and Octavio Dotel). The Angels have spent too much money on payroll to give up on the year and be sellers at the trade deadline.

The Angels only have two free agents heading into this winter so I see them being very active. Here is a look at what I would do with the three free agents the Angels do have:

Hideki Matsui: 36-year old lefty swinging DH/OF Hideki Matsui played in 145 games for the Angels last season and he was 132 of 482 (.274 avg, .820 OPS) with 55 runs scored, 21 homers and 84 RBIs. VERDICT: Despite Matsui having a decent year I look for the Angels to go after a big time hitter for either the outfield or DH.

Scot Shields: 35-year old righty reliever Scot Shields had troubles coming back from knee surgery last year. Shields pitched in 43 games (1 start) for the Angels last season and he was 0-3 with a 5.28 ERA and a 1.72 WHIP. VERDICT: I would let him walk.