Angels Among Top 10 Teams That 'Won the Offseason' According to MLB Expert
The Los Angeles Angels may not have made a big splash this offseason, but they were among the teams to make the most moves. They made key additions all over the roster in All-Star LHP Tyler Anderson, utility fielders Gio Urshela and Brandon Drury, power-hitting outfielder Hunter Renfroe and potential closer Carlos Estevez.
The roster looks much different than it did last season, and will give the Angels a real shot at competing for a postseason spot, something they haven't done since 2015. And it's been even longer since they actually made the postseason, which happened in 2014 — but it wasn't a very long stay.
All these moves have put the Angels in position to contend, and have caught the attention of many experts. Over at MLB.com, the Angels were among the top 10 teams that 'won the offseason,' coming it an No. 7 on the list.
"The Angels weren’t among the offseason’s splashiest spenders, but it says here that they were one of the biggest winners.
"Why? Simple. Because instead of trading away the once-in-a-lifetime talent of Shohei Ohtani a year ahead of his free agency, as Angels fans understandably feared, the team instead made an earnest effort to compete, even amid the possibility of being sold (a possibility we now know is moot).
"In years past, the Halos have seen some of their big swings in free agency turn out to be big whiffs. Soon we’ll see if the lower-profile, depth-oriented route taken by GM Perry Minasian with the acquisitions of starting pitcher Tyler Anderson, power-hitting outfielder Hunter Renfroe, utility men Brandon Drury and Gio Urshela, and back-end reliever Carlos Estévez pays off. The Angels still need help at shortstop, and perhaps they have not done enough to reach the playoffs. But we know a healthy Ohtani and Mike Trout would give the Angels a high floor, and this club is now better equipped to handle injuries elsewhere on the roster than it was before."
Even with all the moves, the big question remains: Will this be enough to not only make the postseason, but convince Shohei Ohtani to stay long-term? If the answer to that question turns out to be yes, then the Angels will be the biggest winner of this offseason. However, if the answer turns out to be no, then this offseason could end up being all for naught.
