5 Angels players who are en route for a role or team change in 2025

We teased this article in a previous piece, and here it is.

With the rumor mill churning, there are a lot of questions surrounding the players the Angels have on the roster. There are plenty of moves out there to make, and when you read the tea leaves you have to imagine that these players are destined for a revised role in 2025. Perry Minasian is actively looking to upgrade every position group on the roster, which directly affects a select few players.

Which players? Let's take a deep dive.

Player: Mike Trout

Revised Role: More Corner Outfield

Could Mike Trout play less center field than he has in his entire career? Who's to say, it certainly seems like Ron Washington doesn't know. Back in 2012, Mike Trout played 67 games of left field. Could that level of corner outfield be in play for Trout in 2025? First off, let's make sure he plays 67 total games. Secondly, who else could even play center in his place for the Angels right now?

Mickey Moniak for sure can slot into center, perhaps Scott Kingery as well. Other than that...it's really slim pickings. In previous offseasons, Perry Minasian has brought in players like Kevin Pillar, Aaron Hicks, and Brett Phillips to alleviate some of Trout's burden. Well, all those guys are available, but so is Harrison Bader. Bader is 31-years-old, in the 95th percentile of OAA, has an incredible arm, and can still run faster than the majority of baseball players. Bader is the best version of a Pillar, Hicks, Phillips, and could immediately slot into a lineup against RHPs (while Neto is out):

1. Soler—DH
2. Trout—9
3. Schanuel—3
4. Ward—7
5. O’Hoppe—2
6. Rengifo—4/5
7. Rendon—4/5
8. Bader—8
9. Newman—6

The bench would include some combination of d’Arnaud, Adell, Moniak, Kingery, and Kavadas. "Some combination" because if the Angels add Bader, then either Moniak, Adell, or Ward will be moved off the roster to avoid rostering 6 outfielders (Trout, Soler, Ward, Bader, Adell, Moniak).

Anyways, Trout needs to be moved to a corner sooner rather than later. It appears that the Yankees are trying to move 2X MVP Aaron Judge to right field on a more permanent basis, but there's no word on Trout's outfield status. Non-sensical. Trout's best physical years are behind him, it's time to plan accordingly for the next five seasons. He needs to prepare for the inevitable sooner rather than later.

You might have noticed that we listed Rendon as 4/5. Why? Well...

Player: Anthony Rendon

Revised Role: Utility Player Off The Bench...Or Cut

IF Anthony Rendon makes the team, he will mercifully be moved positionally and out of the every day lineup. Minasian teased Rendon taking second and first base reps, although it's dubious that the two sides have even communicated about that move. The unintentional comedy of Rendon coming off the bench to play second base might be reason enough to keep him around come Opening Day.

The absolute latest a move to the bench will happen is when Zach Neto returns to the lineup after his shoulder surgery rehab is over. Kevin Newman and Luis Rengifo genuinely have higher stock than Rendon at the moment, although the same cannot be said for Scott Kingery or Carter Kieboom -- two players who are looking to supplant Rendon on the major league roster. Who knows? Maybe Christian Moore absolutely tears it up during Spring Training, the Angels give him a shot, and they roll with Moore, Newman, and Rengifo at 2B/SS/3B in some way until Neto returns. Everybody is rooting for that.

All that beinig said...he's probably just going to get cut. Remember Justin Upton and Albert Pujols?

Player: Luis Rengifo

Revised Role: Full-Time Second Baseman...Or Traded

The Angels have reportedly made calls in order to touch base on Nolan Arenado, Alec Bohm, and Eugenio Suárez. If the Angels can pull off a trade for one of those three, Rengifo could easily be part of the return package. He's on the last year of his deal and his value to the Angels would drastically drop with an addition of a third baseman. If he's not a part of the trade package, then he will be playing more second base than ever before (if he can stay healthy). They could slot Kingery and Newman into third to spell the acquired 3B, and allow Rengifo to stay stationary at second base. Allow him more continuity position-wise and perhaps he can play more than 78 games next season.

During Rengifo's rookie season in 2019, he played 104 games at second base (the most games he's played at any position in his career). He played 12 games at shortstop that season too. Since then, he's been a true utility player. In 2022, he played 99 games at second, but also 39 games at 3B, 19 games at SS, and 5 games in the outfield. This could be the rare case of a utility player being shoe-horned into one position, and one position only.

Players: Chase Silseth and Sam Bachman

Revised Roles: Full-Time Bullpen Arms

First off, before you say it, Bachman has 11 big league games from 2023 and they were all appearances out of the bullpen. We know. You understand what we mean though. He has played in 39 MiLB games, and all of them were as a starting pitcher.

The two standout pitchers from the all-pitcher 2021 draft class are being stretched out this winter. They should be! However, it sure seems like they will become full-time bullpen arms come Opening Day. Can you imagine the boost in velocity from these two fire-ballers if/when they are moved to the bullpen. They would not give Ben Joyce a run for his money velocity-wise, but if I was Ryan Zeferjahn I'd look out.

Most importantly, the Angels HAVE to keep these guys healthy and relevant. It's been up-and down for these two, particularly Bachman, but they have shown serious flashes of dominance. A full-time move to the bullpen would benefit both sides heavily. No more minor leagues for Silseth and Bachman, and no more waiting around for these two to click as starters for the Angels.

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