Oswald Peraza gave the Angels a glimpse of what they hoped they were getting, then slipped right off the page.
For a stretch early in the season, the infielder looked like he might be turning into a real answer for Anaheim. Through 53 games, he was hitting .277/.341/.465, and he launched home runs in three straight games in early April, including two at Yankee Stadium against the Yankees. That kind of burst had people wondering whether the Angels had found their third baseman of the future, especially with fellow infielder Denzer Guzman in the mix.
Then the production disappeared. Peraza faded badly after those first two months, and the Angels never managed to get him back on track. He finished at .226 for the club, a number that still represented an improvement over 2025, when he split time between the Yankees and the Angels.
The obvious next question, with a new ownership group coming in, is whether Peraza can be repaired. On that front, the answer is a guarded yes.
The Angels did him no favors in a turbulent environment, and Brady Anderson was hired as a full-time hitting coach for the first time in his career. There were also reports that the Angels drew criticism in multiple player surveys for not knowing what they were doing with hitter coaching and approach work.
Peraza’s issues fit that picture. Like a lot of Angels hitters, he lost command of the strike zone and started piling up strikeouts. But the ability is still there, and those hot weeks were not a fluke in the sense that he was making loud contact and showing real power.
Whether he’s worth the trouble is another matter entirely. Peraza is 26, and he never really produced over four years in New York.
The Angels have already spent a lot trying to fix players in this mold, and the results haven’t been there. With Arjun Nimmala playing well and nearing his arrival in Anaheim, the new regime may decide it makes more sense to head in a different direction.
In Other News...
Angels Have A Clear Third Base Answer For A Lineup That Needs Help
The Angels are looking at ways to bolster a lineup that needed more help than it got from the hot corner, and third base has quickly emerged as one of the clearer offseason targets. Alec Bohm is on the radar as a potential fit, bringing the kind of durable, steady offensive presence that can soften some of the lineups uneven stretches while giving the club a more settled answer at a position that has been in flux.
There is still some risk in the profile, particularly on the defensive side, but the appeal is obvious for a team trying to raise its floor without overcomplicating the winter. Bohms track record over the past two seasons makes him an attractive option for a club that wants production and stability, and the Angels also like the fact that the move would not come with the usual draft-pick baggage attached to some free-agent pursuits. [Read more 🡒]
Angels Could Command A Huge Price In This Dodgers Trade Idea
Speculation around the Angels has taken an interesting turn with a Bleacher Report trade idea that would have the crosstown Dodgers looking to add youth and athleticism to their roster. The concept, floated by Zachary D. Rymer, centers on a move that would reshape both clubs long-term plans, even though nothing has been reported or agreed to by either side.
What makes the proposal stand out is how aggressively it values one of the Angels most intriguing young pieces, with the suggested return featuring Justin Wrobleski, Roki Sasaki and Daulton Rushing. It is the kind of framework that underscores both the appeal of the player involved and the steep price a rival club might have to pay if it ever decided to seriously pursue him. [Read more 🡒]
Angels Prospects Are Giving Fans Early Reasons For Hope And Concern
The Arizona Fall League has become a useful early barometer for the Angels farm system, and the Mesa Solar Sox have given the organization a little bit of everything so far. Nine Angels prospects are getting extended run there, with the 30-game schedule set to wrap up on Nov. 14, and the results have offered a snapshot of both upside and uneven development as the club continues to search for young talent that can eventually help in Anaheim.
Among the headliners, shortstop Arjun Nimmala has been one of the more encouraging names since arriving from the Blue Jays, showing the kind of offensive impact that can make a prospect stand out in a short stint. On the other side of the ledger, Kyle Robinsons line has been a tougher read, and the broader Solar Sox picture reflects that same mix of promise and frustration, with the club sitting 7-10 as the Fall League grind continues. [Read more 🡒]