3 Angels players who may not be on the roster following the 2023 season

Feb 21, 2023; Tempe, AZ, USA; Los Angeles Angels infielder Gio Urshela poses for a portrait during
Feb 21, 2023; Tempe, AZ, USA; Los Angeles Angels infielder Gio Urshela poses for a portrait during / Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports
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All of the talk surrounding the Los Angeles Angels has revolved around Shohei Ohtani and his future with the organization. Will he stay? Will he bolt the first chance he gets?

Ohtani has spoken to the media, his agent has spoken to the media, and the answer is, we really don't know yet. We likely won't know until if and when it happens.

Ohtani is an obvious answer to a player who might not be on the roster following the 2023 season, but who are other Angels players who might wear another uniform in 2024?

1) Gio Urshela has no future spot on the Angels

The Angels acquired Gio Urshela in a trade with the Twins in an effort to fortify their depth. He has no clearcut role on this team with Jared Walsh getting most of the starts at first and Anthony Rendon the starter at third base. Urshela is not a middle infielder, although he will certainly get starts at both second base and shortstop.

The trade was fine for the Angels as they didn't give up very much and got an established MLB player. The problem is, if Urshela was in control of where he got traded to, I'm sure the Angels wouldn't be at the top of his list because of the fact that his playing time will be up and down.

If and when there're injuries he'll have more of a defined role, but he's nothing more that a utility player when the Angels are fully healthy.

Urshela is in the final year of team control and has done enough to earn a guaranteed starting job somewhere. Urshela will be seeking more money than the Angels would want to give a utility player and he'll be wearing another uniform in 2024.

2) Aaron Loup won't have his club option picked up by the Angels

Aaron Loup signed a two-year $17 million dollar deal prior to the 2022 season coming off a career year with the Mets. He got $7.5 million for 2022 and 2023, and has a club option for another $7.5 million in 2024. Barring some sort of miracle where Loup is the pitcher he was in New York, that option won't be picked up by the Angels.

Loup was a fine reliever for the Angels last season, but that price is for more premier guys. He really struggled in the first half before looking more like the reliever the Angels thought they were getting when they were already out of contention.

The team brought in Matt Moore for $7.55 million after Moore had a sub-2.00 ERA last season for Texas. Moore offers an ability to record more than 3 outs in an outing while also being very reliable against both righties and lefties. Loup isn't quite as good in both areas.

By 2024 the Angels will hopefully have pitchers like Ben Joyce, Eric Torres, and potentially other younger arms join the 'pen. There won't be a need for Aaron Loup who will be 36 at the time.

3) There isn't room for Ryan Tepera in the future Angels bullpen either

Ryan Tepera was another reliever brought in by the Angels following the 2021 season. He was also coming off of a very good season in 2021 but wasn't as good this past season for the Halos. Like Loup, Tepera struggled in the first half and looked better when the Angels were out of contention already.

After this season, the Angels will have Carlos Estevez, Jimmy Herget, Jaime Barria, Jose Quijada, and Andrew Wantz under team control and in their bullpen in all likelihood. There're the likes of Torres, Joyce, Kolten Ingram, and others who will be in it as well or knocking on the door.

The Angels will want a younger bullpen, and Tepera won't have a place. Even if he has a good year I can see him getting a lot of money from another team, just not the Angels.

Tepera does not have an option after this season so he'll just walk in free agency. He'll also be 36 come Opening Day 2024, and doesn't have a spot in the future bullpen.

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