The Angels crossed one item off their winter to-do list last night, adding some potential rotation help by landing righty Grayson Rodriguez in a trade sending Taylor Ward to the Orioles. There’s still plenty of work to be done. The Halos were known to be seeking at least two starting pitchers this winter, and while Rodriguez technically counts toward that end, he’s coming off a season lost to injury and hasn’t pitched in a big league game since July 2024. He’s said to be healthy now, but even if that’s the case, the Angels can’t simply pencil him in for 30 starts next year.
Anaheim figures to add at least one more starting pitcher, per Rhett Bollinger of MLB.com, who adds that GM Perry Minasian is also on the hunt for upgrades in center field and at third base. A second base addition hasn’t been squarely ruled out, either. Minasian has already suggested that, all else equal, he’d prefer a new bat in the lineup to be left-handed. Following last night’s trade, he also suggested that moving Ward — and his projected $13.7MM salary — could allow the Angels to swim deeper free agent and/or trade waters.
“It’s not only acquiring somebody we feel like can impact the rotation, but freeing up money to maybe get into areas where we wouldn’t have been able to before,” Minasian said. Rodriguez, notably, is not yet arbitration-eligible and will thus make scarcely more than the league minimum in 2026.
At least one prominent name that fits with the Angels has already come off the board; Trent Grisham, the lefty-swinging center fielder, accepted his qualifying offer and will return to the Yankees next season. The free agent market still includes at least a pair of reasonably affordable names to consider in the infield and in center field: Jorge Polanco and Cedric Mullins. Both hit left-handed — Polanco is a switch-hitter — and both ought to be available for annual rates comparable to, if not lower than what Ward might’ve commanded in free agency.
If the Angels look to take a bigger swing, then Japanese star Munetaka Murakami stands as an option at third base, while Cody Bellinger looms as a viable center field candidate. Neither is a perfect fit. Murakami has significant swing-and-miss issues and is viewed as someone who’ll eventually need to move to first base. The Angels’ 27.1% team strikeout rate was already easily the highest in MLB last year. The Rockies (25.9%) were the only other team north of 25%. Bellinger doesn’t come with those same strikeout concerns (just a 13.7% rate in ’25), but he’s also been more of a part-time center fielder in recent years. He hasn’t played center regularly since 2022 with the Dodgers.
The trade market ought to present other opportunities. Boston’s Jarren Duran has plenty of experience in center field, though he’s primarily played left recently in deference to defensive wizard Ceddanne Rafaela. Cardinals infielder Brendan Donovan is no stranger to third base. If the Angels want to follow the Rodriguez mold and add a former top prospect whose stock is down at the moment, someone like D-backs center fielder Alek Thomas or Cardinals third baseman/second baseman Nolan Gorman could likely be had. (Gorman, again, comes with major strikeout concerns, though.)
Whichever path Minasian and his lieutenants opt to pursue, the payroll space should be there. With Ward no longer factoring into next year’s budget, RosterResource projects the Angels for a payroll around $166MM. That’s nearly $50MM shy of last year’s Opening Day mark. They’re also down to one more year of Anthony Rendon’s ill-fated contract. After the 2026 season, the only players guaranteed anything are Mike Trout (signed through 2030) and Yusei Kikuchi (signed only through 2027).
While the Angels’ recent history of long-term deals is checkered at best, there’s room for the club to be aggressive both in terms of offers to free agents and taking on salary in trades. There’s no firm indication yet that they’ll pursue marquee names like Bellinger, Murakami, Alex Bregman, Dylan Cease, Framber Valdez, Tatsuya Imai, etc. — but there’s also no real reason to think they can’t make competitive bids for at least one free agent from that bunch, based on the current state of the payroll.
They probably will look at Harrison Bader for center field. Maybe claim Ramon Urias off waivers for third base.
For CF I choose Harrison Bader who I have watched most recently with the Phillies. Clutch strong defender, speed he has all the tools you want.
For 3B I would look at the Japanese player Okamoto contact hitter also covers 1B.
Kazuma Okamoto would be a clutch signing. But there are cheaper options. Depends on what the Angels want.
Kazuma Okamoto? He’s probably already got a Dodger blue kimono tailored and a sushi roll named after him in the Bronx.
