MARCH 18, 2023•THEATHLETIC.COM
Here's a full transcript of Angels owner Arte Moreno's first media availability in yearsMoreno has declined interviews for several years. Here's everything he had to say about Shohei Ohtani, the payroll, the stadium and more.
Max Stassi - Still seen as starterStassi appears set to win the starting catcher job for the Angels despite hitting just .231 with a .615 OPS in 13 at-bats this spring, MLB.com reports.
ImpactStassi looks set to begin the season as the starter with Matt Thaiss and Logan O'Hoppe battling for the backup role, though Stassi could split time or platoon with Thaiss. While Stassi may begin the season as the starter, it seems just a matter of time before O'Hoppe takes over as the starter. O'Hoppe had a breakout season last year by hitting .283 with 26 home runs and a .961 OPS at Double-A which earned him a 14-game late-season call-up with the Angels.
MARCH 18, 2023•ROTOWIRE
Matt Thaiss - Slight favorite to win roster spotThaiss appears as a slight favorite to begin the season in the majors over Logan O'Hoppe, MLB.com reports.
ImpactThaiss is hitting .389 with a 1.060 OPS in 18 at-bats this spring. He's competing with Logan O'Hoppe for the backup role to Max Stassi. O'Hoppe is a top prospect and the Angels may want him to play every day in the minors initially. Still, this job battle may come down to the final days of spring training.
MARCH 18, 2023•ROTOWIRE
Logan O'Hoppe - Underdog to win roster spotO'Hoppe appears as an underdog to begin the season in the majors with Matt Thaiss (1.060 OPS) having a good spring, MLB.com reports. O'Hoppe is hitting .250 (5-for-20) with a home...
ImpactO'Hoppe is one of the team's top prospects, but the Angels may start him out in the minors. He's drawing good reviews overall this spring, so a decision on him making the Opening Day roster may come down to the wire. Either way, O'Hoppe seems like a candidate to be in the majors earlier rather than later this season. O'Hoppe had a breakout season last year by hitting .283 with 26 homers and a .961 OPS at Double-A which earned him a 14-game late-season call-up with the Angels.
MARCH 18, 2023•ROTOWIRE
Jo Adell - Likely bound for minorsAdell is expected to begin the season at Triple-A, MLB.com reports. He's hitting .250 with two home runs in a .752 OPS this spring.
ImpactAdell had a problematic 37.7% strikeout rate last season and it's been a similar story this spring. He has 16 strikeouts and just two walks in 39 plate appearances this spring.
MARCH 18, 2023•ROTOWIRE
Anthony Rendon - Healthy and hitting this springRendon is hitting .444 (8-for-18) with two home runs this spring. He's appeared fully healthy this spring after a wrist injury limited him to just 47 games in 2022, MLB.com reports...
ImpactRendon will turn 33 in June and hasn't had a full healthy season since 2019 (not counting the pandemic-shortened 2020 campaign). However, he's done everything this spring to give fantasy managers confidence he can end that recent trend.
MARCH 18, 2023•ROTOWIRE
Brandon Drury - Sitting with sore calfDrury, who fouled a ball off his calf Friday, is not in Saturday's lineup against the Rangers, Jeff Fletcher of The Orange County Register reports.
ImpactHe was expected to be in Saturday's lineup, so his absence suggests the team is either being extra careful and/or Drury's calf was hurting more than anticipated. It seems like a day-to-day situation until further notice.
MARCH 18, 2023•ROTOWIRE
