Angels GM Billy Eppler gets defensive about his moves

Angels GM Billy Eppler said he has stayed in contact with David Freese, who heads a thin free-agent market at third base.Billy Eppler realizes he’s fallen into a pattern in his short tenure as the Angels’ general manager.

The first three major leaguers he acquired – Andrelton Simmons, Cliff Pennington and Geovany Soto – are all defensive specialists who haven’t provided much with the bat.

So as Eppler heads into the Winter Meetings that start Monday still needing to at least find a corner outfielder, and perhaps also a third baseman and second baseman, he knows what people are expecting.

“Defense isn’t everything,” Eppler said. “I know I’m getting a little bit of a rap for being all defense…