3 Angels players on thin ice when Zach Neto returns from his rehab assignment

The Angels are about to be whole again, but returning a player always comes at several others' expense. Yes, Zach Neto will be helming shortstop for the Angels yet again in just a matter of days. He will be a sight for sore eyes, as the lineup will look way more potent than it already is. The Angels are currently tied with the Yankees as the teams who lead the league in home runs per plate appearances, and they have yet to return Neto and his 23 home runs from last season.

Neto's return as an every day player will not affect players like Taylor Ward, Mike Trout, Jorge Soler, or Logan O'Hoppe. However, there are a few players on the periphery of the roster who need to show out in order to either receive semi-consistent playing time or simply stay on the active roster. The Angels do not have many players with remaining minor league options, meaning a DFA is in the waiting as the corresponding move for when Neto is activated.

3 Angels players on thin ice when Zach Neto returns from his rehab assignment

Jo Adell

Adell is at risk of being demoted to a part-time role once Neto returns. Think about it.

There's no way Kyren Paris' playing time will be affected when Neto returns. His ability to play both second base and centerfield should keep him in the lineup every day, and Ron Washington assured fans that Paris will remain a starter moving forward. Luis Rengifo will continue to play every day at third base while Yoán Moncada remains absent.

Tim Anderson has been one of the best defenders in the league thus far between second base and shortstop. Sure, Anderson is not hitting, but it's not like Adell is tearing it up in the outfield or at the plate thus far in 2025. Of the nine Angels players with 30 or more plate appearances for the Angels, Adell's 0.0 fWAR ranks last of that group. His -1.3 offensive fWAR only eclipses Anderson's mark, but Anderson has the eighth best defensive fWAR in the entire league.

Adell is slashing .200/.265/.356/.621 with below average strikeout and walk numbers. Worse yet, he cannot hit left-handed pitching which used to be his calling card -- he has yet to reach base against a left-handed pitcher in nine plate appearances this season. He is hampered by a hip injury, slowing him down on the basepaths and in centerfield. Perhaps a part time role will allow him to get his strength back via more rest?

This is the way:

1. Ward—7
2. Rengifo**—5
3. Trout—9
4. Soler—DH
5. Neto—6
6. O'Hoppe—2
7. Schanuel*—3
8. Paris—8
9. Anderson—4

Injured List: Moncada**

*—left-handed hitter
**—switch-hitter

Bench: Adell, d'Arnaud, Newman....and who else?

Nicky Lopez & J.D. Davis

Given that Kevin Newman has been fantastic defensively in his limited games played, it's safe to say he will remain on the Angels' active roster even if he will be hard-pressed to find semi-regular playing time.

Lopez and Davis, on the other hand, were brought in cheaply during the offseason and do not figure to stay on either the active or 40-man roster much longer. Davis was signed to a minor league deal in the offseason, and was brought up to the majors once Moncada went to the shelf. Lopez was signed days before the season...because of injury concerns to Moncada (and Rengifo). Neither have minor league options remaining, so the team would have to be designated for assignment to remove them from the team.

Lopez and Davis are the easy choices for removal from the roster once Neto and Moncada return from their ailments, given that they are last among all Angels position players in plate appearances this season. Neither really has any opportunity to even play their way into safety, as they are fully blocked by lineup regulars right now.

The question is whether either gets claimed off waivers or are even traded for cash considerations/a player to be named later? It seems likely that one of the other 29 teams would find some use for infield depth from a glove-first utility man or a power-hitting corner infielder. If the Angels were able to trade guys like Geraldo Perdomo and Michael Petersen following their DFAs, they might be able to receive something back for Davis and Lopez when their times come.

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