3 biggest losers of Angels Spring Training so far

2. LA Angels outfielder Brett Phillips could potentially lose his spot

I don't expect this to happen, but Phil Nevin has been saying consistently that he's going to take the best 26 players. That means that even if there's less opportunity for someone like Mickey Moniak who's swung the bat well to play with the Angels, they'd still take him over someone who's looked awful for the most part in Brett Phillips.

Nobody expected Phillips to hit much considering his track record, but he has two hits in 24 at-bats this spring with 14 strikeouts. That's not including the three hitless at-bats with two strikeouts in the USA game. So Phillips really has two hits in 27 at-bats with 16 strikeouts. Pretty unacceptable to be striking out almost 60% of the time.

We get the glove, and the speed, and the clubhouse presence, but for him to be THIS bad offensively is hard to wrap your head around.

I still expect him to make the team because of the fact that he'll rarely play outside of pinch running, and because the Angels gave him a MLB deal. The Angels can use players like Jared Walsh, Luis Rengifo, and Brandon Drury in the outfield, Phillips is just needed for center field on days Mike Trout doesn't play. I also think it's beneficial to give young players like Moniak and Adell regular at-bats in the minors if they can't get them in the bigs. If he was on a minor league deal I think he'd have no shot, but his guaranteed deal makes it unlikely that he's actually cut.

3. LA Angels pitcher Jaime Barria's role is now unclear

Jaime Barria came in this spring as part of the sixth starter competition. I made the argument he should've been the leader based on how Phil Nevin wanted the spot to be used and his success last season. My opinion has changed with how Tucker Davidson has pitched, and also slightly with how Barria has pitched.

In his one appearance with the Angels this spring, he allowed four runs in two innings out of the bullpen. While it's unfair to base any decision off of one outing, Barria allowed six base runners (but only one run) in 2.2 innings of work in his lone WBC start.

Barria had a 2.61 ERA last season, but his FIP was 4.39, as was his xERA. He struck out just 54 batters in 79.1 innings pitched and ranked in the ninth percentile in barrel rate according to baseball savant.

Barria had a really good year based on his ERA, but every advanced metric you look at suggested he wasn't quite as good as the ERA stated. This makes Barria's struggles, albeit just two outings, just a bit concerning.

With the emergence of Tucker Davidson, I don't think Barria will be the sixth starter. He'll still be on the team, but with Davidson not being used as often as Angels sixth starters were being used in the past, he might take some of Barria's long relief appearances.

Barria is out of options which makes it highly unlikely he doesn't make the team, but what's his role? He's not good enough to be a high-leverage guy, and might not even be the optimal long man. His spot seemed secure to begin the season but especially with the increased likelihood that Ben Joyce will make the roster, he appears to be the seventh or eighth reliever on the roster right now which doesn't bode well for his future with the team.