Mike Trout took over as the Angels’ primary center fielder in 2012 and was a stalwart there until last year, when a calf injury limited him to just 36 games. It seems the time has come where the team is thinking about when to move the 30-year-old into a corner outfield role. Manager Joe Maddon told reporters, including Jeff Fletcher of the Orange County Register, that the team has talked about the possibility of slotting Brandon Marsh in center field instead.
Center field is generally considered a more physically demanding position to play, relative to the corners, making the move a worthwhile consideration. If the toll of playing defense were reduced for Trout, it would increase his odds of staying healthy and in the lineup. Trout has already been considered one of the best hitters in baseball for a decade now, if not the very best. There’s no sign of that slowing down on a rate basis. Before his season was cut short last year, he was hitting .333/.466/.624, producing an incredible wRC+ of 190, a couple ticks above his career high of 188.
In terms of his work in center, there are possible signs of decline. DRS and UZR both gave him negative marks in each of the past three seasons. Statcast’s OAA is a bit more favorable, giving him -2 in 2019 but +1 in 2020 and 2021. Marsh just made his MLB debut last year and has only played 70 games, so small sample caveats apply here, but his numbers were -3 DRS, +0.9 UZR and +2 OAA. Perhaps the switch would give the club the double advantage of keeping Trout healthy and finding out if Marsh can provide quality center field defense over a larger sample.
Elsewhere on the diamond, Maddon says that the shortstop position is going to be an open battle between Andrew Velazquez, Tyler Wade, Luis Rengifo and David Fletcher, but that Velazquez is the favorite right now. (Twitter link from Sam Blum of The Athletic.) The 27-year-old Velazquez only has 96 games of MLB experience thus far in his career, producing a tepid batting line of .184/.249/.276. He fared much better in Triple-A last year, but a team with designs on competing would surely want a more proven option. However, even though Spring Training is gearing up, there’s much offseason business still ongoing due to the lockout, meaning there’s still time for the club to make an addition to their middle infield group.
As for Maddon himself, he’s entering the final guaranteed year of his contract. Mike DiGiovanna of the Los Angeles Times relays that Maddon says he has not been approached about an extension, though he would love to sign one. Although this is the last guaranteed year on the deal, Bob Nightengale of USA Today reports that the club actually has a $4MM option for Maddon’s services in 2023, which comes with a $1MM buyout. That means the urgency to get an extension done might not actually be so high for the club.
Moving on to Maddon’s staff, it was reported in January that former bench coach Mike Gallego would be sticking around in some capacity, though his role was undefined. Now Blum relays that Gallego’s title will be Major League field coordinator. The club still hasn’t announced a first base coach, though it’s unclear if that’s related to the Adam Eaton situation. It was reported in January that Eaton was considering retiring and taking a coaching position with the Angels, though he was still a member of the MLBPA and unable to discuss the opportunity during the lockout.
The more Maddon manages, the more overrated he appears.
We’ll find out the same with Kevin Cash if he moves on from the Rays. Their managers fit their system. Remove them from the Rays Way and they become less…interesting.
You just love Joe don’t you?
So if we don’t play Willie Mays, or Mickey Mantle or Joe Dimaggio in CF, we can elongate their life in playing baseball? I no longer like the position baseball takes these days. Put them on the bench & DH them? More longevity, no loyalty, & we can guarantee a stoppage or strike in a couple of years. I’m not sure I like BB any longer.
Mays, Mantle, and Dimaggio were not good CF’s their later years, and in fact did play some other positions at times.
It would have been better if MLB had a DH and/or they have been moved to a corner earlier. There would have been no shame in it. Fact is that they did hurt their teams on D in the last half of their careers.
Curly,
Take time out from getting slapped by Moe and read the article. CF is a more demanding position.
I’m all for keeping Trout on the field longer. When Trout came up Tori hunter moved from /cf to one of the corner OF position.
For whatever reason, the Angels have had some tremendous CFs in the relatively short history. Fred Lynn, Gary Pettis, Devon White, Jim Edmonds, Darin Erstad, Torii Hunter, and Mike Trout. I would think the Angels would leave Trout in CF for at least one more season. Platoon Marsh and Upton based on Lefty/Righty pitcher and have Marsh relieve Trout or Adell on occasion.
