This story was excerpted from Rhett Bollinger’s Angels Beat newsletter. To read the full newsletter, click here. And subscribe to get it regularly in your inbox.
ANAHEIM -- After the Angels agreed to bring back third baseman Yoán Moncada on a one-year, $4 million deal on Wednesday, things are starting to look clearer on the position-player side with Spring Training just a few weeks away.
Moncada, 30, will be the club’s primary third baseman as Anthony Rendon misses a second straight year because of hip surgery prior to last season. Moncada, though, will have to prove he can stay healthy, as he has averaged 73 games played over the past four years and was limited to 84 games last season because of a right thumb strain and right knee inflammation.
With Moncada back in the fold, it looks like the Angels will go with an infield that includes Zach Neto at shortstop, Nolan Schanuel at first base and Christian Moore as the favorite at second base. The Angels have other options at second, including Oswald Peraza, Vaughn Grissom and Kyren Paris.
The Angels are set at catcher, with Logan O’Hoppe and veteran Travis d’Arnaud under new manager Kurt Suzuki, a 16-year backstop in the Majors.
The Angels lack a true everyday center fielder, but they have a mix of corner outfielders that includes Mike Trout, Jo Adell, Jorge Soler and the newly acquired Josh Lowe. The right-handed-hitting Bryce Teodosio could be a platoon candidate in center because of his defensive ability, while Matthew Lugo and waiver claim Wade Meckler offer outfield depth.
Finding a regular center fielder was a goal this offseason but Lowe might help fill that void and see some time there, along with Teodosio, Trout and Adell.
It means the Angels could be done in terms of adding to their lineup, but the rotation stands out as an area that needs plenty of improvement. They traded for right-hander Grayson Rodriguez and signed right-hander Alek Manoah to a one-year deal, but neither pitched in the Majors in 2025.
Their only locks in the rotation are right-hander José Soriano and lefties Yusei Kikuchi and Reid Detmers. Rodriguez has a strong chance if he can stay healthy this spring, but the Angels could use another veteran to join that mix. Other internal starting pitcher candidates include Caden Dana, Sam Aldegheri, Jack Kochanowicz, George Klassen, Mitch Farris and Victor Mederos.
The bullpen also took a hit after trading away dependable lefty Brock Burke to acquire Lowe. But the Angels signed veterans Drew Pomeranz, Kirby Yates and Jordan Romano to one-year deals, and right-hander Robert Stephenson is expected to be healthy in time for Spring Training. Flamethrower Ben Joyce isn’t expected to miss too much time after shoulder surgery last season.
The Angels could always use another arm, but other options include Ryan Zeferjahn, Chase Silseth, Sam Bachman, José Fermin and waiver claim Cody Laweryson.
So far, the Angels haven’t made a big splash via free agency, instead going with players with bounce-back potential such as Manoah, Lowe, Rodriguez, Grissom, Yates and Romano.
General manager Perry Minasian has declined to say where the payroll will be to start this season, but right now it’s projected to be roughly $180 million after it was an estimated $206 million in 2025, per FanGraphs.com. And that’s not including whatever the club is saving in the short term from restructuring Rendon’s contract.
A lot of the big free-agent names have come off the board, including Cody Bellinger returning to the Yankees and the Red Sox signing Ranger Suárez. The best remaining free agents include starting pitchers Framber Valdez, Chris Bassitt, Nick Martinez and Zac Gallen; third baseman Eugenio Suárez; center fielder Harrison Bader; and infielder Luis Arraez.
Signing any one of those players would be a big boost for a young club coming off a 72-win season.
The Angels, though, haven’t been linked to any of the big names in free agency this offseason. They could swoop and make a surprise signing, but time is starting to run out. Pitchers and catchers are set for the first workout at the club’s Spring Training complex on Feb. 11.