The Dodger Trollies are following him
He was said to be interested in the Angels. The Dodgers Don’t have a fit. Muncy is still a good player especially in the postseason. He even hit homeruns in the final innings of game 6 and 7. I see the Dodgers going after Bregman before him.
Okamoto said the Angels are his first choice. The biggest issue is he is another right handed bat and the Angels need left handers. There doesn’t appear to be any 3B FA that fit that profile, so a upgrade via trade is possible.
Muncy is an aging, injury prone player best suited at this stage in his career to a bench role. When he is healthy he still has a good bat and plays solid defense at 3B. The reason the Dodgers may choose to add at his position is that he has averaged 78 games started the last 2 seasons because of a multitude of injuries.
Okamoto may be right-handed, but he is very good at contact and OB% and has some power. Other than that right handedness he looks like a good fit.
Totally agree!
How about Willi Castro? Plays both positions, amongst others, switch hitter. Rough finish with the Cubs lowers his price a bit
I like it
Keeping in mind that Bader had the best offensive season of his career. No other year even close.
Bader averaged 0.9 bWAR in his three prior to 2025. It would be a typical Angels move to lock him in for three years.
My exact thought
That would be a nice move
Good luck getting either Issac Parades or Jake Meyers to solve your problems
Ok?
To secure a Wild Card spot this season, you needed 87 wins. The Angels were 15 games below that. In essence, they need a collective WAR gain of 15 games this offseason.
They just lost 2.7 wins from Ward. Not sure if Grayson can fill that void.
Perry has his work cut out for him.
It depends. I don’t know if the Angels won the season series vs Detroit and I know they didn’t vs Houston. So it might’ve been 88.
It’s worse than that. Their Py W/L ranked them #28. I think they are a strong favorite to finish last in the AL.
They need both.
I don’t know how they get a suitable player for either position.
Tyler Brenmer is less valuable then Issac Parades. You don’t have the team and/or the farm system to offer a trade for Parades. Meyers, maybe? But you’re still going to have to bid and offer a crazy package.
Harrison Bader.
Why is this directed to me?
Anyway, the Angeles would be fools to trade for Paredes. He’s made for the Crawford boxes. He’d die in Anaheim.
Okay. But you guys still should get Harrison Bader. You have the money, and don’t ya’ll want to compete. Bader is a good gold glove option. Reckon that will be an improvement over Jo Adell’s defense.
@ASTROS27 Come on now.
You come in trying to stir it all up. Then you back down like a play ground bully.
No one mentioned Paredes or Meyers except you. I think you are way over valuing Paredes. He is not a front line 3b player.
Then why bring up Brenner other than to stir thigs more? You look very foolish.
Well I’m just putting it in Dana Brown’s mind. Dana Brown said he’s NOT going to trade Parades. But Chandler Rome (Astros beat writer at the Athletic), said that Brown still will move him if they get absurd package.
So you are putting a trade for Bremmer in Dana Brown’s mind?
Why would the Angels want Paredes?
You are not making any sense whatsoever.
Whatever. I’m dropping this.
@Astros. Glad you had a back to reality moment.
LOL 6 years of Brenmer is most certainly more valuable than 3 years of 10m+ Parades
Can you go to the future to see that Brenmar makes it to the majors?
The odds of him not pitching in the major leagues is likely less than 1%. He’s not a highschool pitcher drafted #2, he’s a college pitcher drafted #2.
I would not have drafted him second, but he’s still a college pitcher drafted in the first round.
@astros27. If bremner sucks why do you want him Marty mcfly. Because he did good on 2K or you saw he was a high draft pick from last year. You cant even spell his name or yours
ASTROS27!
Tyler Brenmer is less valuable then Issac Parades.
=======================
LOL! You’re not even remotely close.
JB from Anaheim: Three Targets, One Pen Stroke
1. Cedric Mullins
Speed, defense, and lefty pop. No trade needed—just Arte’s signature on a modest deal. Mullins brings center field stability and leadoff chaos.
2. Jorge Polanco – Switch-Hit Fixer
Veteran infielder with pop from both sides. Polanco plugs the second base hole and adds lineup balance.