I don’t like any of the options at SS. I would the Angels to make a trade for Ha Seong Kim. Even though he hasn’t shown to hit for a solid average. He has shown some pop and has a good glove. At $7M per year, he would seem to be affordable. With Tatis and Cronenworth in place, I would think the Padres can free up some salary.
You forgot Ken Berry and Rick Miller. The Angels need a shortstop. It’s not a “could use” a shortstop, they need one.
In 1965, the Yankees moved Mantle to left field, and he made 106 starts. In 1966 they moved him back to center, and he played in only 97 games total, 93 in center and 4 in left. He then played 1b in 1967 and 1968, making 130 starts at 1b in ’67 and 129 starts at 1b in ’68. I doubt very much that they could have gotten that much playing time out of him in those last two years if they continued to try to play him in center.
Oh yes. DH, which stands for dead heads, people who no longer have any use in the field, & can barely run the bases. Pretty soon you’ll have players serving snacks & cocktails for millenniums who live off the govt. & can be found in Mommy & daddy’s basement.
When I played sports you played until you dropped, gave it you’re all. Not now, sit on the bench & let someone half of your ability sub.
dh position is used to rest some fielders around more than used for an old fat guys extending his career.
Hey Winslow Leach, read about the stooges. Moe & Shemp were terrified of Curly in real life. All 3 were brothers. Now you can have a whole army of players on the field, because we wouldn’t want anyone to feel left out. Back in the day, you had a limit of players on the team & that was it. Now we have the MLBPA & a player has to wipe you clean & get paid. I think we just agree to disagree.
Back in the day, you had 25 man rosters (which was instituted in 1914). Now you have 26 man rosters. Yep, huge difference, can’t argue with your logic.
Do you remember the 24 man roster?
Yes, the 24 man roster was instituted in 1977. Back in the days of DiMaggio and Mantle, which I believe is what Curly was talking about, the roster was 25 and had been since 1914.
1986.
Well, it was an evolution. In 1977, a rule was instituted that teams had to carry a minimum of 24 players, with the maximum roster number still being 25. So, in theory beginning in 1977, teams could have only a 24 man roster. However, teams continued to carry 25 until 1986, when the decision was made to carry only the minimum 24, and the players sued.
Thanks for the info. Being an Angel fan, I remember how valuable many of us thought how valuable Darrel Miller would be,
Big Papi sends his regards.
Curly what the hell does that have to do with Trout no longer playing CF and moving to a corner outfield slot to extend his career. And what does the size of the roster have to do with anyone on the field?
You can only field 9 players no matter the size of the roster. Wow 2 more players BIG difference.
I know all about the 3Stooges.. No need to school me on them.
Seems you don’t agree with anyone about anything on here.
or Jorge Fabergas. We used to call him “Outofgas”
Good lord, the guy has an AL Pennant and a World Series ring! And he won the 1st WS for the Cubs in over 100 years!
Yeah. He’s an idiot.
He got a team their first ring in more than 100 years and routinely had the Rays in the playoffs after years of being awful prior to that. His “struggles” in Anaheim are from the same thing that held the previous managers back: a meddlesome owner who wants splashy marketable stars at positions they don’t need while repeatedly refusing to open his wallet for starting pitching. It’s hard for Madden to manage a pitching staff when the roster is getting filled with guys he can’t rely on.
^^^ Not a real cubs fan
How so? Velasquez is going to be the starting shortstop and that is Maddon’s fault? Bizarre logic. The Angels set a record last year for the most injuries and Maddon still managed to take a team loaded with triple-A and fringe players to nearly .500.
Just you sound bitter because Joe left the Cubs for the Halos. You need to get over it. Joe has.
The Angels lost Trout, Rendon, and Upton to injury. They also cut Pujols. That is basically $120M loss from their $180M payroll. At $60M payroll, they were basically the Orioles. Not much a manager can do when he doesn;t have the tools to do the job. The Angels won 77 games, which is pretty amazing considering they are missing at least 15 wins from injury.
