LA Angels: 3 questions need answered heading into Spring Training

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The talk of this Los Angeles Angels offseason has revolved around the status of impending free agent Shohei Ohtani and the recent announcement Arte Moreno made saying he's no longer interested in selling the team.

While those remain and should remain talking points, there're other things to discuss when talking about this Angels team. The roster is improved, that's without question. There are, however, some questions when discussing the roster and how it'll look on Opening Day. They'll have to be answered in Spring Training.

1) Will LA Angels GM Perry Minasian make another move? Will Arte Moreno even let him?

This Angels roster is not complete. The rotation has a question mark at the sixth spot, although there isn't really anyone left to fill that spot after Michael Wacha agreed to a deal with the Padres. The roster lacks an actual shortstop. It's littered with infielders, but not one primary shortstop.

David Fletcher is capable at the position, but his bad lags behind his glove. Luis Rengifo's bat is much better, but his glove is unproven at best. Players like Gio Urshela and Brandon Drury have very minimal experience at the position and would be better off at other positions. Unfortunately, unless they sign someone like Elvis Andrus, that ship has likely sailed.

Where the Angels can really make a difference, if Arte Moreno allows them to, is in the bullpen. Andrew Chafin and Alex Reyes did just sign, but there're several solid arms out there.

Matt Moore is the best one, but there're arms like Zack Britton, Will Smith, and Brad Hand who aren't as good as they were but are experienced pitching late in games.

Perry Minasian has said Arte is willing to spend more, but we haven't seen a single move made since Moreno pulled the club off of the market. Fans have the right to be skeptical. Hopefully they have one more move in them at least.

2) What's the LA Angels plan with all of their infielders?

The Angels had a serious depth issue last season and once injuries occurred, they were stuck playing Minor League-caliber hitters every day. As much as people want to blame the pitching or the bullpen, the offense was the reason the Angels collapsed.

Because of this, the Angels brought in Gio Urshela and Brandon Drury to provide stability and depth to a part of the team that really needed it. Now, the Angels have six infielders for four spots. What's the plan?

I believe only one player has a solidified starting spot, and that's Anthony Rendon at third base. Rendon, when healthy, will play third base most of the time. He should get more days off to keep him fresh and healthy, but as long as he's healthy he will be at the hot corner.

Jared Walsh should play across the diamond at first base against right handed pitchers. He could also see time in the outfield as Phil Nevin said. This would open at-bats for players like Urshela, Drury, Rengifo, and maybe even Anthony Rendon at first base.

• Phil Nevin also said he expects Jared Walsh (fully healthy as well) to work out in the outfield this spring, and that there's a good chance he plays there this season.

Probably a product of having several infielders that will need to play at first to get playing time.
— Sam Blum (@SamBlum3) February 14, 2023

The middle infield is when things get a little tricky. I think Drury should be the Opening Day second baseman unless he has a horrid Spring Training, but again, there are many viable options.

David Fletcher being the only reliable defender at shortstop makes him hard to sit but his bat makes him hard to play. Shortstop and playing time for all of these infielders as a whole are questions that will need to be answered this spring.

3) Who will be the LA Angels catchers?

The Angels have a catching situation that is very up in the air right now. They traded for Logan O'Hoppe at the trade deadline, and he did appear in five games for the Angels at the end of the season, but is he ready to play meaningful games right away?

Max Stassi was serviceable until he wasn't. Can Stassi bounce back from his dreadful 2022 season or is that just who he is now?

Can Matt Thaiss finally show the Angels something as a former first round pick and steal a spot on the Opening Day roster? Will the Angels opt to cut bait with him if he doesn't? Thaiss is out of options.

My guess is O'Hoppe wins the job and splits time relatively evenly with Max Stassi at least to begin the season. However, if O'Hoppe struggles, there's a chance the Angels roll with a Stassi/Thaiss tandem.

The other option is bringing in a veteran like Gary Sanchez. While Sanchez isn't the star he was projected to be, he's certainly a better hitter than Stassi.

I think unless a surprise trade occurs, Stassi is a lock for the roster because of the contract he is on. That leaves O'Hoppe in competition with Thaiss and a potential external option like Sanchez. Nevin views this as a competition as well.

• Lastly...Nevin said he views the catcher position as a competition. Was complimentary of all the options.

"Anyone can emerge and play a little bit more than the other, and I couldn't tell you who that is. That is a little bit of a competition this spring."
— Sam Blum (@SamBlum3) February 14, 2023

The winner of this competition will likely be decided in Spring Training. I think all Angels fans hope that O'Hoppe, the top prospect in the system, tears the cover off the ball and shows that he can be an adequate defender to earn the job.

dark. Next. Angels Opening Day roster projection 1.0

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3 questions Los Angeles Angels need answered heading into Spring Training

1) Will LA Angels GM Perry Minasian make another move? Will Arte Moreno even let him?

2) What's the LA Angels plan with all of their infielders?

3) Who will be the LA Angels catchers?

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