The Los Angeles Angels are staring at another offseason full of uncertainty, and the biggest issue isn’t even on the field yet. They still don’t know when their new ownership group will take over, and Stan Kroenke and his KSE Sports group haven’t hired a GM or a manager. That leaves the whole operation in a holding pattern before anyone can really sort out what this roster is supposed to be.
Mike Petriello of MLB.com still took a crack at ranking it, and he landed on No. 28. The odd part was that the Angels checked in ahead of one of the two teams placed lower, with the Cincinnati Reds somehow sitting beneath them.
The first thing Petriello pointed to was the obvious: this club needs a president of baseball operations and a manager. That alone says plenty about where things stand as the lockout looms.
As for the roster itself, the list of what the Angels actually have is a lot shorter than the list of what they’re missing. There is at least the idea of a strong starting rotation, beginning with left-hander Reid Detmers and rookie right-hander Walbert Urena, with Ryan Johnson also having the chance to join them along with several other promising rookies.
There are also a few established pieces worth noting. Shortstop Zach Neto is there, and so is Mike Trout, who is expected to move from center field to left.
In right field, Wade Meckler is a possibility, perhaps in a platoon role. First baseman Nolan Schanuel is another option, though he doesn’t bring much power and could end up as a trade candidate.
After that, the picture gets thin in a hurry. Second base and third base are both wide open, and the Angels went with a collection of veteran defensive catchers who barely hit after trading Logan O’Hopple to the Texas Rangers shortly before the trade deadline.
The bullpen is another major problem. It needs a full rebuild, starting with a legitimate closer after the Angels struggled badly with blown leads late in games. They also need multiple setup men and middle relievers to stabilize the back end.
Still, even those roster issues may not be the first thing that gets solved. The GM and president of baseball operations will shape the direction of everything - trades, prospects, signings, all of it. Without those hires in place, the Angels’ problems are hard enough to fix already, and the lockout makes the whole process even messier.
In Other News...
Angels Suddenly Have A Real Teruaki Sato Dilemma
Teruaki Sato has quickly become a name to watch on the Angels radar, and not just because he would add another intriguing bat to the mix. The Japanese third baseman is reportedly drawing interest from multiple MLB teams, with Los Angeles among the clubs weighing whether to get involved. For the Angels, the appeal is obvious: a player with international buzz and the kind of upside that can change the look of a lineup. But the fit is more complicated than that, because any serious pursuit would have to be measured against the defensive issues already hanging over the roster.
The real question now is how aggressive the Angels want to be if the market around Sato does not get as crowded as expected. A softer bidding war could make him more attainable, but it would also force Los Angeles to decide how much it wants to commit to a player whose value is tied to both upside and uncertainty. For a team trying to balance talent acquisition with roster flaws, Sato is the kind of target that can look like a smart swing one minute and a risky luxury the next. [Read more 🡒]
Angels Enter Offseason With Front Office Power Still Unsettled
The Angels are moving into the offseason with their front office still in limbo, even as the incoming ownership group begins laying groundwork for the next era. Kroenke Sports & Entertainment is expected to hold informal meetings with candidates for the general manager job during this weeks GM Meetings, a sign that the search is already taking shape while the franchise waits for the sale to clear MLB approval.
For now, interim GM John Mozeliak remains in charge through December and is still exploring trade possibilities as he manages the roster in the meantime. The Angels could look at deals involving players such as Reid Detmers and Zach Neto, and there is also the possibility of smaller roster tweaks before the offseason really gets going, but the bigger question remains who will ultimately be making those calls once the new ownership structure is fully in place. [Read more 🡒]
Angels Ownership Limbo Could Cost Them A Real Pitching Opportunity
The posting window for Teruaki Sato and Kaima Taira has put a familiar winter problem back in front of the Angels: they have a chance to chase pitching help from Japan, but the franchises ownership situation is making even routine business feel complicated. Both players were posted by NPB clubs with a 30-day deadline to work out MLB deals before the Dec. 1 lockout, and Los Angeles is trying to operate with John Mozeliak in an interim general manager role while the sale of the team remains unresolved.
Mozeliak brings experience, but timing is working against the Angels here. Even if the front office likes the fit and the need is obvious, the uncertainty around who will be making the final call may prevent the club from getting a contract done before the clock runs out, leaving a real pitching opportunity hanging in limbo. [Read more 🡒]