3. Kodai Senga
Mets want payroll relief. Kodai Senga’s contract is digestible, Arte might actually stomach this one. I had this target up last week let’s see if Perry Minasian. Is following me
Good luck there.
1) Mullins has been subpar (or average at best)on offense and defense the last 2 years. Leadoff chops with a .300 OBP. This might hold if it were 2022.
2) Polanco had a nice year this which may make a return to Seattle likely. Halos would likely have to overpay
3) Senga’s 2025 leads to questions here too. Think a deal could be done but what are you getting? Finished ‘25 in AAA
That’s true, unfortunately Angels have to overpay for free agents? Simple: nobody wants to join a 99-loss unless there’s extra cash on table
Kodai Senga will cost top prospects and some players. It’ll be pretty expensive.
Despite his down year.
1 Top 10 Prospect
1 Player
1 Minor Leaguer
Is Adell not that center fielder now? I know they were looking to flip him and/or Ward, but with Ward in BAL now, it seems to make sense to keep Adell around unless he sucks in the field.
He sucks in CF.
Yeah he gives back ALL his value and then some playing in CF.
Adell is perhaps the worst CF in baseball. He was adequate in RF. He’ll be adequate in LF. Put him at a corner outfield spot AND KEEP HIM THERE!!!
He was a GG finalist in RF keep Adell there
He’s bad in left, right only please!
Leave him in LF and he will be fine.
Nothing special, but he’s the equivalent of Bogaerts. He’ll make all the routine plays, and that’s all you need.
Actually, he’ll make spectacular plays, and botch plays he should make. That’s been his history. If he sticks in the same position, he’ll likely both fewer plays.
I agree about Adell . I think the biggest part of his problem is confidence.
What drives me crazy is the talk that Trout needs to move off center to keep him healthy. He has not shown a drop off in production due to fatigue, no chronic hamstring or calf problems. I just don’t see where CF is a position that has more injury risk. I think in fact it may be the safest position. I have not seen much data on this but the little I have seen would indicate at the very least CF is not riskier. They should put him on intense flexibility training. He wants to play there and he is much more valuable to the team.
Tim. I agree with that. He doesn’t get hurt playing defense.
Baseball is different than other sports, you stand around for an hour, then you are asked to go from zero to sixty without any warm up.
How is playing RF going to keep him any looser than CF?
I am glad to hear that because there are many that don’t agree I think It may be the safest position. I have yet to see any good reason or data showing otherwise.
You guys are talking like what a player does in the field is not related to what he does at the plate or on the bases. On average a CF is involved in 60% more plays than a LF or RF and has to back up 2 positions on balls in play so is in motion on any ball hit to the OF. That puts more wear and tear on his body than at those other positions. He may experience the pain on a plate appearance or while on base, but really the injury was sustained while he was in the field. Much like what Trout described with his first meniscus tear.
Another way to look at it is that it keeps you looser and you stand around less.
If he stays warm, he’s less likely to pull something.
Cedric will entertain them fine.
I used to love Cedric but that was eons ago. Having watched him very recently with the Mets, I would avoid him like the plague. Poor defender, poor hitter, still can run though.
He will still get a gig, no doubt.
I am always right and I am all in on Bader all out on Cedric.
The Mets had this very choice at the deadline and of course blew it. Lol Mets
The angels aren’t doing anything lol
If the Angels are looking to spend than obviously Bellinger fits the CF/LH bat they are seeking. If not, than Cedric Mullins still accomplishes the goal, albeit with much lower expectations.
Signing Mullins would probably allow the Angels to go after Eugenio Suarez though i could see them going smaller and either bringing back Moncada or going after Ramon Urias
RSox, only way Mullins should be signed is if you go big time in other areas and spend very little on Mullins who looked either washed up or that he was ready to retire. He looked mostly lost as a Met. Maybe he’ll bounce back but again he looked old in NY.
Mullins was decent in Baltimore last season but completely lost it after being traded to the Mets. Agreed you should only sign him if the price is right and it doesn’t cost more than 2 years
Eugenio Suarez is realistic. At least it is than some fan that said M’s could get Tucker. Since when does Seattle have the revenue. They are REVENUE SHARING TEAMS.
Wah? I thought they had superstar CFer in Michael Trout, no?
