The Angels may not be ready to make a splash in the way fans are dreaming about just yet, but that doesn’t mean this winter has to be quiet. With John Mozeliak running the front office, Los Angeles looks positioned to hunt for value rather than headlines, and former top prospects who need a fresh start fit that plan perfectly.
Brett Baty is the clearest example. The Mets once sold him as a power-hitting cornerstone after his 2022 debut, but the next two seasons were rough enough to stall that momentum.
He got back on track in 2025, hitting .254/.313/.435 with 18 homers in 130 games, and while his 2026 line sits at .238/.313/.377, that number masks a much stronger recent run. Since June 30, Baty has hit .283/.341/.506 with eight of his 11 home runs over a 59-game stretch.
Over his last 58 games, he’s posted a .282 average, .341 on-base percentage, .509 slugging percentage, .850 OPS, eight homers, 30 RBI and 13 doubles. He also brings the kind of defensive flexibility the Angels could use, having logged time at first base, second base, left field and right field this season, along with two appearances at shortstop.
That versatility matters because Los Angeles has several spots that still feel unsettled. Denzer Guzman’s early promise has faded against big league pitching, Christian Moore has continued to struggle, and the organization could eventually sour on Nolan Schanuel’s unorthodox approach. Baty would give them another option in a bunch of different places, and at the very least he would raise the level of competition in spring training.
Anthony Volpe is another name that fits the same lane, especially if the Angels move Zach Neto for a major return. The Yankees shortstop entered pro ball with huge expectations after being ranked the No. 5 overall prospect in MLB Pipeline’s 2023 preseason top 100 list, but his path has been rocky.
Shoulder surgery to repair a torn labrum delayed his 2026 season, and he’s bounced between the majors and Triple-A while losing his starting job to George Lombard Jr. There’s still some upside to chase, though.
His last Triple-A stint with Scranton produced a .284/.381/.642 line with 10 homers in 28 games, and he has also added second base to his mix while starting to see more time at third. He could even make sense alongside Neto rather than strictly as a replacement.
Matt Shaw offers a similar type of buy-low opportunity. The Cubs’ former first-round pick was supposed to be part of the long-term plan, and he opened last season as the starter at third base after the Kyle Tucker trade sent Isaac Paredes to the Astros.
That job didn’t stick, and by mid-April he was back in Triple-A Iowa. Shaw eventually returned and played 126 games, hitting .226/.295/.394 with 13 home runs, then closed strong with a .258/.317/.522 second half.
This year has been more of a grind. He’s hit .232/.323/.409 with five homers and missed two months because of a hand and wrist injury.
Still, he has become a useful multi-position piece, even if he’s spent more time in the outfield than anywhere else. A clearer role could do him good.
Luis Gil is a different kind of gamble, but the Angels need pitching and he’s the kind of arm worth exploring. The Yankees right-hander won the 2024 AL Rookie of the Year after posting a 3.50 ERA over 151 2/3 innings.
In 2025, he managed a 3.32 ERA in 11 starts and 57 innings, though his strikeouts fell and his walks climbed. This season has gone off the rails.
Gil missed the opening roster, returned in early April, struggled badly, then spent most of the year sidelined by a shoulder injury. He’s back in the Yankees’ bullpen now and has a 1.13 ERA across his first five relief appearances.
The Angels could look at him as either a bullpen piece or a rotation project.
Jordan Lawlar rounds out the group. The Diamondbacks infielder and outfielder was once viewed as one of the top prospects in baseball, but his story has been shaped by limited chances and injuries.
The 24-year-old has had trouble getting traction on a contending roster, and even when he has played, the opportunities haven’t lasted long. After a difficult 2025, he’s hit .256/.320/.444 this season, though he’s been limited to 42 games.
Lawlar has also built out his defensive value, with experience at second, third and in the outfield in addition to shortstop. Arizona may decide it’s tired of waiting, and if that happens, the Angels could take a shot on a young player with power, speed and room to grow with steady playing time.
In Other News...
Former Angels Utilityman Calls It A Career At 31
Tyler Wade is calling it a career at 31, closing the book on a nine-year major league run that took him from the Yankees to the Angels, then on to the Athletics and Padres. The versatile infielder-outfielder appeared in 507 big league games and finishes with a .216/.294/.284 batting line and 51 stolen bases, a profile built more on speed, defense and flexibility than on offensive production.
For Angels fans, Wade is another reminder of how important the utility role can be over the grind of a long season, even if it rarely brings much spotlight. In his retirement statement, he thanked the clubs and teammates he played with along the way, leaving behind a career that moved quickly, adapted often and now ends with a simple farewell to the majors. [Read more 🡒]
Angels Enter Offseason With Two Massive Questions Under New Ownership
With new ownership taking shape, the Angels are heading into the offseason with the front office still in flux. Interim general manager John Mozeliak said his own future beyond December is uncertain as he waits for direction from above, even as he begins sketching out what the club needs next. That includes payroll decisions, possible trades and the kind of structural investment that has been lacking for years, from infrastructure upgrades to additions in the front office.
Mozeliak also made clear he would prefer to keep Kurt Suzuki in the dugout despite a 100-loss season, a choice that will be watched closely as the Angels try to reset without tearing everything down. There are roster questions, too, including a planned change for Mike Trout that would send him to left field. For a team trying to stabilize under new leadership, the biggest issue may be figuring out who is actually making those calls before the offseason gets moving in earnest. [Read more 🡒]
Angels Face A Harsh Veteran Reset This Offseason
The Angels are staring at another winter of turnover, and this one feels more like a reset than a tuneup. A roster that has leaned on veteran presence in recent seasons is headed toward a different look for 2027, with expiring contracts and a growing youth movement pushing the club toward tougher decisions across the board.
Several familiar names are expected to be gone next year, and that list points to just how much change could be coming in Anaheim. Beyond the obvious holes in the everyday mix, the pitching staff may also lose some of its extra depth depending on offseason moves and how the club handles Rule V draft protections, leaving the Angels with more than one layer of roster sorting to do before spring training arrives. [Read more 🡒]