3 offseason mistakes the LA Angels are paying for right now

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The Los Angeles Angels are in deep trouble. At 59-62 on the season, the Halos sit 13.5 games back of the first place Rangers and more concerningly, 8.0 games back of the third Wild Card spot.

The Angels were in and around a postseason spot for much of the season but a 3-11 record since the trade deadline has this team virtually out of postseason contention. The Angels have dealt with a bevy of injuries which have undoubtedly hurt them, but with the way they've played since the deadline has passed they don't deserve the benefit of the doubt.

The Angels had one of their best offseasons in a long time, bringing in solid contributors like Carlos Estevez, Matt Moore, and Brandon Drury to help them try and make the postseason for the first time since 2014. While solid, it's become abundantly clear that it wasn't good enough. The Angels are paying for some of the mistakes they made.

1) The LA Angels are paying the price for keeping Phil Nevin as manager

It's hard to blame anyone but Arte Moreno for this. Moreno was on his way to fulfilling many fans dreams by selling the team this past offseason, but he changed his mind at the last moment, giving the Angels no time to change anything. Moreno pulled the Angels off the market just weeks before Spring Training making them stuck with what they had personnel wise.

Phil Nevin took over as the interim manager last season when Joe Maddon was fired, and didn't show much to warrant having the interim tag removed. The complicated situation at the forefront of the organization made that decision to just leave Nevin in that spot for another year a lot easier, but it also put the Angels in a tough spot knowing how important this year was.

To the surprise of nobody, Nevin still has yet to prove himself as a worthy manager. Questionable decision-making, strange lineups, and uninspiring positivity, when this team is collapsing, are just some things that have fans calling for Nevin's job.

Assuming this Angels team fails to reach their goal of playing postseason baseball, it feels likely that the Angels will have a new manager in 2024. Unfortunately, that could be too little too late when it comes to Shohei Ohtani playing for that manager.

2) The LA Angels are paying the price for signing Tyler Anderson

When the Angels signed Tyler Anderson I was excited. No, I didn't expect the southpaw to repeat the all-star season he had with the Dodgers. I did expect a whole lot more than what the Angels have gotten, however.

Anderson wasn't brought here to be a frontline starter. If the Angels expected him to be an ace, they would've given him a whole lot more than the three years and $39 million they wound up paying him. They brought Anderson in to pitch in the middle of this rotation, mentor the young arms of this staff, and eat innings. He hasn't been successful in any of these areas.

Through 21 appearances (20 starts), Anderson has a 5.28 ERA in 109 innings pitched. He's completed six innings just eight times after doing so 20 times last season, and he's had several starts in which he was simply uncompetitive. Anderson has seen his walk rate double from 4.8% last season to a whopping 9.6% this season, and he's seen his home run rate increase as well.

Anderson looks like he's in decline in his age 33 season, and the Angels are stuck with him for another two. What felt like a bargain contract relative to the deals other pitchers signed now looks like an albatross. I do expect some improvement from Anderson down the stretch, but it's pretty clear the Angels would've been better off with a different pitcher.

3) The LA Angels are paying for not going all in early enough

The Angels had a wild offseason bringing in veterans to help contribute. Players like Anderson, Hunter Renfroe, Gio Urshela, Matt Moore, and Carlos Estevez among others were brought in to try and help this Angels team make the postseason.

The unfortunate part of this was the Angels didn't quite go all in. They remained under the luxury tax despite having other clear holes. The biggest hole that was left unaddressed until the deadline was adding another starting pitcher. The Angels wound up having to trade their top prospect for Lucas Giolito instead of just simply re-signing Tyler Anderson who was an all-star this season.

The Angels broke camp without a legitimate shortstop. Gio Urshela wasn't bad, but the Angels hit the panic button and promoted Zach Neto after just 44 minor league games. Neto has been a great piece for this team when healthy, but there's no way that was the plan.

The Angels broke camp with a bullpen that is unrecognizable compared to the group they have out there now. The Estevez and Moore additions were great, but it was clear at the time they needed to add another arm, and had to wait until the deadline to do so.

The Angels fielded their deepest roster in years but because of the luxury tax, they refused to go all in. Of course, they did go all in after the deadline, but that was when this team was already on the outside looking in when it came to a postseason spot with a brutal August schedule looming. We know how that has played out in hindsight.

Had the Angels simply blown past the luxury tax in the offseason like we've seen Arte Moreno had the capability of doing, this team could've been in a better spot.

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