3 players who did not meet expectations in 2022

2) Angels player who did not meet expectations in 2022: Jared Walsh

After the 2021 season, Jared Walsh was a player I was extremely high on. I thought he was going to be the cheap, middle-of-the-order impact bat the Angels have been looking for.

Walsh was an all-star as he hit 29 home runs while driving in 98 runs. A lineup with Trout, Ohtani, Rendon, and Walsh was something worth salivating over. Unfortunately, Walsh was not the same player this season.

Walsh slashed .215/.269/.374 with 15 home runs and 44 RBI in 118 games played. He had just nine hits in 70 at-bats before being shut down for the season to undergo surgery for Thoracic Outlet Syndrome. Pitchers like Matt Harvey and Stephen Strasburg underwent that procedure.

Walsh hopefully will be better than ever in 2023 because this past season was as nightmarish as it could've been for the Angels slugger.

Walsh struck out more, walked less, and had just a 78 WRC+ this season. I don't know how long he was bothered by the injury, but it's clear it affected him at least a little bit.

If the Angels have any dream of being competitive in 2023 they will need Walsh to be the player he was in 2021.

3) Angels player who did not meet expectations in 2022: Max Stassi

Right before the 2022 season kicked off, the Angels decided to extend Max Stassi on a three-year deal worth $17.5 million dollars. The extension included a club option for the 2025 season.

While the AAV isn't so bad, it might've been a little bit too soon for an extension based on his performance this season.

Stassi was an above-average hitter and defender at the catcher position in 2020 and 2021. He took major steps back in both areas this season, his first as the no doubt number one catcher.

In his 102 games played, Stassi slashed .180/.267/.303 with nine home runs and 30 RBI. If he had enough plate appearances to qualify, his 63 WRC+ would be the second-worst mark in all of baseball among qualifiers.

Teams can often deal with poor offense from the catcher spot if that catcher is good defensively. In the past, Stassi was good defensively. Last season he was in the 87th percentile in framing according to baseball savant and had 10 DRS according to FanGraphs. This season, he was in the 42nd percentile in framing and had 0 DRS.

Stassi was a -0.4 bWAR player which is something I did not expect after the season he had in 2021.

With the 31-year-old locked up and with there being so many holes on this Angels team I expect Stassi to be the number-one catcher to begin the 2023 campaign. Hopefully, he reverts back to his 2020 and 2021 form.