Maddon has a WS Ring while managing a team no name tampa.
If you’re having a medical emergency, please dial 911
So we’re not doing anything els well this team will suck again
Eh, maybe. But a healthy Trout, Rendon, progress by Marsh and Adell, and what can’t be a worse pitching staff should make them much better. Plus the 2 additional wild cards out there. And the hot stove is still lit!
It’s remarkable listening to Angel management– it’s like listening radio Moscow spin everything they do and don’t do. Signing Suzuki– there was no other choice in the entire game of baseball. Our shortstop is going to be an all field no hit guy with almost zero experience. We have not come close to addressing our lack of starting pitching and relief corps, and we need a 4th outfielder. We are ready to compete for fourth place AGAIN– and are told next year will be the year when Upton’s contract comes off the books. Sad.
We have 4 outfielders
Trout, Upton, Marsh, Adell…. Have Ward as well.
Added Syndergaard and Lorenzen.. now I would like another but that’s not “nothing”
They will always blame it on Moreno.
I blame it on (more)Rio.
Sadly. Another losing season is in store.
There is one huge hole on this team and a couple of question marks. With Canning, Detmers and Bachman in AAA. I think the starting rotation is less of a question than most, but Shortstop and another bullpen arm could have been addressed and they were not. Epic fail.
We still have time to address it. Opening Day is April 7the
I wasn’t all that worried until this column came out.
Speaking of Canning, why hasn’t he been traded? He has bo role on this team and never will.
It’s maddening (no pun). Arte/Perry have 12-20 WAR between 5 players on their roster (trout, Ohtani, rendon, Walsh and stassi). The the fact that they are not going all in, especially with Sho on a rookie deal and are using the “sustainable franchise” excuse disqualifies Arte as a serious owner. Even if we manage to make the playoffs and make a run, the Idea that we’re betting on talent to make a jump with development (while staying under budget) would make any success incidental. No matter outcome this is a strategy built around a cheap owner who doesn’t care if it means he needs to make a risky investment. I love this team, but Arte is a cancer and the most operative reason this franchise has been marred in mediocrity for the better part of a decade.
Editors note: His inaccessibility to the press amid controversy also makes him an embarrassing steward of the team, in addition to being a short term thinker in how to grow the teams revenue and success.
In a sentence, he is a marketer with little interest in being an operator and he is the last to see his shortcomings for what they are.
This is rather unfair. Would you rather be a Pirates fan? A’s fan? He has a top 10 payroll every year, which wasn’t the case under Disney or Autry. The team in 61 years has NEVER had more success than under Arte. You can argue their moves but saying he’s cheap is not supported by the evidence.
I don’t know what history book you’re looking at to say we’ve never had more success than under Arte– you’re not even close. They won the championship the year before Arte took over. Moreno has managed to ruin our minor league system, butcher our scouting, and we haven’t made the playoffs or even had a .500 record in seven years– what are you talking about? Right now our team is not even a .500 team– no way, not with the improvements of the overall league and division. If the A’s tear it all down we will come ahead of them, but the Rangers have closed the gap, and both Seattle and Houston are better– and neither is done adding to their rosters.
Moreno has spent about 40 million this off-season yet you still blame Arte. If a GM gets 40 million bucks, it’s his job to do better than this.
In addition to Loup. He needed two BP guys, he blew the wad on one. He needed a shortstop and could get by with one starter, he blew the wad on Thor and Lorenzen.
But it’s always Moreno’s fault. After Minasian horrible off-season last year, why do you think it’s Moreno’s fault?
I think Minasian is an idiot because he’s done imbecilic things.
The Angels were in the playoff from 2014 to 2019 under Arte.
When he took over he signed in the Winter of 2003
Colon
Escobar
Guillen
Guerreo.
Arte has spent the money. Wilson,Pujols,Hamilton,Hunter, Locked up Trout.
And paid to get Ohtani.
Yeah I know I know it’s been the pitching.
Carllafong, they have been to the playoffs more under Arte than any other owner. Autry had 79, 82, 86, Disney has the 02 title. Arte has invested in many players and some have worked out, like Colon and Vlad, and the others we all know about. It’s not a problem of spending.
he is spending only to get 3 million fans per year. he doesn’t seem to have an ability to know he makes whole lot more going to the post season.
