Predicting LA Angels 2020 Opening Day Roster

Outfield

CF Mike Trout

LF Justin Upton

RF Brian Goodwin

OF Michael Hermosillo

Now, first off, let’s talk about the one name not listed. Jo Adell is absent from this list, and it is not entirely because of his talent. Do I believe Jo Adell is going to be the everyday right fielder at some point for the Angels in 2020? Yes. On Opening Day? No. Here’s why.

Adell very likely isn’t ready for a big league role. He is having a phenomenal offseason, but that’s an entirely different sport compared to the pitching he’ll see everyday in the MLB. One other factor is service time manipulation. By having Adell start the season in Salt Lake, the Angels will pick up an extra year of control on their top prospect, which is extremely valuable given his agent is Scott Boras.

As for the actual outfielders, it’s much of the same. Justin Upton will finally have a healthy season after an injury marred 2019 season. Mike Trout is Mike Trout. Brian Goodwin will swap in for Kole Calhoun until Jo Adell is ready.

As for the fourth outfielder, I went with Michael Hermosillo. He can play every spot, and the Angels will rarely need him given Goodwin’s ability to play center field. Fletcher and Walsh can also play the corner outfield spots. This could be somewhere the Angels look to improve on through a waiver add, but as of now Hermosillo makes sense.