Angels Front Office Exec Reveals Team's Biggest Needs Entering Offseason
Going into the 2024 season, the Halos reside in a precarious spot. Two-way superstar Shohei Ohtani will likely leave the club this offseason, and rumors have circled about trading baseball icon Mike Trout.
In what appears to be, at least, a re-tooling year, Jim Bowden of the Athletic identifies the club's biggest needs,
Here is a rundown of the biggest needs for each team, based on what front-office execs told me...
A starting pitcher, bullpen upgrades, a middle-of-the-order bat and a corner outfielder.
Possibly losing an MVP creates a void in that position. If Ohtani decides to leave in free agency, the Angels starting rotation becomes thin with Tyler Anderson, Patrick Sandoval, and Reid Detmers. The Halos need an arm to take the ball every five days, and preferably a frontline starter.
Every team needs bullpen help. The volatility at the position necessitates turnover every year to find new talent. However, the Angels ranked 25th in bullpen ERA last year with a 4.88. This offseason they need to target a bonafide high-leverage bullpen arm.
The "middle of the order bat," seems to allude to the need for a designated hitter. As mentioned above, losing an MVP designated hitter creates a need at that spot. Look for the Angels to be in on free agents like J.D. Martinez and Justin Turner.
The Angels, if they hold on to Mike Trout, have at least three outfielders. Mickey Moniak, Trout, and Taylor Ward all man the position and provide production at the plate. However, compared to the infield, they do need some depth out there - either to give players a break or in case of injury.
