Fansided

3 Angels predictions for the month of December

By Zachary Rotman |
May 21, 2022; Anaheim, California, USA; Los Angeles Angels relief pitcher Michael Lorenzen (25)
May 21, 2022; Anaheim, California, USA; Los Angeles Angels relief pitcher Michael Lorenzen (25) / Gary A. Vasquez-USA TODAY Sports
1 of 3
Next

Happy December! This is the month where (hopefully) things start to really get moving. The Winter Meetings are just days away, so hopefully, we'll see some of the big names pick where they'll be playing in 2023 and beyond.

The Los Angeles Angels have been arguably the most active team in the league so far, making three big moves and some other minor moves.

Let's make some predictions for the Halos for this eventful month. Will they make more moves? Will they miss out on anybody?

1) LA Angels prediction: Michael Lorenzen returns

I've been predicting all offseason that Michael Lorenzen would return to Anaheim. He's expressed a desire to remain an Angel, and the Angels have a need in the rotation. Even after the Tyler Anderson signing the Angels need another starter, and while Lorenzen isn't the best choice out there, he certainly makes a lot of sense.

With owner Arte Moreno looking into selling the team, it's hard to believe he'd be willing to go into the tax. Lorenzen is one of the cheaper options who isn't worse than what the Angels have in house, so this could be a deal that gets done.

The Angels have other needs to address and only about $20-25 million dollars to play with before the tax, so unfortunately this could be where we see them not sign as good of a player that we'd like them to. The Angels should still have a good rotation, and Lorenzen in my opinion is an upgrade over the sixth starter options Los Angeles has.

Lorenzen returning might upset people, but he wasn't too bad this past season. We just have to hope he can stay healthy. This isn't the only move the Angels will make.

2) LA Angels prediction: Angels sign at least one reliever to an MLB deal

Perry Minasian has been active in the reliever market, but not to the satisfaction of most Angels fans. He's signed three relievers; Jacob Webb, Chris Devenski, and Jonathan Holder to minor league deals with invitations to Spring Training.

These moves are really one thing, depth. The Angels traded three pitchers to the Brewers for Hunter Renfroe, this covers that. The Angels didn't have much quality pitching depth, to begin with, so signing three veterans who have had success in the past doesn't hurt.

It's possible that none of the three relievers signed even make the team. They'll have a chance to pitch in the Spring with hopes to do so, but the Minor League deal gives the Angels a way out if these pitchers don't impress.

I think the Angels sign a legitimate MLB reliever this month. The need is very prevalent, and the market will hopefully start to develop. Outside of teams re-signing their own pitchers like the Mets and Edwin Diaz, the Astros and Rafael Montero, and the Padres and Robert Suarez, there really haven't been any notable reliever moves.

Once this market starts to develop things should move quickly, and I expect the Angels to be a part of the action.

3) LA Angels prediction: Angels stand pat at shortstop

With the money situation the way it is, the Angels most likely will not enter the luxury tax. This means there is virtually no chance Los Angeles signs one of the big-name shortstops. I believe this is unfortunate because if they added a Trea Turner or a Xander Bogaerts to this lineup it'd really take them to the next level, but you can't always get what you want.

The Angels do have other alternatives outside of the big four, I just don't think they'll come to fruition.

The Angels could trade for a shortstop. They don't have much in terms of high-end prospects, but they have enough to get someone like Willy Adames from the Brewers if he were to become available. They don't need to acquire a superstar to play shortstop.

They could also sign a shortstop. Outside of the big four, the market is pretty dry. The only two names I can see the Angels being interested in for that starting job are Elvis Andrus and Jose Iglesias. I don't think either would be big enough upgrades over David Fletcher to be worth it necessarily, but I wouldn't be surprised if the Angels considered bringing one of those two players in.

Fletcher has another three years under contract, so I'm not sure they give up on him so quickly. I'm not saying this is the right move, as Fletcher really isn't the answer at shortstop, but it's my prediction.

Next. The Angels should trade Jo Adell now before it's too late. dark

Next
Home / LA Angels News

Schedule