Notable Additions: Aaron Hicks, Matt Moore, Adam Cimber
Notable Losses: Shohei Ohtani, CJ Cron, Randal Grichuk
A team that housed the two best players in the league last year can no longer make that claim. Ohtani is gone, and Trout is not a top dog anymore. The rest of the squad is not impressive either. It is a shame that the Angels had two of the best in the game for 6 years and couldn’t put together a playoff-caliber team. Now, we look towards the future. Will the Angels be able to turn it around?
Projected Starters
C: Logan O’Hoppe
1B: Nolan Schanuel
2B: Brandon Drury
3B: Anthony Rendon
SS: Zach Neto
LF: Taylor Ward
CF: Mike Trout
RF: Mickey Moniak
DH: Aaron Hicks
Not seeing Ohtani in the DH spot doesn’t feel right. Aaron Hicks is quite the downgrade. I’m sure he’ll agree. Anthony Rendon is a shell of his former self. His Angels career has been a disaster. In 4 years with the team, he has played 200 games and hit .249/.359/.399 with 22 home runs and 111 RBIs. His 105 OPS+ is carried by the shortened 2020 season. As for the rest of the lineup, Trout and Drury were the only two with an OPS above .800. I believe Drury and Taylor Ward will be good again. Still, they aren’t future pieces at 30 and 29 years old, respectively. This batting order has taken an enormous hit, and I give their hitting a 3/10.
Projected Starting Rotation
Reid Detmers
Patrick Sandoval
Tyler Anderson
Griffin Canning
Chase Silseth
Without Ohtani, no qualified starting pitcher had an ERA under 4.00. A one-two punch of Reid Detmers and Patrick Sandoval can be exciting to watch develop, but I need to see more out of them before I give either ace status. The Tyler Anderson signing will always be a head-scratcher to me. He only had one year below a 4.00 ERA and has never shown proof to me of a guy worth 13 million a year. Pitching Ranking, 2/10.
Carlos Estevez was an excellent signing for the Angels last year, saving 31 of his 35 opportunities. Last year, Estevez had a 3.90 ERA with an 11.3 K/9. He is expected to be the closer again, entering the final year of his contract. Robert Stephenson is an excellent addition to the bullpen as well. He could assume the closer role if Estevez is traded or underperforms. Even with that being said, I still give their bullpen a 3/10.
Sock’s 2 X Factor’s
Mike Trout: Choosing Mike Trout as one of my X-Factors after one of his worst years is a bold choice, but it is a choice I have to make. Until Mike Trout retires or bats below a .850 OPS, he is the guy for Los Angeles. In 82 games last year, Trout batted .263/.367/.490 with 18 home runs and a 134 WRC+. Keep in mind that this is the worst year of his career. If some younger player did this, I’d say they are poised for a breakout year soon. The Angels still have a glimmer of hope as long as he plays.
Reid Detmers: While Detmers had a poor 2023 campaign, I still think he is a future ace for Los Angeles. He had a career-high 10.2 K/9 and has one of the best breaking balls in the league. His 1.35 WHIP is a little concerning, but I am not too worried, given his ability to strike batters out. At 24 years old, he still has the opportunity to be a cornerstone piece for the Angels.
Sleeper: Logan O’Hoppe: Acquired from the Phillies in 2022, O’Hoppe could be a big piece for the Angels for years to come. O’Hoppe hit .236/.296/.500 in 199 plate appearances with 14 home runs and a 113 WRC+ in 2023. A catcher with that pop and great defensive instincts at 24 is a good sign for the future of the Angel’s backstop position.
Prospects to Look Forward to
Nolan Schanuel: Schanuel was the first person to make his MLB debut in the same year he was drafted since 1995. In 29 games with the Angels in 2023, he hit .275/.402/.330 with a 112 WRC+. As for his college career, Schanuel hit .386/.516/.698 at FAU. Yeah, he’s an on-base machine. He also has a little power in him, averaging about 15 home runs a season at FAU. Schanuel should have no problem fitting in with the Angels in 2024.
Nelson Rada: At 18 years old, Rada is a center fielder worth the hype when he was signed in 2022. He has excellent instincts in the outfield and great instincts at the plate, with a 12.6% strikeout rate in the Dominican Summer League. He still needs to tap into his power, but he is only 18. The Angels need to be patient with him. If they are, he could be a suitable Mike Trout replacement. Probably not Mike Trout, but close?
GM For a Day:
I don’t know how or when you do it, but get Anthony Rendon off the team. The contract is a bust, and he’s not getting better. Either take on all his contract and get a decent prospect, or dump the whole contract and get a bottom 30 prospect. Whichever method the owner prefers, do that one. Rendon can not be an Angel by the end of the 2024 season.
Projected Finish: 62-100, 4th in the AL West, 13th in the AL.
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