FEBRUARY 23, 2023 • LATIMES.COM
LOS ANGELES ANGELS 63-99 · 5TH IN AL WEST
63-99 · 5TH IN AL WEST
Angels' delayed spring renovations expected to resume The Angels say they are ready to move forward with a renovation project at Tempe Diablo Stadium that had been delayed by the potential sale...
Yankees, Mets on MLB insider's list of Angels' Shohei Ohtani suitors Los Angeles Angels two-way star Shohei Ohtani, the 2021 American League MVP, is set to hit free agency after the 2023 season.
FEBRUARY 23, 2023 • NJ.COM
Andrew Velazquez - Will return to switch hitting Velazquez (knee) said Sunday that he intends to return to switch hitting this season, Sam Blum of The Athletic reports.
Impact Velazquez dropped switch hitting for a portion of last season to focus on batting right-handed, but he doesn't intend to continue that trend in 2023. He wasn't very effective from either side of the plate in 2022, though he did fare far better as a righty, batting .238 from that side of the plate versus .168 as a lefty. In any case, Velazquez could see fewer opportunities this season with Anthony Rendon and David Fletcher back healthy and new additions Brandon Drury and Gio Urshela further clogging up spots in the infield.
FEBRUARY 23, 2023 • ROTOWIRE
Jaime Barría - Wants to start Barria indicated Sunday that he wants to be a starter this season, Sam Blum of The Athletic reports.
Impact Barria has bounced back and forth between a starting and relief role throughout his career, though he came out of the bullpen for all but one of his appearances last season. Perhaps not coincidentally, he put together his best big-league campaign, posting a 2.61 ERA, 1.03 WHIP and 54:19 K:BB over 79.1 innings. Nonetheless, Barria has a desire to start again, and he shed 13 pounds of weight during the offseason in part to better his chances of entering the rotation. The Angels don't have a clear No. 6 starter at this point, thus Barria is certainly in the running for the role. However, the team has a variety of other options to fill the slot and intends to deploy its top starters every six days (rather than every six games), so whoever earns the role could be used more as a swing starter than as a traditional piece of the rotation, per Blum.
FEBRUARY 23, 2023 • ROTOWIRE
Could Japan have players better than Shohei Ohtani? Mike Trout started talking to Shohei Ohtani about the World Baseball Classic in the middle of last season. And Ohtani, playing for Japan, to...
FEBRUARY 23, 2023 • MLB.COM
He's only 19, but catching prospect Edgar Quero already has the Angels excited Edgar Quero, who was born in Cuba, earned a non-roster invitation to the Angels' spring training camp this year.
FEBRUARY 23, 2023 • LATIMES.COM
Carlos Estévez - Tabbed as favorite to close by GM Angels general manager Perry Minasian recently expressed optimism that Estevez will earn the team's closer role this season, though he made it clear that the decision will be made...
Impact Estevez signed a two-year contract with the Angels in December after spending the first six seasons of his career with Colorado. The right-hander has racked up 25 saves in his career, with 11 coming in his rookie campaign and another 11 in 2021. Estevez doesn't have huge strikeout numbers -- he fanned less than a batter per inning in each of his past two seasons -- but he posted career-best marks with a 3.47 ERA and 1.18 WHIP over 57 frames in 2022. Jimmy Herget was impressive as part of a closer committee for Los Angeles last season after Raisel Iglesias was traded in early August, and Ryan Tepera should also be in the mix for save chances. Given Minasian's comments, Estevez may have a leg up in the closer competition, but he's far from guaranteed to be handed that role and should be among the final closers to be selected in fantasy drafts.
FEBRUARY 23, 2023 • ROTOWIRE
Griffin Canning - Facing live hitters soon Canning (back) will face live hitters this week, Jeff Fletcher of the Orange County Register reports.
Impact Canning has no limitations in camp despite missing all of the 2022 season due to back issues. The 26-year-old is competing for the sixth spot in the rotation with the Angels, and a strong start in the Cactus League would go a long way towards winning that job. Assuming good health, he should be able to make starts in Arizona relatively soon.
FEBRUARY 23, 2023 • ROTOWIRE
Chris Rodríguez - Not ready to throw live BP Rodriguez (shoulder) is not on the schedule to throw live batting practice this week in Angels camp, Jeff Fletcher of the Orange County Register reports.
Impact Rodriguez is said to be rounding the corner in his recovery from November 2021 shoulder surgery, but he's obviously at least a little behind the other pitchers who are contending for the Angels' projected six-man starting rotation. The 24-year-old right-hander missed all of 2022 and likely won't be an option at the outset of the 2023 campaign given that the Halos figure to continue easing him along this spring.
