OC Register: Top 5 Angels questions before spring training begins

[AngelsWin.com]

TEMPE, Ariz. — A quiet winter is about give way to a busy spring training.

The Angels, and the other 29 teams, were frozen for 99 days by baseball’s lockout, but Thursday’s agreement set in motion a last-minute scrambling, with general managers busy working the phones to fill out their rosters and players hurrying to camps.

The Angels are set to have all players report for spring training Sunday, with the first full-squad workout Monday. They will have only four days of workouts before playing their first Cactus League game. All told, there will be only 24 days from Monday’s opening workout to the April 7 Opening Day.

That’s just over half of the normal time for preparation.

As the Angels try to get ready for a season that they hope will be the end of their seven-year playoff drought, there are a handful of pressing questions they’ll face in the next three weeks.

What about Shohei Ohtani?

When Ohtani arrived at spring training in 2021, he was coming off a miserable season and likely looking at his last chance to be a two-way player. He underwent a more intense offseason regimen and showed up to camp stronger and with a new attitude. The Angels also had a new plan for him, without all the days off they felt were necessary previously.

Now, Ohtani is coming off a sensational season, so it will be interesting to see what he’s done this winter.

The pressure will be on Ohtani to see if he can repeat it. The Angels will also again have to decide how much to push him.

Finally, there is the lingering question of a contract extension. Ohtani is signed for $5.5 million in 2022 and he’s arbitration eligible in 2023, his last year before free agency. In a normal winter, extension talks likely would have already begun, but the lockout stalled that. Will the Angels and Ohtani engage this spring?

Who is going to be in the rotation?

General manager Perry Minasian is presumably still looking for another arm, but if he’s unable to find one there is still some intrigue with the pitchers the Angels had going into the lockout.

Ohtani, Noah Syndergaard, Patrick Sandoval, José Suarez and Michael Lorenzen were the supposed locks, but there are questions with all of them. Syndergaard, Sandoval and Lorenzen all missed chunks of last season with injuries. Ohtani had missed much of the previous three seasons with injuries. Suarez had struggled in all of his big-league opportunities until last year.

The Angels will go with a six-man rotation, which means there is still at least one spot up for grabs. Griffin Canning, Reid Detmers and Jaime Barria would seem to be the leading candidates for that spot.

Canning is particularly intriguing because he was the Angels’ top pitching prospect, and had been good for stretches from 2019-21. He had a few rough outings last year and was sent to the minors just before suffering a season-ending back injury.

Who is going to be the shortstop?

Assuming Minasian doesn’t acquire someone, the Angels have a few internal options: Luis Rengifo, Tyler Wade, Andrew Velazquez and Jack Mayfield.

Rengifo is the longest-tenured member of the organization, and perhaps the player with the highest ceiling of the group. Last season, he showed some promising signs at the end of the season.

Wade and Velazquez were with the Yankees last season. The Angels traded for Wade and claimed Velazquez on waivers. Velazquez is more of a pure shortstop, but Wade is a better hitter. Both are 27.

Mayfield had been a backup for his entire big-league career until the Angels gave him an opportunity at everyday playing time last season.

The Angels also could move David Fletcher to shortstop and go with one of those players, or an external acquisition, at second.

What about the corner outfielders?

Mike Trout is expected to be back to 100% and will return to center field, but the corners are up for grabs, with Justin Upton, Brandon Marsh and Jo Adell as the top three options.

Upton, who is making $28 million in the final year of his deal, could have an edge simply because the other two players can be optioned. However, the Angels showed last year, when they released Albert Pujols, that they won’t play someone simply because of his contract if he’s not producing.

Upton struggled last season, but still produced a .705 OPS, which was similar to Adell (.703) and Marsh (.673).

Will Joe Maddon get an extension?

The Angels manager is in the final year of his three-year contract.

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Maddon is 68, but he’s shown no signs of wanting to retire. In fact, when the Chicago White Sox hired Tony La Russa, who is 10 years older than Maddon, the Angels manager quipped that it gave him another decade.

Whether the Angels extend Maddon is likely to be determined by owner Arte Moreno, rather than Minasian.

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[Angelsjunky]

I really don't see why they can't go with a four-man platoon outfield. The Angels could rotate starts for Upton, Adell, and Marsh, while bringing Marsh in as a defensive replacement for Upton (or Trout) when he isn't starting. And it isn't like Trout is going to play all 155ish games. 

I mean, I'd rather see that then, say, Upton-Trout-Adell with a Lagares-type 4th outfield and Marsh in AAA until Upton or Trout gets hurt, or Upton inevitably sucks up the joint. Start all four on day one, and let Upton earn his starting gig. 

[Inside Pitch]

2 hours ago, Angelsjunky said:

I really don't see why they can't go with a four-man platoon outfield. The Angels could rotate starts for Upton, Adell, and Marsh, while bringing Marsh in as a defensive replacement for Upton (or Trout) when he isn't starting. And it isn't like Trout is going to play all 155ish games. 

I mean, I'd rather see that then, say, Upton-Trout-Adell with a Lagares-type 4th outfield and Marsh in AAA until Upton or Trout gets hurt, or Upton inevitably sucks up the joint. Start all four on day one, and let Upton earn his starting gig. 

Given the injury histories of all four, the better question might be why they haven't yet invested in a quality 4th OF that could be a serviceable starter for short periods.

[tdawg87]

2 hours ago, Inside Pitch said:

Given the injury histories of all four, the better question might be why they haven't yet invested in a quality 4th OF that could be a serviceable starter for short periods.

Yeah our outfield depth is literally Taylor Ward.

But I expect them to get another Jon Jay or some shit because cLuBhOuSe.

[Angels 1961]

2 hours ago, tdawg87 said:

Yeah our outfield depth is literally Taylor Ward.

But I expect them to get another Jon Jay or some shit because cLuBhOuSe.

Taylor Ward had decent numbers last year. He could surprise some and end up as a starter in corner OF spot. SS and starting pitching big question mark for halos.

[tdawg87]

6 minutes ago, Angels 1961 said:

Taylor Ward had decent numbers last year. He could surprise some and end up as a starter in corner OF spot. SS and starting pitching big question mark for halos.

Ok then we have 3.5 outfielders. Upton is basically done and he's gone next year.

[Second Base]

Question number one in my mind is why the Angels keep doing the same thing and expect a different result. 

[halomatt]

With the Universal DH, Upton might make an attractive OF/DH player on a different team.  Maybe a little First Base as well. (I can dream.)

[T.G.]

The constant "trade Upton" narrative is almost as good as the Pujols will retire before his contract is up or before his career BA dips below .300 narrative. 

Edited March 14, 2022 by True Grich

[Angelsjunky]

9 hours ago, Inside Pitch said:

Given the injury histories of all four, the better question might be why they haven't yet invested in a quality 4th OF that could be a serviceable starter for short periods.

You don't have faith in Magneuris Sierra?

[totdprods]

6 hours ago, tdawg87 said:

Yeah our outfield depth is literally Taylor Ward.

But I expect them to get another Jon Jay or some shit because cLuBhOuSe.

Maybe they’ll re-sign Dexter Fowler!

Maybe he can do broadcasts when he’s not playing and when Matty V isn’t available!

[Taylor]

1 hour ago, totdprods said:

Maybe they’ll re-sign Dexter Fowler!

Maybe he can do broadcasts when he’s not playing and when Matty V isn’t available!

A combined fourth outfielder/broadcaster would save the team some money. Hopefully Arte doesn't read this thread.