Can’t anymore. Trout is a part-time DH now, albeit a very good one when healthy.
York is a dweeb.
@Halo11Fan
So much hate… No wonder we can’t have nice things.
I don’t hate trolls, I feel sorry for them.
@Halo11Fan
So, you feel sorry for yourself? Interesting…
Are you so stupid you don’t know the definition of a troll?
My guess is yes.
Yeah he is. Him and few others feel the need to comment on EVERY transaction.
@ABaddaBingWhatever
Oh, look, another troll.
Are you an Angel fan? No.
Did you say something pejorative and ignorant?. Yes.
You’re a troll.
@Halo11Fan
I said nothing pejorative and ignorant in my original post but you did in reply so you’re the troll. Back under your bridge. Buh bye!
Oh really. So the ignorant comment about trout was not pejorative?
Only the ignorant thinks he’s a CF anymore.
@Halo11Fan
Huh? I made a statement about a player on the Angels in an Angels thread. I’m not ignorant that he’s not a CF because he’s still playing OF and there is nothing suggesting they can’t play him there. No wonder baseball has seen a significant decline in IQ of its fans. My guess is you’re more focused on what the pocket computer tells you every second instead of actually watching what’s happening on the field.
Right? Everyone knows you’re full of it, even you.
@Halo11Fan
Who? It seems I hurt your feelings. Maybe ask mommy for some comfort?
MIchael Trout? Mike Trout.
They do. He plays in RF to save wear and tear. You need to keep up.
He’s a troll.
I wonder what the next big splash. is.
The way things are going, the next big splash’ll Arte Moreno cannonballing into a kiddie pool
You know, Ron Burgundy
Arenado and Noot? Cards pay down Arenados contract.
She turned me into a Noot.
I got better.
Yeah I have a feeling Arenado will somehow land in our lap.
He didn’t want to play for Houston, why would he come here?
He grew up in OC. His family all live here.
I remember before he was traded to the Cards. A LA beat writer went on the Mason and Ireland Show and said it a slam dunk he would need up with the Dodgers.. I rather we sign 3B like Bregman.
Birndog, now that’s a good answer.
Bregman is like Parades in the fact they pull fly balls to LF without authority.
That works in Fenway and Houston. That’s not going to work in Anaheim.
He also had the Angels on his list of teams he would OK a trade to. although that would not be the direction I would pick for the Angels.
I was not aware of either. Question asked and answered….twice.
He regrets that decision. He’s also he is much more open to a lot more times this year.
Arenado wanted to be traded to a contender or back home to where he was from and lives in the offseason. Then he watched the Astros trade away Tucker and wanted to wait to see what other moves they made. Those moves included picking up Parades to play 3B.
Am I the only one that thinks this is Rendon’s year?
To retire?
I think breakout is what he’s saying. But retiring is more realistic. Listen @whatwouldyogido, my dad got his PhD at Rice (the college Rendon went), he graduated from Lamar, which is local. He’s a Houston guy, and I actually think he’s one of my favorite non-Astros players. I just don’t think Rendon has the stuff. Are you a Rendon fan?
There isn’t such a thing as a “Rendon fan”.
Anthony Rendon has become the poster child for disengaged stardom in Anaheim. When he said, “This is just a job,”
And I always thought baseball was a game?
You people are nuts. Most players are never the same after one hip surgery. Rendon is the only player this century to have two. And he may be the only player in history to have hip surgery on both hips.
And your position is he’s going through these surgeries because surgeries and rehab is more fun than playing baseball?
Man, people are either nuts or stupid.
Anthony Rendon has too many injury issues. I think it’s because they don’t understand. Stupid, sure. But right now Halo11Fan you seem to know more than the rest of us.
They are just emotional and refuse to think analytically on the subject.
There may not be a man on this planet who would choose to have two major hip surgeries than to play Major League Baseball… not one.
Yet they are claiming Rendon is that one.
I don’t know about the Angels, but the people that claim that have some issues.
It is a contract year!
I have an answer for you
This is Anthony Rendon’s year?
Yes This is Anthony Rendon’s ear—as in, he’ll be DFA’d before pitchers and catchers report. this spring.
“His locker empty only with a plant and a
thank-you card from Arte Moreno.”
