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.
Angels could very well sneak in and claim a wild card slot. No wholesale selling. Need a starter.
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.
That run differential is misleading. In several of their losses they have been blown out. They lead baseball in one run victories at 18-11.
Angels revive
That run differential is misleading. In several of their losses they have been blown out.
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Their Py is 41-53. If they had split their one-run games, they’d be 42.5-51.5. That might be slightly more realistic than their Py, but still not good.
I doubt it’s misleading, they have won a lot of close games. Their good fortune in those games will likely change.
Joe, why would you assume a bad team would split one one games? I really don’t know, but I don’t think you can expect a poor team to split on run games.
Exactly. They’ve been winning close games with just enough pitching and just enough hitting at just the right time. Nothing wrong with that but the sustaining talent isn’t there.
At least they are showing some grit – a component sorely missing the past few years. They need to take advantage of a very mediocre AL this year – the WC slots are up for grabs. A hot streak would go a long way but the rotation and the hitting up and down the line-up just aren’t there.
As for the “young nucleus” – no. Halo fans need to get it out of their heads that O’Hoppe is a budding star. When he gets his K-rate below 30%, I’ll listen. Neto is it. He’s a ballplayer’s ballplayer with some attitude. Schanuel is a decent ballplayer but more of a Wally Joyner-Light. Adell is streaky – he was clearly taking the best hacks on the team until the past couple of games – and could still develop. His D has imoroved but that’s not saying much as he was the worst young big league OF I’ve seen in my 60 – yes, 60 – years as a Halo fan when he was first called up. As for young arms, both SP and RP – I don’t see anything special down through AA.
Finally, if Minasian – who is clueless/awful – continues to sign guys like Soler, Bour, Anderson, et al., we are doomed in perpetuity. Minasian has to go. Period. Start there.
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.
@orange2001. They missed on rengifo. He’s a free agent and having a terrible year. I say go nuclear and even sell kikuchi. We need some depth. Its definitely arte’s strategy to stay around .500. Im definitely expecting nothing probably make no moves and keep the expiring contracts.
Kikuchi signed a three-year deal; he’s not getting traded. If a starting pitcher gets dealt, it will be Anderson.
@orange2001. It could be a raisel situation, and perry re-signed and traded him. His deal isn’t bad he would get interest. I get what your saying i doubt anything big happens. Probably kenley and Anderson.
In the case of Raisel, if you remember, it was strictly a salary dump. They didn’t receive any prospects. Being that the team is hovering around .500, I seriously doubt they’ll dump Kikuchi for the sake of unloading salary – then what was the point of signing him?
More than likely they’ll stand pat. Maybe pick up a low-end veteran reliever or a bench piece (to show they’re ’trying’). I don’t think they’ll trade Anderson, Jansen, or Ward but wouldn’t be shocked either if they did for a decent return package (similar to last season Estevez and Garcia trades).
Bottom line, the team isn’t going anywhere this season and would be a bad move to trade for rental pieces. They’ll finish 75-80 wins.
@orange2001. Yeah we got tucker Davidson, but we gave up noe ramirez to get him. Im not saying he would be a dump. Most likely it will just be Anderson and Jansen, but they can use 15-18 prospects, and they might as well use the rule 5 draft instead getting guys off waivers.
orange2001
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.
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Those three have a combined 2.5 bWAR. Could they not have picked up some journeymen FAs to accomplish the same for the $27M they are getting paid.?
Key words were redundancies and improving the floor. All reasonably possible. The best piece is Ward. I wouldn’t move him until you line pieces up. I think you can find a home for Anderson and eat some $. I think KC could be a match centered around Lugo and Ward. Their OF offense is challenged. It’ll take more of course but getting Keller may be more difficult from Pit. OF, I like Nootbar or Friedl. Then you need to find a good arm. Seranthony would be pricey. Then you need to consider moving off of Soler for more contact. Too many feast or famine guys. DH Darnoud more with Trout as he gets back to the field. There are options.
@omarj. They have pieces to move heck even kikuchi his contract isn’t crazy. They probably won’t and it wouldn’t surprise me if they keep Anderson for a playoff push that won’t happen. I would like them to sell off and dip into free agency next year. They can use 12- 15 prospects coming back and use free agency like Jansen type pickups. Players that need a home.
This org has a bad rep and will have to pay a loser tax because of it. I like Kikuchis deal and if they suck next year, okay maybe move him. Anderson is on an expiring. This team is filled with backend rotation guys and that doesn’t serve well for a push towards wildcard. Jansen is willing to stay and unless they’re out of it, I’d say ride it out. They need a plan because if they don’t gain ground in July they’ll give up. I’d at least add a BP arm which you can move again. They need a lot to go right, but if they finish a few games out of a playoff birth would you rather them tank and they have to restart next season or add to a team that was close? That’s kinda what’s going on right now
There not selling the team
You know why Arte Moreno isn’t selling the team because it’s a huge tax ride off for his other investment. He just bought 22 acres undeveloped land in Arizona.
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
The Angels would have to eat at least half of Trout contract Arte coconut Moreno should have traded Shohei 5 or 6 top prospects :p
Val4christ23
That’s a stupid lie.
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You seriously need some sarcasm training.
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.
He’s interesting. I keep hoping for Mike Hargrove, but people want to turn into something he’s not.
People need to be satisfied who he is.
You enjoy Adell circa June 2025. Before that you were dooming his career like you do everything else Angels on here and on Reddit.
I was dooming his career? You must be new here or you’re not very bright.
Does anyone here want to set this lunatic straight? Without question, I’ve bee the biggest Adell supporter on this board.
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
The Angels have a terrific young nucleus plus 2025 second round pick.
Need to build for 2026/2027!!
Sell today for the sake of tomorrow
They have a great young nucleus? Really? Thanks for the laugh.
Angels have too many one run wins it’s not sustainable
Any team with Gustavo Campero playing regularly in RF is not a contender. The Angels need to be sellers.
This is temporary until Trout is back out there and then it’s Soler or d’Arnoud / O’Hoppe at DH. More OF depth would be nice but the biggest deficit is pitching. If they could find a good starter and one more reliever whether in the minors or through a trade, and Stevenson comes back healthy then I see this team playing meaningul games until the end of Sept and maybe into the playoffs.
Regularly? He’s only started 3 games this season.
He has started 8 games in RF and 1 in LF.
Just my opinion as a RS, but the worst thing you can do is be on the fringes of a playoff race, and then hang onto tradeable assets. We did that in 2022 and 2023, and finished 5th with 78 wins.
This gm is trash he done nothing except get Atlanta players that suck . They need to clean house get rid of AAA player on this team stop get worthless players that can’t help themselves or the team over this gm and the owner they don’t want Winn