For years, Angels general manager Billy Eppler has spent his offseasons tracking down upgrades for his starting rotation in an effort to bolster the most maligned segment of the roster.

He has foraged scrap heaps and emerged with bargain-bin pickups — take Félix Peña, who pitched seven innings in the Angels’ combined no-hitter July 12 — that have served the Angels well. He has also struck out on top-tier free-agents and settled for reclamation projects who disappointed — witness Trevor Cahill, Cody Allen and Matt Harvey last season.