FEBRUARY 22, 2023 • ROTOWIRE
2023 designated hitter fantasy baseball rankings: Target Shohei Ohtani, stash Bryce Harper Shohei Ohtani, the Angels' two-way star, is a top pick on hitting alone, while there's two-time MVP worth holding until he returns from elbo...
FEBRUARY 22, 2023 • USATODAY.COM
Retired Albert Pujols joins Angels camp: It's good to 'put the uniform back on' TEMPE, Ariz. — Albert Pujols found himself in a familiar setting Tuesday, back at Angels spring training. Now happily retired from playing,...
FEBRUARY 22, 2023 • NEWSOBSERVER.COM
All signs point to Shohei Ohtani not re-signing with Angels
Hearing Shohei Ohtani's agent field questions on his client, or mostly deflect them, didn't engender any confidence in Ohtani remaining in A...FEBRUARY 22, 2023
2022-23 MLB free-agency tracker: Signings, best players still available
Here are some of the biggest moves that've been made in MLB free agency thus far, along with the top players still available.FEBRUARY 22, 2023
Carlos Estévez seeks to earn Angels closer's role, and mentor Jose Marte along the way At Angels camp, wherever you see new reliever and likely closer Carlos Estévez, you will see prospect José Marté nearby.
FEBRUARY 21, 2023 • THEATHLETIC.COM
Tucker Davidson - Gets call for Cactus opener Davidson will start the Angels' Cactus League opener Saturday, Sam Blum of The Athletic reports.
Impact Davidson is completing for the sixth spot in the Angels' rotation, although manager Phil Nevin has indication his sixth starter will serve more of a swingman role this year. The left-hander is out of options, so he seems likely to make the Opening Day roster in some capacity. Davidson's competition this spring includes Jaime Barria, Griffin Canning and Chris Rodriguez.
FEBRUARY 21, 2023 • ROTOWIRE
Yankees, Mets will like what Angels' Shohei Ohtani's agent said about free agency Los Angeles Angels starter Shohei Ohtani is under team control until 2024.
FEBRUARY 21, 2023 • NJ.COM
Utility rankings: Auction values, analysis for Shohei Ohtani, J.D. Martinez and more Gene McCaffrey cracks wise about players with UT designations for fantasy baseball 2023, including bounce-back thoughts for J.D. Martinez.
FEBRUARY 21, 2023 • THEATHLETIC.COM
Shohei Ohtani's Agent Shares Free Agency Views Inside the Rangers keeps up with MLB news as baseball gets closer to the 2023 regular season.
FEBRUARY 21, 2023 • CHARLOTTEOBSERVER.COM
Ohtani's agent on contract talk: 'One day at a time' TEMPE, Ariz. -- Shohei Ohtani likely will elect to enter free agency at the end of the season rather than negotiate with the Angels on a lon...
FEBRUARY 21, 2023 • MLB.COM
Shohei Ohtani free agency: Agent mum on Angels star's future
Shohei Ohtani's agent, Nez Balelo, was noncommittal about the two-way superstar's future with the Los Angeles Angels.FEBRUARY 21, 2023
Shohei Ohtani's agent mum on Angels star's future: 'There's several layers to this' Shohei Ohtani's agent wouldn't reveal whether he thinks the Angel star will be traded or retained by the team beyond this season.
FEBRUARY 21, 2023 • LATIMES.COM
Angels' Anthony Rendon sets his goal for 2023: 'Not to have another surgery' Rendon remains a critical part of Angels' outlook and Phil Nevin said he plans on penciling him into the cleanup spot.
FEBRUARY 20, 2023 • THEATHLETIC.COM
2 surgeries later, Rendon finally healthy TEMPE, Ariz. -- Anthony Rendon has a simple goal this season. “Not to have another surgery,” Rendon said. It only seems fair. “Two-for-two t...
FEBRUARY 20, 2023 • MLB.COM
Shohei Ohtani's agent places no deadline on negotiations with Angels Nez Balelo would not comment on the status of talks between Ohtani and the Angels about an extension. He said he’s “open” anytime, but added...
FEBRUARY 20, 2023 • DAILYNEWS.COM
Shohei Ohtani sweepstakes: Ranking every MLB team's chances to sign him
Where will Shohei Ohtani play next year? It's the biggest question in baseball, and our MLB staff ranked every teams' chances.FEBRUARY 20, 2023