It’s a pun whether you like it or not!
angels have $40 mil under new threshold but el codo seems to be sticking to old one. boycott arte if he did!
Inexcusable to not add a shortstop or real second baseman.
Pick up Villar. Let him rotate around, mostly play second, bring in Velasquez fir defense late in games.
Serious question: What are the chances that Trout’s hip issues become recurring/nagging to the point that the back half of his career is a slog to get through and he becomes someone we all know can only be counted on for maybe 100 games a season and when he’s healthy he’s the best, but he is basically never healthy?
there is no hip issue. it was a calf injury that has been fixed.
His other injuries were a tumor. A broken thumb, and his best friend/brother-in-law dying. Not really worried they’ll happen again. Only an idiot would call Trout soft.
This injury is different.
Halo11- Tumor? When was this?
Did you remember the Fregosi injury. Fregosi had a tumor removed from his foot and was never the same player. Trout had a tumor removed from his foot, and hardly anyone remembers it.
The end of 2016. Modern medicine
I didn’t call him soft or injury prone. I said *what if* his *calf injury* becomes a nagging issue that keeps him from playing full seasons and he misses significant portions of most seasons. *What if*
I could also say *What if* he plays in 162 games a year and hits 60 Home Runs every season.
Sorry, Don’t remember it. You’re the only one that has said anything about it. Here or anywhere else.
Cool. He’s not soft. This soft tissue injury is troubling. I wasn’t worried about the other injuries.
It is interesting no one else remembers. Google trout foot surgery.
I just looked it up. I remember it now. .
Serious answer. It’s a soft tissue issue that caught everyone off guard. The bad news is that it’s a soft tissue issue and those often reoccur. The good new is now they are paying attention. So your guess is as good as anyones.
Key word here is ‘soft’.
Rendon had the hip issues
Rendon has the hip issue, not Trout.
I have zero confidence in Perry. None. Even a blind man knows the Angels need 1 more RP and a shortstop.
Sorry, you just don’t seem very bright to me. If you think the Angels are done off this report, I got some swamp land in downtown Phoenix I’d like to sell you.
Fair enough. And if you think I’m dumb, then everyone else must be a complete moron.
These quotes are troubling. And Perry is the guy that signed Claudio and Guerra and was finished with the bullpen. I’m not sure how anyone can have confidence in this guy.
First, since Perry got in the office he has done all he can to improve the pitching. All last years draft picks were pitchers and a lot of his minor league and trade acquisitions were pitchers. I like it…fans have been saying it for years and seems he knows or listened. He also has been going for short term signings and not mid or long terms ones. Dude seems to have a plan and is sticking to it. And lets be honest here. Just like when Trout came along and moved Torii over to right…it was bound to happen to Trout. If it means he is healthy and playing more games then shoot…let the kids with the legs and stamina play center. As long as Mikey is hitting 2nd, 3rd or 4th in the line up every night then we have a chance to win a lot of games. Then add Jared, Tony and Shotime? Yeah…the offense should be ok. I don’t feel confident about SS tho. If you want to be a contender then you gotta fix that. So I’d like to see them get a 2nd or 3rd tier FA who can play SS or 2nd and let Fletch do his thing where they need him. So that and another arm or two and I think we are ready to get this thing started…let’s go Halos!
I like all of this
Perry could sign Claudio and Guerra, then say the bullpen is ready and people would still have confidence in him…oh wait..
Free agency re-opened a couple days ago. Relax.
even though there are a few very good relief pitchers many have been being scooped up by other teams. we need, at the least, one late inning relief pitcher.. is the team ready to pick one up? i doubt it!
Cook, that’s very fair but this link in troubling. Just the Angels even talking about these options at short is very scary.
I finally got to draft Trout last year. Oh well. I hope he is healthy all this year even not on my team.
The halos will score Ohtani, Trot and Rendon is killer the problem is they can’t stop anybody. Ohtani, God bless him is the best pitcher on the staff and it takes away from his massive bat.
