During the San Diego Winter Meetings of December, 2020, Gerrit Cole signed with the New York Yankees, Stephen Strasburg re-signed with the Washington Nationals and Anthony Rendon signed with the Los Angeles Angels. Rendon was signed in order to replace Albert Pujols as the big-ticket slugger who needs to help Mike Trout get back to the playoffs more than any other Angels hitter. The Pujols contract was a disaster, and that large sum of money on the payroll did not allow the team to acquire other big-name bats on bigger deals.
Some spread rumors that Cole could have become the Angels' ace, and that is one of the biggest sliding door moments in Angels franchise history.