Sep 26, 2016; Anaheim, CA, USA; Los Angeles Angels center fielder Mike Trout (27) gets a high five from first baseman C.J. Cron (24) and right fielder Kole Calhoun (56) after a solo home run in the fourth of the game against the Oakland Athletics at Angel Stadium of Anaheim. Mandatory Credit: Jayne Kamin-Oncea-USA TODAY Sports
Here at Call to the Pen during the month of March, we'll dive into a team preview of all 30 MLB clubs. We'll tackle each team's key acquisitions, the players they lost, an overall structure of the team and a prediction on how the team will do this season. The first team up is the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim.
The 2016 Los Angeles Angels finished fourth in the AL West with a 74-88 record. An injury-plagued season killed any chance for the Angels to compete.
They lost three-fifths of their starting rotation in 2016 to arm injuries. First baseman C.J. Cron suffered a broken hand and shortstop Andrelton Simmons tore a ligament in his thumb. Nothing went the Angels way in 2016. Relief pitchers Cam Bedrosian and Huston Street also battled injuries.
Pitcher's Andrew Heaney, Nick Tropeano and Garrett Richards all suffered tears in their UCLs. Heaney and Tropeano underwent Tommy John surgery. Richards decided to go with stem-cell therapy. C.J. Wilson dealt with a shoulder issue all season and didn't step foot on the mound one time.
Despite the injuries, there were still some bright spots during the Angels' 2016 season. Angels' pitcher Matt Shoemaker shined for a majority of the season. After a rough April, the Angels sent Shoemaker back to AAA. When recalled, he pitched better than anyone else in the rotation until he suffered a head injury in September (line drive causing a fractured skull).
Another positive was the emergence of Bedrosian. After two rough seasons, Bedrosian dominated in 2016. In 40.1 innings pitched, he struck out 51 batters with an eye-popping 1.12 ERA. Both in June and July, Bedrosian didn't allow a single run to score (24 appearances).
And of course, Mike Trout reemerged as AL MVP. The 25-year-old earned his second MVP award with this stat line: .315/.441/.550, 29 home runs, 100 RBI, 123 runs and 30 steals. Year in and year out the center fielder produces for his club.
In the offseason, the Angels locked up their underrated right fielder Kole Calhoun. The two sides agreed to a three-year, $26 million deal that includes a team option for the fourth year.
Let's take a look at the other deals and acquisitions the team made in the offseason.
Oct 1, 2016; Washington, DC, USA; Washington Nationals shortstop Danny Espinosa (8) makes a throw to first base against the Miami Marlins in the ninth inning at Nationals Park. The Nationals won 2-1. Mandatory Credit: Geoff Burke-USA TODAY Sports
Key Acquisitions
In 2016, the Angels showed holes at left field and second base. They addressed those issues in the offseason and also added some platoon options to the lineup. But unlike most teams, the Angels corrected their problems without spending an immense amount of money.
Left Field:
The left field position haunted the Angels since the signing of Josh Hamilton. Last season, they tried platooning Daniel Nava and Craig Gentry but that failed. A new platoon situation is the plan for 2017.
Angels' GM Billy Eppler attacked their left field issue early. Shortly after the offseason began, they traded for Tigers outfielder Cameron Maybin in exchange for pitcher Victor Alcantara.
Maybin performed well for the Detriot in 2016. In 94 games, Maybin hit .315/.383/.418 with 43 RBI and 65 runs. The Angels didn't just add Maybin for left field, though.
They also signed veteran Ben Revere to a one-year, $4 million deal. Revere is coming off a disappointing 2016 season but in year's past, the outfielder has produced.
Revere is a career .285 hitter with 363 runs and 190 steals in a seven-year career. The two outfielders provide great contact and speed to the Angels' lineup.
Second Base:
Johnny Giavotella and Cliff Pennington manned the second base position last year. The production from the two, clearly, wasn't working. Los Angeles designated Giavotella during the season.
Eppler jumped on the opportunity and traded for Danny Espinosa. The Nationals received two minor league pitchers in the deal.
Espinosa played for the Nationals for seven years. In 2016, Espinosa's batting average dipped near the Mendoza line (.209). What Espinosa lacks in contact, he makes up for with his surprising power from the middle infield positions. He hit 24 homers and drove in 72 runs last season.
Pennington remains with the Angels as a backup infielder and Espinosa provides a great upgrade at the second base position.
First Base/DH:
With the potential of Albert Pujols missing some time recovering from surgery. The Angels went out and signed Luis Valbuena to a two-year, $15 million deal.