I wish Arte Moreno throw some money my way
Merry Christmas
dang
To leave?
What would be a realistic trade proposal for the Mets to land Jarren Duran? Someone suggested both Baty and Vientos. Don’t think that will happen so what other proposals?
Red Sox would have no use for those guys, is the problem. Their INF is stacked with top grade prospects, and Casas is coming back to play 1B.
Casas coming back to playb 1B might be a bit presumptuous.
Multiple top 30.
Sox should only be trading Duran for a top of the rotation arm, and not a prospect haul.
So… Senga?
What. Do you want Hunter Brown for Jarren Duran? That’s not going to happen. The closest you could get it as you said, Kodai Senga. And good luck.
Senga might not be worth Duran right now. Which is kind of crazy.
No one is suggesting that the Red Sox could get Brown in a 1:1 swap involving Duran.
Are you off your meds today?
vtdave. I think ASTROS27 has been drinking too much trashstros juice
His numbers after he came back from the injury are a little concerning, but I think he’ll figure it out. They’re both free agents after the 2028 season.
If Senga was fully healthy, he’s worth more than Duran, but there’s some decent injury concerns.
I honestly don’t think that the Mets are a good match for the Red Sox in a trade for Duran/Abreu. It’s really tough to find a good trade partner, because most teams with pitching that’s good enough to trade for them also needs that pitching to be successful.
Senga has some big injury concerns. In 3 seasons he started 52 games. Yikes. If he was fully healthy, Senga is worth more than Duran.
Duran has been an elite OF the past 2 seasons. Judge and Soto have been better, but that is about it. He will not be cheap in trade.
Just taking my friend’s suggestion in the picture.
ASTROS27!
What. Do you want Hunter Brown for Jarren Duran?
====================
Did anyone in this conversation, besides you, suggest Hunter Brown?
JoeBrady
ASTROS27 seems to be having an argument with himself. Sadly he is also losing that very same argument.
I think he/ she is a sad lonely person looking for attention.
Senga? lol
Baty, McLean or Tong, and Reimer or Clifford. Might have to add another decent prospect to that, a young catching prospect?
Johan Rojas and Alec Bohm?
Why Rojas is Moniak 2.0. If they trade a prospect or controllable players for a third baseman, it will be someone with more than one year left. Unless they trade him straight up for Stephenson
The Angels can have Matt Shaw and his weak bat to play third for…. almost anyone.
Trade for him, he’s a former top prosepct
Are people really giving up on Shaw so quickly
The Cubs aren’t
You should’ve taken a look at Shaw’s stats before posting. As a RS fan, you can have Campbell right now for Shaw, and maybe even Mayer.
Do you think he can’t improve?
Geno Suarez
I would be fine with Polanco in center. 3rd base I’m not so sure.
Polanco has 162 game suspension written all over him. No thanks. Besides Arte is known for not signing players, who have already been suspended for PED’s
I don’t want to root for anyone who I know is a cheater.
Arte has yet to sign one of these suspended cheaters, it’s what I like most about him,
Arte did sign one GM jr. aka Gary Matthews Jr.
Yes he did, prior to him testing positive for HGH.
When the Angels signed him, he was not a known cheater.
.
Crap I forgot about the suspension. That changes things.
i still cant believe angels traded for grayson
he could spend the next 4 yrs on the DL
or he could W a cy young
either way, O’s just completely gave up on him
and only got a pending FA in return
1 or the other.
Gold glove winner KeBrayan Hayes could be pried away from Cincinnati for 3rd base.
Hayes and Friedl for Adell?
Gives the Reds some power in RF and salary relief and fills 2 holes for the Angels.
Here is my trash, please give me your gold
You need to specify which players mentioned are gold. None of those three are gold, though I do see some appeal in all three.
I’d love Okamoto. I think he’d bring a stability to third and an energy to the franchise that we’ve been missing.
CF needs defense in a bad way but Nelson Rada is waiting in the wings.
I’d take Tyrone Taylor for a year at $4.5 million if the Mets really are ready to move him. Coming off a down year but still a solid glove and career wRC+ of 94. If he can be his average self, that’s a big upgrade.