Trout has already been considered one of the best hitters in baseball for a decade now, if not the very best. There’s no sign of that slowing down on a rate basis.
===============================================
Trout has slowed down in a lot of categories. GB/FB is down, K/W is down. speed is down. Tis is down from GOAT levels, but if you normalized his BABIP and HR/FB last year, the OPS would be alarming.
isn’t it great his k/w is down?
That shortstop situation… woof.
I don’t know why Maddon mentioned Fletcher as a SS contender. Leave him at 2B. Unless you’re getting a better 2nd baseman.
Can any of these guys pitch?? Absolutely you need defensive help up the middle, but if your pitchers can’t get through 4 innings, what’s the point?
Perry has a LOT of work to do in a little amount of time.
Regarding Maddon, Cubs fans are “special”.
I’ll leave it at that.
Regarding Trout, the Angels front office/ownership has been criminally inept in terms of building around a generational player. All they had to do was sign a couple of ace-like pitchers. Fill the rest of the roster with replacement level guys. would have been sufficient for a couple of WS appearances by now.
Trout needs to play 150 games for the Angels to be competitive….. if that means he’s a DH …. So be it
Ohtani is the DH.
Angels need to trade Upton Adams and some other prospect for Castillo.
Sign Kenley Jansen at all costs to be Iglesias setup man.
Marsh, Adell and Trout in the outfield. SS would be the only hole to fill in spring training.
We would be legit contenders.
Signs Freeman, Walsh moves to left field. Marsh/ Adell platoon right field.
#MakeAngelsGreatAgain.
1. Upton OF
2. Ohtani DH
3. Trout OF
4. Rendon 3B
5. Walsh 1B
6. Adell/Marsh OF
7. Stassi C
8. SS
9. Fletcher 2B
People are talking about Adell in RF. Has he been named our starter in RF? That’s as troubling as Rengifo et al at SS.
McHugh and Tepera are still available. I’m not overly optimistic, but either one would be a huge addition to the Angels BP.
Hi Angels Fans…others following this Angels thread…why? 🙂
I have been on the sidelines for the last number of years reading posts about the Angels. It’s been frustrating for sure, when the the BASICS of good starting pitching just falls so far off the mark of a contender. I am hopeful (again) that this will be the year. I think Brandon Marsh showed real promise and that Trout can benefit by moving to a corner. Torii set the example by moving from CF when Trout came up.
I am excited about the shortstop competetion. There is some real talent and the hunger and drive needed to win the job can really add that spark to the team. If it is Fletch, then the new second baseman could be that, though I really like Fletch at 2B.
I’m glad the Angels have the option on Maddon. It’s a good place to be for the club as he will have accountabilty.
I feel pretty good about this team and like that some fresh talent will get a chance. I’m excited to see Thor and hope you can match his prior best. If so, he stands to rake next year so huge incentives for him. Assuming that the Angels stay quiet on the major transaction front before the season, the team is capable to go deep if the proven stay healthy and the not as accomplished play their tails off and exceed past performance. A deal or two before the trade deadline might be necessary, and I’m putting my bets on the Halos finally being buyers again come June.
-kevin
Trout won’t benefit from moving to a corner outfield spot. That isn’t what caused his injury last season. He could use better defense around him though so he doesn’t have to cover so much of the outfield. Hopefully that’s not a problem this season.
Why does it matter, the Angels are hot garbage and they will continue to be trash until Arte Moreno is gone. They don’t deserve Mike Trout, Rendon, and Ohtani. Any other team with that core would have already gone all in and acquired/developed legit pitching. It makes absolutely zero sense that their owner does not see the importance in top tier pitching, they’re a lost cause.
Arte is afraid to spend money on pitchers because they might need Tommy John surgery but Rendon hasn’t done much so far. He missed most of last season. He needs to stop being a cheapskate on pitching. And hire a real pitching coach too.
Arte just not going put the money out there anymore
Center field isn’t that demanding. All outfield positions are. Trout can handle center field. His defense was down in 2020 because he had Adell on one side and Upton on the other, at least part of the time. Any outfield position is demanding if you have to handle your position and the one next to you.