Even if Pujols is ready for the start of 2017, Valbuena is still a great asset for the club. Valbuena produces better against right-handers and can fill the void at first base or DH. C.J. Cron the other Angels' first baseman hits lefties better so it works well.
In 2016, Valbuena only played in 90 games. He hit .260 with 13 home runs and 40 RBI. The left-handed hitter possesses power and when not in the lineup, adds some pop to their bench.
Pitcher/Catcher:
The Angels traded catcher Jett Bandy to the Brewers for catcher Martin Maldonado. The deal fits Los Angeles perfectly because manager Mike Scioscia prefers a defensive specialist a catcher.
Maldonado threw out 40 percent of base stealers in 2016. Although, Maldonado doesn't hit well. He is a career-.217 hitter and has yet to play more than 79 games in a season. He'll more than likely split time with Carlos Perez.
The Angels risked trading Bandy, a more offense productive catcher, in hopes that he doesn't pan out. Bandy's locked up until 2022. Only time will tell who won this trade.
They also signed Jesse Chavez to a one-year, $5.75 million contract. Either Chavez or Alex Meyer will become the fifth starter for the Angels in 2017.
Sep 16, 2016; Anaheim, CA, USA; Los Angeles Angels starting pitcher Jered Weaver (36) pitches in the first inning of the game against the Toronto Blue Jays at Angel Stadium of Anaheim. Mandatory Credit: Jayne Kamin-Oncea-USA TODAY Sports
Significant Players Lost
The Angels didn't lose too many players in the offseason. The Angels expect that Andrew Heaney and Nick Tropeano to miss the entire 2017 season recovering from TJS.
Jered Weaver:
Veteran pitcher Jered Weaver is no longer with the Angels. After 11 seasons with the club, the Angels decided not to resign him in the offseason.
Weaver had an impressive stint with the club. He won 150 games in an Angels uniform along with 1,598 strikeouts and three All-Star appearances. His win total is second most in Angels history and his strikeouts rank third. His bWAR also ranks third among Angels' pitchers.
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Although Weaver lost most of his velocity on his fastball, he still pitched his heart for the Angels in his final season with the team. The Angels lost a true veteran presence in the clubhouse. Weaver signed with the Padres in February.
In his fifth and final season in an Angels' uniform, C.J. Wilson didn't pitch because of a shoulder issue. The Angels signed Wilson before the 2012 season to a five-year, $77.5 million deal.
The left-hander started out well in his first two seasons with the Angels. Wilson struggled in 2014 and dealt with injuries in 2015.
Angels' fans probably remember Wilson's meltdown in the 2014 postseason. He lasted just .2 of an inning against the Royals in the ALDS.
The Angels won't miss Wilson's presence like Weaver's. With him not pitching in 2016, him leaving the club won't play that big of a role. Wilson retired in the offseason and decided to focus on his sports car passion. He plans to start racing in 2017.
Feb 15, 2017; Tempe, AZ, USA; Los Angeles Angels pitchers and catchers report to spring training camp at Tempe Diablo Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Rick Scuteri-USA TODAY Sports
Projections:
If the Angels can remain healthy in 2017, they'll perform much better than they did in 2016. If their pitchers avoid injuries they more than likely finish above .500. Here's a projection of their rotation, bullpen and lineups versus righties and lefties.
Rotation:
Bullpen:
Long relief: Jesse Chavez/Alex Meyer/ Daniel Wright
Middle relief: Jose Alvarez/Mike Morin/J.C. Ramirez/Deolis Guerra/Greg Mahle
Setup: Andrew Bailey and Cam Bedrosian
Closer: Huston Street
Lineup vs. R:
3B Escobar
RF Calhoun
CF Trout
DH Pujols
1B Valbuena
2B Espinosa
SS Simmons
C Maldonado/Perez
LF Revere
Lineup vs. L:
3B Escobar
RF Calhoun
CF Trout
DH Pujols
1B Cron
LF Maybin
2B Espinosa
C Maldonado/Perez
SS Simmons
Predictions:
The Angels are in a tough spot. They are in a strong AL West division and don't seem talented enough to compete with the Astros or Rangers. They'll battle with the Mariners for the third spot in the AL West. They'll also fight for a Wild Card spot.
2017 Record: 83-79
Division Rank: Third
Playoffs: No
Although the Angels increase their win total by nine games, the AL West is too strong for them. Battling in September for a Wild Card spot they'll barely miss the playoffs. They'll miss out on the playoffs for the seventh time in eight seasons.
