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Ranking the LA Angels Positions By Need Ahead of the Offseason

By Vincent Page

ANAHEIM, CA - OCTOBER 22: Owner Arte Moreno and general manager Billy Eppler applaud as The Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim Introduce new team manager Brad Ausmus during a press conference at Angel Stadium on October 22, 2018 in Anaheim, California. (Photo by Jayne Kamin-Oncea/Getty Images)
ANAHEIM, CA - OCTOBER 22: Owner Arte Moreno and general manager Billy Eppler applaud as The Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim Introduce new team manager Brad Ausmus during a press conference at Angel Stadium on October 22, 2018 in Anaheim, California. (Photo by Jayne Kamin-Oncea/Getty Images) /
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7.) Outfield

Unfortunately, outfield is the last position where the Angels don’t need improvement. We can keep this one relatively simple.

Mike Trout put together another MVP-caliber season. If not for missed time due to the death of his brother-in-law and injuries, Trout would likely be a favorite for the award. He improved his defense and will likely receive his first ever Gold Glove Award this offseason. He continues to be the best hitter in the game, and 2019 will be another year of excellence without a doubt.

Justin Upton was the usual Justin Upton. Unfortunately, that is a slash line of .257/.344/.463. On top of that, Upton is a very inconsistent player. At the plate, he can hit home runs in four straight games at some points. At other times, he can go through the coldest streaks on the team. Defensively he has the tools to be a solid fielder, but often looks lost when tracking fly balls. While an upgrade over Upton would be nice, the Angels owe him $90 million over the next four years, and he will remain in the starting lineup unless his performance drastically slips.

The most interesting starter is Kole Calhoun. First off, Calhoun is one of the best defensive players in the league and that is enough to keep him in the lineup for the most part. His offense went through three phases. Calhoun started the season ice-cold. After some time on the disabled list and reworking his swing, Calhoun morphed into Trout’s sidekick once again. However, he finished the season cold again, stumbling across the finish line.

For depth, the Angels could sign a veteran. Michael Hermosillo could earn the fourth outfielder spot in Spring Training, but it won’t be handed to him. The interesting name is top prospect Jo Adell, who could very well debut at some point in 2019. When he does, it will likely be Calhoun who takes to the bench.

With Upton and Calhoun’s inconsistencies, the Halos’ need improved play from each of them in 2019 along with another astronomical year from Trout.

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