3 players the LA Angels should sign to early contract extensions

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The Los Angeles Angels, having lost Shohei Ohtani to their in-state rival, would seem to have entered a new era as the 2024 baseball season is upon us. Pitchers and catchers will be reporting to Tempe, Arizona very soon, and LA will be looking to surprise the masses as they return to the field without the reigning AL MVP.

With Ohtani out the door, and Mike Trout struggling to stay healthy, the window is beginning to open for the young crop of Angels players to begin to put down some roots and establish themselves as key pieces of the franchise moving forward.

This time of the year is typically when contract extensions are hammered out. Impending free agents and up-and-coming prospects may get a visit from their club's GM as the two sides look to work out a deal ahead of the upcoming season. Which three Angels players could be in line for a contract extension this spring?

3 players the LA Angels should sign to a contract extension

Logan O'Hoppe

Logan O'Hoppe has some work ahead of him on the defensive side, but the 24-year-old is certainly a threat in the batters' box. O'Hoppe, despite a shoulder injury last season, was able to play over 50 games and show why the Angels were so high on him.

O'Hoppe was, of course, the return from the Brandon Marsh trade in 2022, when LA's front office sent the former outfielder to the Philadelphia Phillies. The trade seems to have worked out well for both sides; Marsh has carved out a nice role in Philly, while O'Hoppe is slated to the QB1 for the Halos in 2024.

A bat-first catcher is not the easiest thing to find, and when a team is fortunate enough to stumble across one, it's wise to keep them in the fold for as long as possible. And while O'Hoppe certainly could stand to improve his defense behind the dish and pitch recognition, the power is something that's unteachable. The Angels backstop hit 14 homers and posted a .500 slugging percentage last season.

Aside from Elias Diaz and Danny Jansen, there aren't any top-shelf catchers who are slated to hit the open market next offseason. The Angels' best catching prospects (Alberto Rios and Dario Laverde) are years away from making it to The Show. If the Angels can buy out O'Hoppe's arbitration years and tack on some team options, it could be a mutually beneficial contract extension for both the team and the player.

Zach Neto

Let's call it what it is - the Angels rushed Zach Neto to the major leagues. While Neto was regarded as an advanced college hitter, Los Angeles had no business accelerating his development because the front office, ownership, or whoever was attempting to capitalize on Shohei Ohtani's last season in an Angels uniform.

Neto played just 23 minor league games before getting called up to the big leagues. But in those games, Neto showed tremendous potential with 14.1% walk-rate and 1.157 OPS. Neto is a professional hitter, and most scouts agree that his bat-to-ball skills are his greatest asset.

Neto hit just .225/.308/.377 last season, but it's difficult to lay the blame for an up-and-down rookie season completely at his feet after having so little seasoning in the minors. But with that major league experience now under this belt, the bar will be raised heading into 2024.

The Angels already got a head start with Neto's service time clock after calling him up last season. If the Halos actually believe that he's going to be that above-average hitter who can play both second base and shortstop, the front office could kick the tires on a potential contract extension.

The goal of these types of extensions is to follow the model set by the Atlanta Braves and other organizations that identify talent, then secure those players at least a year or two beyond their arbitration window. It gives the team cost control and it gives the player financial security. At 23 years old, this could be a fine deal for Neto and the Angels.

Reid Detmers

Starting pitching is becoming increasing expensive with each passing season. When fans see some of the massive paydays these hurlers are receiving, they begin to understand why drafting and development of an organization's pitching staff has become so important.

Reid Detmers represents the best starter in the Angels organization. The University of Louisville alum has been relatively durable during his first two seasons in the bigs and while he struggled at points thoughout the season, the left-hander showed improvement in several areas in 2023.

Detmers saw an increase in his strikeout rate while also focusing more on his breaking ball. After going to his slider just 25% of the time in 2022, the left-hander increased that usage to 32% last season and saw an uptick in velocity, according to Baseball Savant. With new pitching coach and former Angels player Barry Enright guiding the way, the hope is that he can continue to push Detmers and allow him to reach the lofty expectations that come from being a first-round pick.

The Angels best hitter from a season ago was also their best pitcher. With Shohei Ohtani no longer on the roster, LA will need someone to step in and take over that No. 1 role. Is Detmers up for the task?

Detmers is under team control for four more seasons, so the immediacy isn't there quite yet. But the sooner these types of deals are executed, the more money the team can conceivably save on the back end, which allows for the roster to be supplemented through free agency when the time comes.

The Los Angeles Angels allowed one of their own to walk out the door this past offseason. While Ohtani's deal is quite different than any other free agent in baseball history, it does signify the need for the Angels to keep their own players. They've done a good job doing so with Mike Trout, but securing some of these young players to smaller contract extensions could be the ticket to long-term success.

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