The Angels enter camp with an opening in center field for the first time in more than a decade. Mike Trout is moving to right field to reduce his defensive workload and hopefully keep him healthy. That leaves a camp battle for the center field vacancy.
Center field will primarily be filled by the Mickey Moniak/Jo Adell pairing. They’d projected as the right field tandem had Trout stayed up the middle. Moniak has been the primary fill-in when Trout has gone on the injured list in recent seasons. Adell only has 15 major league starts in center, but he told reporters (including Jeff Fletcher of the Orange County Register) that he’s excited about the opportunity to cover more ground.
Manager Ron Washington said this week that utilityman Luis Rengifo and non-roster invitee Tim Anderson will take some center field reps in camp as well (link via Rhett Bollinger of MLB.com). That’s primarily a means of expanding their versatility rather than an indication that they’re in the mix for regular work on the grass. Anderson has been exclusively a middle infielder, primarily a shortstop, during his professional career. Rengifo has logged a few hundred innings in the corner outfield. His center field experience consists of 22 innings over four games in 2023.
Asked about how they’ll divvy up playing time, Washington indicated that it’ll mostly fall to Moniak and Adell but wouldn’t necessarily be a strict platoon. “I think we’ll just see. We know both of them can play it. And we’re going to really get a good look at Adell down here this spring, where he gets more reps out there. We know Moniak can play it, so we’ll just keep going in Spring Training and see where it shakes out,” the veteran skipper said (via Bollinger).
The lefty-hitting Moniak would get the bulk of playing time if they ran with a simple platoon. He’s probably the best defensive outfielder on the roster and has nearly 1500 career innings in center field. He’s coming off a subpar .219/.266/.380 offensive showing, though. Moniak has a .272 on-base percentage in 908 career plate appearances. The righty-hitting Adell has similar on-base concerns. He’s a career .211/.268/.381 hitter in more than 1000 trips to the plate. Adell popped 20 homers last season but did so with a .280 OBP that landed in the bottom 15 among players with at least 400 PAs.
Rengifo has a much stronger offensive track record. The switch-hitter put up a .300/.347/.417 slash with six homers and 24 stolen bases in 78 games last season. A wrist injury required season-ending surgery in early August, but that marked Rengifo’s second straight impressive year on a rate basis. The bat will keep him in the lineup. The Halos have never really settled on his defensive home, bouncing him around the infield.
Washington told Bollinger and other reporters that he considers third base to be Rengifo’s best position, but free agent signee Yoán Moncada is going to get a lot of run there. Rengifo projects as the season-opening second baseman, but it might not be long before Christian Moore pushes for that job.
Last year’s eighth overall pick, Moore is a bat-first second baseman who hit 34 homers during his draft year at Tennessee. He raked at a .347/.400/.584 clip in 25 games between High-A and Double-A after the draft. While Moore is unlikely to break camp with that little professional experience, the Angels have pushed their top college draftees extremely quickly. Nolan Schanuel was up within a couple months of being drafted. Zach Neto debuted midway through April the year after his selection.
If Moore follows a similar timeline, Rengifo’s center field work this spring could be significant. Depending on Moncada’s performance, third base and center field would be the easiest places to move Rengifo to open the keystone midseason. Rengifo is making $5.95MM for his final arbitration year. He’d be one of the Halos’ better deadline trade chips if they don’t stick in the playoff race.
While I’m sure the Angels are happy with Trout’s moving to RF you have to think that they would’ve been happier if they decided that in November when they could have been prepared to add a Center Fielder
Adell’s natural position is CF
I guess easier to swallow Adell’s hitting woes if he can play standout CF ala Kiermeier.
Adell can’t hit.
How many chances does he get? Likely a product of weak farm system.
Adell should have been traded two seasons ago. It would have been good for the Angels and good for his development. Now here we are with a mediocre defender who is a strike out king batting close to .200.
Adell and Moniak are both options in CF, both could be good, both could continue to be middling to subpar. Rengifo in CF is interesting. It’s a good option should both Moniak and Adell fail to produce.
I agree. I gave up on Rengifo a couple years ago until he came around and now I like him. So Anything can happen. I just don’t have much hope that Adell will find the same spark. I think he has a bit more of an ego and might not be as teachable. Just my speculation from things I’ve heard and from watching him.
I liked the Angels acquisition of Mickey Moniak, I thought he was a good fit, he is a SoCal kid, still like his chances to become a good ball player. Adell strikes out a lot, but he’s still young. They should be a serviceable platoon. Nice to have Rengifo ready to replace them if they are both struggling.
A full season of Trout would be a nice gift for the Angels. Looks like Rendon is done, I like Moncada, was a nice sign.
bw – Not only does Adell strike out a ton, he doesn’t get on base. He tries to hit dingers instead of churning singles. He was the same way in the minors which tells me he doesn’t want to learn. The problem is the longer they keep him, the lower his value declines and once he’s out of options, he will have even less value.
The Angel needs are another starter and reliever! Why they haven’t resigned Hunter Strickland is strange as he appeared in 73 games with an era of 3.30. If Rengifo gets off to a strong start and Moncada earns the 3rd base job the Yankees Linlithgow Stroman’s innings so if they trade him to the Angels
Limit Stroman’s inning so his option can’t vest and we could move Rengifo straight up with the Yankees playing down Stroman’s contract to what we owed Rengifo!
This is a win win for everyone and a well rested Stroman could be a #2 or #3 starter on the Angels. Newman backs up all three infield positions as well as Kingery we got from the Phillies! The problem with Rengifo is you can’t trust his glove especially late in games!
