The Los Angeles Angels find themselves in an undesirable position as the MLB offseason progresses slowly. According to Zachary Rymer’s assessment for Bleacher Report, the Angels currently rank as the team that has improved the least during this period. The loss of superstar Shohei Ohtani compounds their struggles, and their minimal activity in the market raises concerns about their future prospects.
While it’s acknowledged that the MLB landscape can change, the Angels’ lack of significant moves has left them vulnerable. Ohtani’s departure, considered the best player globally, is a considerable setback. Despite having time to make impactful moves, the longer the team delays, the less likely they are to secure transformative acquisitions.
The usual trajectory for teams with 73 wins is to aggressively pursue offseason upgrades to boost their roster. However, the Angels’ situation is unique. Having lost their top-tier talent, they have failed to make substantial improvements so far. The additions of three relievers on inexpensive one-year deals and signing Zach Plesac to a similar contract are the notable transactions. Minor league deals have been sprinkled in, with Ron Washington’s hiring being a positive aspect, but significant player moves have been lacking.
Ohtani’s absence leaves a void, accounting for 19% of the team’s home runs from the previous season and a substantial portion of the pitching staff’s strikeouts. Even for a 100-win team, sustaining such losses would be challenging, let alone for a team with an 89-loss record. Despite the visible struggles, the Angels maintain a stance against rebuilding. While they possess the financial capacity for major moves, a $61 million spending gap between 2023 and projected 2024 expenses, they have yet to actualize these potential splashes.
The responsibility to make an impact largely falls on the shoulders of Mike Trout and Anthony Rendon. Any further injuries to these key players could exacerbate the team’s situation. Rymer emphasizes the significant impact of Ohtani during the previous season and underscores the Angels’ limited activity despite having ample financial resources. While there is still time for the team to make improvements, the current outlook is concerning, especially given the Angels’ reliance on Trout and Rendon, both of whom have faced injury setbacks in recent seasons. The Angels’ position ahead of teams like the Padres, who have made significant payroll cuts, raises questions about their direction, prompting suggestions that they should consider a rebuild if they fail to make substantial improvements soon.
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