The Angels have hung around the Wild Card mix, exceeding most expectations. Their -57 run differential is fourth-worst in the American League, but they're within two games of .500 and only three games out of a playoff spot. While this still doesn't look like a good team, they may have played well enough to convince the front office to add in hopes of snapping the game's longest active postseason drought.
Record: 45-48 (3.4% playoff odds, per FanGraphs)
Other series entries: Rockies, Giants, Phillies, Pirates, Astros, Marlins, Athletics, Orioles, White Sox, Nationals, Cubs, Rays, Dodgers, Braves, Yankees
Buy Mode
Potential needs: Infielder, mid-rotation starter, high-leverage relief, left-handed bat
The Angels are not going to add a full-time designated hitter, where they have Mike Trout playing every day. Zach Neto and Nolan Schanuel have shortstop and first base secured, respectively. They're probably not going to add a catcher, though they could give more frequent playing time to Travis d'Arnaud in place of the struggling Logan O'Hoppe.
Beyond that, there are a lot of different ways to deepen the position player mix. The outfield is superficially set. Taylor Ward, Jo Adell and Jorge Soler are playing every day from left to right. Ward leads the team with 21 home runs, while Adell has been on a tear lately and is the team's most productive hitter overall. Soler is having a poor season, though, and there's an arguable redundancy to the Angels' current outfield.
All three players hit right-handed (as does Trout, who will be eased back into outfield work following the All-Star break, per Jeff Fletcher of the Orange County Register). Each of Ward, Adell and Soler are power bats with questionable on-base skills. Adell is a below-average defensive center fielder. He's playing there out of necessity and fits better in a corner. Maybe that's not something that can be addressed this summer, but they'd ideally have a better defender in center and find room for Adell in left or right field.
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We need to sell sell sell. Trade for the future, and sell the team.
Your so wrong. There not selling the team. Keep dreaming.
You don’t want Arte to sell the team? You can’t be a real Angels fan. The only thing you’re right about is that he won’t.
Not selling would push this team even further back and that’s the last thing we want.
They didn’t go on full ‘sell’ mode last year (by holding onto Ward, Anderson, Rengifo), and they’re much improved as a team 12 months later.
They need to be smart about their trades. If there are opportunities to ‘buy’ by acquiring players under team control (or under contract), then go for it. At the same time, if they get offered strong packages for Anderson, Jansen, et al then they need to strongly consider those deals.
But they shouldn’t ‘sell’ for the sake of selling. Last year they were being low-balled for Ward, and I’m glad that Perry didn’t just give him away.
They are much improve compared to the worse team in Angel history, but they are still in very bad shape.
Their run differential has them at 40 and 53. Which is still a 92 loss team. In spite of high picks, the minor leagues is a mess with very little help on the way and there are no high upside players on the major league roster.
It needs a new owner so everyone in management can be fired.
I agree we need to be smart about trades and make sure we’re not being lowballed. Just as long as we don’t buy. Depleting our farm system even more is the last thing we need.
There not selling the team
The key question – how many crazy “Trout to the Phils” trade proposals will wind up in this thread?
I heard from a friend, who has an uncle that’s best friends with one of the athletic trainers for the Angels, that he has it on good authority that Trout to the Phillies is all but guaranteed!
That’s a stupid lie. Trout is a. Angels for life and hes not going anywhere
Isn’t it funny how a bit of gentle sarcasm managed to create a sense of outrage and concern downstream on this thread? This explains how a Saturday Night Live sketch ended up being taken seriously by a large cross section of our country and we ended up with an orangeade toddler rampaging around throwing tantrums, but with real-life consequences.
Grab America by the ****y.
None. Teoit has no trade clause a d hes an angel for life.
I would like to see Trout traded to the Red Sox just for the opportunity to see millions of Yankee fans’ heads explode. The Red Sox could easily put together a fair package given the Angels needs.
I predict zero Yankees fans heads would explode. They would possibly end up with some of their beverage spraying out their nose or potentially develop the dreaded “oblique strain” from laughing so hard, but no head explosions.
Nobody wants that contract.
Wrong. Trout is an angels for life and has a no trade clause. Get that comment out of your head. Hes not going anywhere
whyhayzee: “The Red Sox could easily put together a fair package given the Angels needs.”
That’s not the point. Trout is making $37M per season for the next five years. Could a change of scenery (especially a team that wants to win) lead him to bounce back somewhat? Absolutely. But, given his recent injury woes, what team would take that chance? Trout still sells tickets, so I’d be surprised to see Moreno eat a significant part of his contract. So, odds are that Trout will play out his days with the Halos.
Dodgers could easily eat the money & unload some mid-level prospects. And it’d just be an extra half-hour to 45 minute drive to downtown….
Neto, Trout, and Adell are the only players I enjoy watching.
I miss Ben Joyce. Worst mistake I made was getting a shirt with his name and number on it for my grandma and myself. He got hurt the next day…
You forget O’Hoppe.
Jerry Hairstons Jr’s Toupee: “Dodgers could easily eat the money & unload some mid-level prospects. And it’d just be an extra half-hour to 45 minute drive to downtown….”
I take some satisfaction seeing how Arte ‘Mr. Marketing’ Moreno has to watch Ohtani’s marketing numbers as a Dodger. The jersey sales in Japan alone probably keep him up at night.
Would Moreno let Mr. Trout go to the blue team? I don’t know! It would practically kill him if Trout did well. But he does love his money and the move would save him over $150M. Poor greedy man would have quite a tough decision to make.
Trout says the right things (as always) and said he doesn’t plan on going anywhere. But after zero playoff game wins in his entire career as an Angel, he’s got to at least be tempted.
I don’t think even the Dodgers would risk it at this point. But it’s fun to think about.
Jose Soriano
I like Schanuel too.
Car Dr, I did not. O’Hoppe is a horrible defensive catcher, strike out at incredibly high rate ans doesn’t do anything other than hit HRs.
In that way, to many, that describes Adell prior to June.
I get why people like Schanuel, But he’s a pretty ordinary firstbaseman.
Halofan – I hear you. But remember – the kid is 25 years old. Hitting wise, yes power is the carrying tool and it is superior for a catcher. He has room when it comes to contact and plate approach for sure, but given the age and work ethic he probably makes gains there.
On D, he is incredibly athletic. Good arm and tools, but he has really struggled with framing and more recently blocking. That will definitely improve, and at least when he was with Philly he was already being touted as a kid that would turn into a good game manager and pitcher whisperer over time.
You have a good one that will get better, even with the growing pains.
That’s a lot of hair product for someone who expects to be taken seriously.
Ryan McMahon makes a lot of sense, but I am not sure the Angels can outbid for him. Anderson and Rengifo need to be traded for whatever help we can get. Would love to see Littel or Keller out there instead of Kochanowicz. Next year makes sense to go over the luxury tax on pitching with Rendon’s contract coming off the following year as I expect that Anderson and Hendricks will not be there. Solor needs to be replaced, but that can’t happen unless his production improves a lot. The other key question is who the coach will be?
Blah blah blah, sell the team is a tired take on every Angels post. If he ever does sell I hope Arte sells to someone like Fisher, Reinsdorf, Moffit, or Nutting, that way they can continue with the lame comments that they enjoy so much.
Angels haven’t made a trade with the Phillies in a few months so expect that to probably change