No, the Angels are not tanking for the MLB Draft and here is why

While the Los Angeles Angels have struggled to start the shortened 2020 season, there would be no benefit to them tanking to earn the top pick in the MLB Draft.

To say the Joe Maddon era has not gotten off on the right foot for the Los Angeles Angels would be a drastic understatement.

With a record of 4-8 to start the 2020 season, it’s easy to see the level of despair that is presently setting in amongst Angels fans. The 60-game schedule creates a sense of urgency and perfection, two things that have seemingly been missing since the first pitch was thrown on July 24th.

While the Angels sit just four games out of first place and 2.5 games out of a guaranteed playoff spot, those gaps fill rather cavernous when considering the shortened schedule. Coupled with the quality of play on the field, and you’re already seeing some Halos fans jumping ship.

Lamenting over the way the season has started in one thing, especially when the big picture is so much smaller. However, insinuating that the team is tanking in 2020 is probably a little off-base.

Recently, there has been a rising opinion amongst Angels fans that the team could be looking to tank the 2020 season in order to improve its draft position in 2021, perhaps even as much as to gain the top overall pick.

With prospects like Kumar Rocker and Jack Leiter (both from Vanderbilt) expected to top the draft boards, it’s easy to dream of such a circumstance. Both are enticing arms that would fit nicely into the Angels system and future needs. And as college arms, their development time would likely be accelerated.

However, tanking the 2020 season isn’t happening in Anaheim (or anywhere else in Major League Baseball) and we’ll tell you why.