LA Angels 2024 Opening Day roster projection 1.0: Angels add starter before season

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Now that spring training is underway, it is becoming easier for Los Angeles Angels fans to move past the crushing loss of Shohei Ohtani and a supremely disappointing 2023 season. Whether fans like it or not, it is time to look forward to the 2024 season and what it could hold.

With the dawn of the 2024 season comes a lot of changes. Not only is Ohtani gone, but the Angels have a new manager in Ron Washington, as well as new additions to the roster including Robert Stephenson and Aaron Hicks, Between those new faces and some of the youth coming up from the minor leagues, this is going to be a very different Angels team this coming season.

With that in mind, here is our first pass at predicting what the Angels' 2024 Opening Day roster will look like.

LA Angels 2024 Opening Day roster projection 1.0: Angels add starter before season

Angels Opening Day Projected Starting Rotation

Patrick Sandoval
Tyler Anderson
Reid Detmers
Michael Lorenzen
Chase Silseth

It is tempting to think bigger with Blake Snell and Jordan Montgomery still out there on the free agent market, but Arte Moreno's comments about decreasing payroll and his general reluctance to commit big money to pitchers just makes that too farfetched a possibility. Michael Lorenzen gets the nod as a late free agent addition that feels affordable, feasible, and available.

Sandoval, Anderson, and Detmers are pretty easy picks here, but the Angels will need more from all of them than they got in 2023 if LA is going to have any hope of competing this coming season. The fifth can and should be flexible, with the edge going to Chase Silseth for now. Silseth had a really nice rookie season playing a flex role and deserves a shot at starting, whereas Griffin Canning did manage to stay healthy last year, but could really benefit from a move to the bullpen to be able to manage his workload to keep him healthy and allow his stuff to play up.

Angels Opening Day Projected Bullpen

Carlos Estevez
Robert Stephenson
Jose Suarez
Ben Joyce
Jose Soriano
Matt Moore
Jose Cisnero
Griffin Canning

This bullpen projection is notably light on lefties, so perhaps someone like Adam Kolarek could sneak in here, but this is a pretty high ceiling group overall. At least Canning and Suarez would both be capable of throwing multiple innings or giving a spot start here and there, which would be very useful, especially early in the season.

Estevez will get the ninth to start the season, but adding Robert Stephenson should mean that the Angels have to be willing to keep Estevez on a short leash in the role. Don't sleep on Ben Joyce snagging a bullpen spot. He may have the command of an angry toddler at times, but he also throws absolute gas that threatens the gastrointestinal stability of opposing hitters. If he can get that under control a bit more, he could become a high leverage reliever in a hurry. Once Sam Bachman returns from injury, expect him to slot in as well.

Angels Opening Day Projected Infield

Logan O'Hoppe, Matt Thaiss - C
Nolan Schanuel - 1B
Luis Rengifo - 2B
Zach Neto - SS
Brandon Drury - 3B
Anthony Rendon - DH

Nothing too surprising here, but that is mostly because the Angels don't have a lot of infield options that are ready for the bright lights. This is a young group overall, but one that has a lot of potential, especially if Rengifo bounces back from injury and plays like he did before he got hurt last year.

Of course, the biggest change is that Brandon Drury is slotted in at third base, while Rendon gets pushed to the DH spot. The most likely outcome is that Drury and Rengifo move around the dirt a bit, with Rendon getting a bit of time at third. However, Rendon's body can barely withstand a stiff breeze, and keeping him out of the field primarily could at least give some hope that he can produce at the plate for more than a month this season.

Angels Opening Day Projected Outfield

Mike Trout
Taylor Ward
Mickey Moniak
Aaron Hicks
Jo Adell

The lack of depth the Angels have in the infield helps them here, as it means they don't have to make a decision on Jo Adell just yet; he is out of minor-league options. Having some outfield depth could also be helpful in the event that Taylor Ward still needs time to get back in game shape following his horrific facial injuries after getting hit by a pitch last year.

That said, if a decision were to be made right now, it is hard to see Adell sticking around. If the Angels had confidence that he could reach his lofty potential with them, they probably wouldn't have gone ahead and signed Aaron Hicks in the first place.

Angels Opening Day Projected Bench

Aside from carrying two outfielders from the above group (likely Adell and Hicks for now, unless Ward needs more time), as well as Thaiss as the backup catcher, the Angels will carry a utility infielder, with Michael Stefanic being the pretty clear choice following the trade of Trey Cabbage. Stefanic can play all over the dirt, and can hit a bit in a pinch as well.

Angels prospects who could make an impact later in 2024

Jack Kochanowicz, RHP
Kyren Paris, 2B/SS
Jordyn Adams, OF
Victor Mederos, RHP

Beyond Joyce and Schanuel, who are already projected to make the team out of camp here, the prospect with the biggest upside that could also see time with the Angels in 2023 is Jordyn Adams. His hit tool hasn't progressed the way many hoped it would when he was drafted in the first round back in 2018, he can absolutely fly and might be a Gold Glove defender in the outfield. If he can just hit a bit more, he's a useful big leaguer with crazy athletic upside.

Kyren Paris is another speedster who struggled in his first short look in the big leagues, but his bat isn't uninteresting and he will be under consideration for the utility infield spot this spring, along with Stefanic. Jack Kochanowicz has the look of a guy that is trying to blow hitters away, but is actually a groundball specialist who could end up as a fifth starter type.

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