As the Angels move from Arte Moreno’s run into the Stan Kroenke era, they suddenly sit in one of the most intriguing spots of the offseason. The question isn’t just whether they’ll spend. It’s how aggressively they’ll go after the kind of players who can change the look of the roster fast once the lockout ends.
Mike Trout’s defensive future is part of that puzzle. The future first ballot Hall of Famer was already expected to be the team’s everyday designated hitter, but he told the Angels he may be ready to move away from center field and spend time as a part-time left fielder instead. If that happens, it could push the club away from chasing Randy Arozarena or a reunion with Taylor Ward in free agency.
Even with that wrinkle, there are plenty of spots the Angels can upgrade. Catcher, second base and the bullpen all stand out, and there are a few names that make plenty of sense if the Angels decide to attack the market.
Ryan Jeffers is the obvious one behind the plate. He’s the best catcher available in free agency, and the Angels have a clear opening after trading away Logan O’Hoppe last season and watching Travis d’Arnaud hit free agency.
That leaves Tyler Heineman, Moises Ballesteros and Sebastian Rivero on the books for next season. Jeffers turns 30 next season, but he doesn’t look like the kind of player who needs a long deal to get a deal done.
A three-year contract with a $10+ million AAV should be enough to get into the mix for a catcher who posted a .814 OPS last season. His 2026 OPS was better than a long list of notable catchers, including Shea Langeliers (ATH), Carter Jensen (KC), Adley Rutschman (BAL+BOS), Dillon Dingler (DET) and William Contreras (MIL).
Brandon Lowe checks another major box. The Angels have needed both a real second baseman and a left-handed bat with power, and Lowe brings both.
He posted an .824 OPS last season with Pittsburgh, which was the best rate of any primary second baseman with 100+ plate appearances. Compared with the Angels’ recent rotation at the position - Oswald Peraza, Adam Frazier, Vaughn Grissom and Christian Moore - Lowe would be a massive upgrade.
Then there’s Adrian Morejon, who would give the Angels exactly the kind of arm their bullpen lacks. The soon-to-be 28-year-old has been a fixture in the Padres’ elite relief group for the last three seasons, and since 2024 he owns a 2.58 ERA with 248 strikeouts in 223.1 innings pitched.
He’s been durable, he’s thrown a ton of innings, and his stuff has held up game after game. Morejon led the Padres with 76 appearances this season, fourth-most in MLB, and his 28 holds tied for sixth in baseball.
That kind of reliability would matter for an Angels bullpen that looks thin. The club has an $11 million option on Robert Stephenson, and the signs point to that not getting picked up.
Ben Joyce hasn’t been dependable enough on the field or on the mound, and the Angels already traded away Ryan Zeferjahn and Chase Silseth. Ryan Watson, Samy Natera Jr. and Jose Fermin offer some promise, but they’re not finished products.
In Other News...
The Angels Figure Who Helped Build 2002 Core Is Being Remembered
Bob Fontaine Jr., the longtime Angels scouting director from 1987 to 1999, died in Arizona at the age of 73, and his name is surfacing again for the role he played in building pieces of the club that would later win the 2002 World Series. Fontaines career stretched well beyond Anaheim, but for Angels fans, his imprint is tied to the patient work of identifying talent and helping lay the foundation for a championship core.
The Angels joined other voices around baseball in paying tribute to Fontaines influence on player development and scouting, a reminder that much of a title run begins long before October. His legacy now sits in the quieter, less visible part of the franchises history, in the evaluations and decisions that helped shape a roster that would eventually reach the sports biggest stage. [Read more 🡒]
3 Angels Enter A Crucial Proving Ground Before Anaheim Changes
The Angels are still living in the long middle of a franchise reset, with the ownership transfer to Stan Kroenke not expected to close until early 2027. For now, that leaves the roster in a transitional holding pattern, where every bit of progress matters and the next wave of decisions is never far away. It also puts a spotlight on a few players whose paths are tied closely to how Anaheim looks by then.
Ryan Johnson, Moises Ballesteros and Zach Neto are among the names to watch as that deadline approaches, each facing a crucial proving ground in 2027. Their recent performances have given the Angels reasons to keep paying attention, but the challenge is turning flashes into something more durable while the organization sorts out its direction. For players in that kind of uncertain window, the margin for error is thin, and the coming season could go a long way toward deciding who fits when the next era arrives. [Read more 🡒]
Angels May Be Reaching A Tough Truth About Nolan Schanuel
Nolan Schanuel has settled in as the Angels first baseman since late 2023, and his 2026 season was easily his strongest yet. He gave the club a steady left-handed bat, hit for average, reached base at a solid clip and turned in a 2.1 bWAR season in 107 games, the kind of production that still matters in a lineup looking for stability.
Even so, the fit at first base can be tricky because Schanuels game is built more around contact than impact. He struck out at a low rate and kept the ball in play, but he also finished with only seven home runs, and that kind of power shortage is hard to ignore at a position where big extra-base production is usually expected. With three years of team control left, the Angels do not have to make any immediate decisions, but they may eventually have to decide whether his steady approach is enough or whether they need to look for more punch at first. [Read more 🡒]