We also have Anderson if he makes the team!
Because they are poorly run?
What could possibly go wrong there?
@halos11fan he might lead the league in giving up the most inside the park homeruns when he dives early and it bounce into the wall. Im guessing they wanted a centerfielder in a trade.
I’m more afraid of him running into someone. In 2003, Kennedy ran into Salmon and pretty much ended his career.
Rengifo doesn’t seem like the brightest bulb the chandelier, it might be a little dangerous him playing air traffic controller.
Just bring up Moore and trade Rengifo to the Yanks, problem solved. 😉
Yup, but not until july.
@plugnplay. This will probably increase his trade value. I know last year Brian Kenny looked at his defensive metrics and said he was a elite defender. That’s the reason why stopped looking into that because he’s terrible.
I think this Rengifo need means they think Moore has a shot at making the team out of the gate. Most would say no way it’s too early, then you see the Angels did it with Neto last season. Say what you want about that approach, but oddly enough he was their best player.
I just feel like they’ll delay Moore’s service time, so it’s a little separated by there other young players. So he won’t be called up till atleast May. No matter how well he does in spring.they actually have other options for a month.
Rengifo in center will not end well. He’s the worst right fielder I’ve ever seen live. Absolutely butchers baseballs out there.
@draker. Agreed its going to be scary. Hopefully it’s only 10 games. Rengifo always dives way to early and causes doubles in the infield. He’s going to do that in center and cause a inside the park homerun.
He’s played 25 games in right field
31 games -7 DRS
Wash says Rengifo’s best position is 3rd? Why get Moncada?
Based on DRS Rengifo’s best position is DH.
They need depth at that corner.
I bet Moore forces their hand this spring and wins 2nd base job=Trade rengoofo for pitching or a package for Roberts to play center. I do think Adell could blossom this year.
@bigA. They honestly might not need pitching. I would say third base or centerfield is more important, because they don’t have anyone in the minors. Pitching we have 4-5 guys that might turn into a butterfly.
@ron_karate. It definitely is. Moancada is probably going to play second with newman. Newman is allergic to third base for whatever reason. Yoan is still a good player. he just can’t stay healthy. This is probably to keep moore in the minors til the deadline.
Switch hitters that offer defensive versatility, steal bases and hit are few and far between. If Rengifo stays healthy and puts up solid first half numbers, he will be coveted by every contender.
Yankees are definitely salivating at the possibility of getting him at the deadline lol
Rengifo can hit. He’s proven that. He does make a difference in the line up. His defense was awful but in fairness you could see the improvement over the course of the year. I like him at 3rd more than 2nd base but like I said, he looked better as time progressed at 2nd. He did get better, or more tolerable. Adell has a ways to go to play center based on what I saw from him in RF. I think the coaching staff is big on Adell so he’s going to get his opportunities. Moniak is very natural, a better option than Trout defensively in center in my opinion. It’s just unfortunate that he can’t get his bat to ball skills down or he would be a good player. We’ll see how it all shakes out.
@oldhalo. Maybe Moniak makes the much needed progression this spring!. This is the first camp he hasn’t had Trout in front of him on the depth chart.
My assumption is the Angels, and Trout, knew months ago that Trout was moving to a corner OF spot. I would think the Angels advised Moniak of that and hopefully he has time to process and mentally prepare for this spring,
I never pay too much attention to spring numbers. Pitchers are working on things, getting players out is not the priority.
The Angels are going nowhere, CF will work itself out, but it might not be until June.
Lots of guys do lots of things in spring. This means very little.
Adell had a nice second half of the season after ditching his leg kick. If he can hit like that and play a decent CF the job is his.
I agree, there is always “some fielding project” going on at every spring training facility. I am sure the Angels just made it public to keep people from over reacting if he appears out there in a game.
@angels. Yeah it’s probably more a emergency situation if moniak and adell go down in the same game. If something like that happens I’m sure trout will go back to center or even ward could do it for a bit.
@rexhudler. It also seems to be the Angels “MO” for this spring.
Create competition everywhere. With the large number of young players, I think it is a really good strategy, if that is the case.
@angels. Yeah that’s what perry said after he acquired soler. That he’s not building the roster based on one player. Even if it was mostly minor signings definitely have alot depth. Hard to predict who’s playing where.
@rexhudler. I think not being able to predict is a good thing this spring training.
@angels. Agree it’s a good thing. Still have a feeling that schanuel isn’t guaranteed a spot either, because Davis is about the same and can play third base might need that with moancada’s track record.
That and Perry added Kavadas at the deadline then Noda very early in the off season.
He then sent Kavadas to the AFL where he did quite well.
The club is clearly looking for more power at the position.
@helosheavenjj. Yeah I’m starting to think the Alonso rumors were legit. Noda might be another one that can opt out if he doesn’t make the team. Schanuel will have every opportunity to make the team, but it’s definitely more up in the air.
Kavadas has all three option years remaining, Schanuel has never been optioned to the minors so he should have all of his options remaining as well.
I think the Alonso rumors were only to see if they could get him on a short term contract. Obviously nothing tangible ever happened.
I would hope it is Schanuel job to lose. I would bet he, Schanuel, is well aware that he needs to step it up this year.
Noda and Kavadas both not good options.
Will Arte just quit interfering?
@Garry. How is Arte interfering in this situation?
Have you witnessed Rengifo as a RFer? I can’t see anybody else pushing for him to play CF.
How about Perry? How about Wash?
I can see them pushing to somehow and someway find a way to get Rengifo bat in the line up. Right now Rengifo is one of their better and more consistent bats.
Kind of crazy to pin this one on Arte