HalosHeavenJJ,
I am with you on Okamoto. I watch Mets closely and they aren’t moving Tyrone Taylor in fact he is their starting CF until and if Benge replaces him. Taylor isn’t worth what you think he can’t hit but he plays a fine CF and has speed.
Okamoto is a good fit for the Angels. Cheaper than the top free agents and like Kikuchi he has expressed an interest in the Angels. He won’t be posted till December, So that won’t happen right away. Rada is VERY good with the glove and hit pretty good last year at AAA as a 19 yo. They should resign Chris Taylor for the bench and he can play CF and his bat could be productive. I would rather save the money in CF. Trout could even play some there. use the money for pitching and 3B. They don’t need a 2B as some have said. They should resign Janen too. They should have money for pitching and players that want to be here.
I’ve seen Rada the last couple of spring trainings and his glove e and speed are legit.
Okamoto was posted on the 20th. mlb.com/video/kazuma-okamoto-and-kona-takahashi-po…
He was posted on the 20th.
I was surprised. I had read that his team was planning on posting him sometime in December.
I posted a video from MLB.com about Okamoto’s posting, but it is still waiting moderation.
Bohm and Wes Wilson for Silseth and Fermin
Guys guys guys.
You need to think like the Angels
They will go after a former top prospect that they think they “can fix”
They already traded a proven power bat for a former top prospect with arm problems
Let me fix this
Sign Luis Arraez. He is a lousy second baseman but the guy can do the one thing the angels need. A hitter who can make contact.
Trade Christian Moore.
He can get us pitching or someone to play 3rd base.
Sign a top starter.
Sign Bellinger
Just doing those things will keep the 36 home runs ward provided. It will raise the team batting average. Produce more RBI chances for the middle of the order and cut down on strikeouts by 200.
Ward had 175 strikeouts last year
Bellinger and Arraez have 167 combined
Angels have money. But to sign Dylan Cease/Ranger Suarez/Framber Valdez/Michael King/Tatsuya Imai and Cody Bellinger is unrealistic.
That’s 300+ million. I doubt the Angels can sign any of them.
Arte Moreno’s got money— you know age is catching up to Arte but at this point, I think he forgot the combination to the safe.
The man once dropped half a billion on Trout and Rendon Now? We’re bargain-hunting in the clearance aisle :b
But…. TV revenues are down….
He had tv money, no massive wrongful death lawsuit, and he thought he was getting a stadium/development deal.
Lot of things changed.
Now I can sleep…..zzzzzzzz
soccer_ref- I don’t agree with most of this post, but just to simplify, just sign Okamoto to play 3B keep Moore at 2B. save the big defensive hit at 2B. Okamoto has some power as well as extremely good contact hitter. The Angels are the only team he has expressed an interest in. I would be happy with signing Okamoto, resigning Jansen and Taylor for bench \CF .The rest of the money goes towards a good starting pitcher.
Arraez was a bad 2B in 2019, his rookie season. Since then he has been average or above.
I stand corrected about Arraez . I still think the rest is still valid.
McCarthy or Thomas from D-Backs need a fresh start and have CF experience.
I’d love to get McCarthy as a placeholder. If Rada forces his way o to the team Hake is a great 4th outfielder. If Rada needs more time Jake is a good placeholder.
Aren’t they paying a ton of money for a Third baseman already?
He’s had surgery on both hips. Typically you don’t come back from one hip surgery.
Okamoto would be great for 3b
I irrationally want to trade for Garrett Mitchell. Left handed, good glove in CF, local guy.
With Rada fairly close I can’t imagine they go big for a CF unless they plan to move that person to the corner after a year.
If it’s via trade market, Jeff O’Neill would fit, a leftie who can play centrefield or 2nd; they could buy low on Nolan jones, and doubt they can afford Lars Noot. I’d make a bid for Varsho – Jays are hoping to hit a HR overall and a package of Deemers & Bachman …. I’m betting Mullins will be the guy; you may want to swim in deeper FA waters but likely they’d just be used as bait to run up the price for another team.
Who are these guys? Deemer? Jeff O’Neill?
The Angels need more than just a CF. They just traded Ward so all they have is a 4th OF named Adell.
If they are true to past actions they will sign someone like Tucker or Bellinger or Bregman for far too much money and continue to scrimp on pitching.
A 4th OF that hit 37 homers? Holy smokes.
A lot of stonies in here today.
Adell is no answer to centerfield though. And a .298 OBP with 151 strikeouts does need improvement.
A 1.2 WAR player is not a starter on any contending team. If the Angels were not so dysfunctional, Adell would not have been starting for them either.
He was playing out of position. WAR is a bit simplistic.
Few players with 37 HRa and a 112 wRC+ are not playing everyday.
bWAR uses an adjustment by position in their calculations. If you use the 6 DRS that Adell produced in 2024 in RF which was his best ever, because of that adjustment for position played he would have had a 1.2-1.3 WAR if he had played RF for all of the 2025 season. If he had played RF all season Adell would have been the 15th best RF in MLB last season as measured by bWAR, just behind Bryan Reynolds who had a 1.4 bWAR. A backup on nearly all contending teams.
Adell was the worst defensive OF in baseball in 2025 by the StatCast FRV measure. His range as measured by StatCast’s OAA was also the worst. baseballsavant.mlb.com/leaderboard/fielding-run-va…
If you include his 2024 season, Adell is 153rd or 157 OF in MLB according to StatCast’s Feiding Run Value.
baseballsavant.mlb.com/leaderboard/fielding-run-va…
Using DRS as your measurement he was the worst defensive OF in MLB in 2025 at a -14 and in the bottom 12 overall at a -9 in 2024-2025. His defense was worse than Castellanos by measure of DRS including the range component of their metric.
Players with as high or higher of a wRC+ and number of home runs were not even tendered an MLB contract. They include Chris Carter after the 2016 season in which he had a 113 wRC+ and hit 41 HR, the 6th highest in MLB. He got a minor league deal in 2017 and was out of baseball in 2018. HR’s are not the be all, end all of the sport.
bWAR uses an adjustment by position in their calculations. If you use the 6 DRS that Adell produced in 2024 in RF which was his best ever, because of that adjustment for position played he would have had a 1.2-1.3 WAR if he had played RF for all of the 2025 season. If he had played RF all season Adell would have been the 15th best RF in MLB last season as measured by bWAR, just behind Bryan Reynolds who had a 1.4 bWAR. A backup on nearly all contending teams.
Adell was the worst defensive OF in baseball in 2025 by the StatCast FRV measure. His range as measured by StatCast’s OAA was also the worst.
If you include his 2024 season, Adell is 153rd or 157 OF in MLB according to StatCast’s Feiding Run Value.
Using DRS as your measurement he was the worst defensive OF in MLB in 2025 at a -14 and in the bottom 12 overall at a -9 in 2024-2025. His defense was worse than Castellanos by measure of DRS including the range component of their metric.
Players with as high or higher of a wRC+ and number of home runs were not even tendered an MLB contract. They include Chris Carter after the 2016 season in which he had a 113 wRC+ and hit 41 HR, the 6th highest in MLB. He got a minor league deal in 2017 and was out of baseball in 2018. HR’s are not the be all, end all of the sport.
Your 2+2 doesn’t equal four. Addison Barger was an average CF, wRC+ of 107, and he had an fWAR of 2.2, and he had the bear minimum of 502 PAs.
Frelick had a 114 wRC+, he was barely above average and his fWAR was 3.6.
The bWAR formula is available on the Baseball Reference website. Its not hard to find. All the sources of information they use are also available on their website. The math is not difficult. I suggest you go do the math.
I never mentioned fWAR because I have a hard time using a stat that relies on expected stats instead of what players actually accomplish on the diamond. If you like and trust it, more power to you. I just don’t.
fWAR has an adjustment for position played and lays out exactly what sources it uses to calculate their version of WAR. The math is not that hard, so if you prefer their WAR, go use the formula and tell us exactly what the difference would have been in fWAR for Adell. Not comparing apples to watermelons, for Adell.
Frelick – 3.0 bWAR. 111 OPS+, 114 wRC+, 142 games (134 in RF), 9 DRS (4th of 35 in MLB), 7 FRV (2nd in MLB).
Barger – 1.2 bWAR, 105 OPS+, 107 wRC+, 135 games (57 in RF), -4 DRS (26th in MLB), 1 FRV (14th in MLB) Most of his innings played were at 3B (613.1) where he had a -1 FRV, not in the OF (413.0)
6-7% difference in offense. One is exceptionally good on defense. The other is not. The math checks out for both bWAR and fWAR. The info is available. Look it up, plug in the numbers, and check for yourself.
I am not putting in links because every time I do the site moderates my comment. They are really easy to find.
bWAR does not measure defense nearly as well as fWAR. I looked up the value of average defensive RF with similar wRC+.
You undervalue an average defensivenRF with a 112 wRC+
Bohm seems like an Angel. I wonder if they would do Bohm & Rojas. Wouldn’t cost much at all and Bohm can really hit and has improved defensively over the last 3 years.
I’m sure Phillies would have interest in a guy like Stephenson.
I’d make an offer to Patrick Wisdom who smashed 35 home runs in Korea.
I can already see him in an Angel’s uniform
local product too! Wisdom went to high school down south about 30 miles from the Big A.
Angels should trade with Toronto for their center fielder, Varsho should be pursued for Jo Adell and Stephenson.
You’re kidding right…..Toronto wouldn’t even pick up the phone with that trade proposal…….
So, Justin Turner and Chris Taylor… Got it.
How about Alex Bohm and Marsh plus a low level prospect for Joe Adell?
I have complete faith that the Angels will continue shooting themselves in the foot this off season. But having Maddux drop onto our laps is very nice. I even like the Grod deal because he has a chance to help us out down the road even if he’s not healthy at first.
Continue? They make a solid trade and that’s the word you went with
One what-should-be-common-sense trade does not convince me that the Angels will abstain from blasting their own toes repeatedly this off season. It’s the Moreno way.
Sealbeach Comber
does not convince me that the Angels will abstain from blasting their own toes repeatedly this off season.
=======================
Have you not considered the fact that they have run out of toes to blast?
Anaheim Stumpy’s?
…yeah, but who’s hoping to be on the Angels?
Polanco is no 3rd baseman.
I’d like if the Angels take flier on Bregman at 3rd
Let’s make a push for the talent on the Japanese market….trade for Senga. Make a push for Imai and Okamoto. The Orange County Japanese population will flock to the Big A. That’s where Arte screwed up with Ohtani. Imagine Kikuchi, Senga, Imai and Okamoto. $$$$
Arte didn’t screw up. Ohtani always wanted to be with the dodgers. He would have picked them in2017 had the NL had the DH.. BTW There’s a larger Hispanic population than Asian in SoCal.
Not so sure about Ohtani. He was willing to play the OF and he wanted the Angels to negotiate a deal before the season started, his final season as an Angel, Unfortunately the Angels never once gave an extension offer past his arbitration years. Maybe with the court case winding down, Arty may think about selling.
I wonder how much input Mike Maddux had in the Ward trade.? He probably did best his Jeff Spicoli Ahhh Perry I can fix it. Rordriguez has bogus set of tools in his arsenal.
Finally someone else in Anaheim with the initials MM that has some clout…
Don’t they have Anthony Rendon at the hot corner?!
Here we are
I thought we were building bridges, bringing the world together in peace and harmony…. off to utopia we go….
No. Every bridge we build is just another place for a troll to live…..
Until…..the biggest G.O.A.T. comes along….knocks that bad ol’ troll smack into the river….
The story is often used to teach children about courage and problem-solving. (except in Ca, where the G.O.A.T. gets roasted for being a bully, picking on that poor old deformed, homeless troll, who never had a chance, and was turning his life around just when that mean ol’ G.O.A.T. shows up and attacks that poor troll who is just a poor, misunderstood soul.)
Hire the Superfife.
He is not a troll. (I am much better looking – well, at least a little)
Rada will win the CF job coming out of spring training. Okamoto apparently wants to play here. Take advantage of that and bring him in. Bring Jansen back for another season. Spend the big bucks on either Michael King or Ranger Suarez.
What a poorly written article, which is par for the course with Adams. There shouldn’t be a comma before “either.”
“Notably” must start the sentence in “Rodriguez, notably, is not yet arbitration-eligible and will thus make scarcely more than the league minimum in 2026.” It should not come in the middle, between commas. Same with “again” in “Gorman, again, comes with major strikeout concerns, though.”