This piece was taken from the Angels Beat newsletter, written by Rhett Bollinger. Go here to view the newsletter in its entirety. And sign up to receive it in your inbox on a regular basis.
The Anaheim While all offseasons hold significance, the Angels’ ongoing pursuit of a manager to succeed Phil Nevin and the impending free agency of two-way sensation Shohei Ohtani make this one particularly crucial.
Ohtani will be the most sought-after free agent in MLB history, and the Angels have stated that they will do everything it takes to re-sign him. Ohtani is predicted to win the AL MVP Award for the second time in three seasons. They will, however, need to appoint a new manager prior to that, which should occur soon after the World Series is over.
However, many uncertainties remain following their ninth straight season without making the playoffs, a club record. The Angels are up against the following five this offseason:
1) Is it possible for the Angels to re-sign Ohtani?
The club’s first aim this offseason will be to get Ohtani back, but in the end, it will be up to him where he plays in 2024 and beyond. Although Ohtani’s comfort level with the organisation is a plus, it remains to be seen if he thinks the Angels can continue to be champions in the future. Ohtani has never made it to the postseason and wants to win.
His private life only adds to the intrigue and mystery around the biggest narrative in baseball this offseason: his free agency. At this time, it’s hard to predict where Ohtani will sign, and his right elbow ailment only complicates matters. The Angels, along with other interested clubs including the Dodgers, Giants, Padres, Mariners, Red Sox, Mets, Rangers, and Yankees, are likely to bid for the richest contract in MLB history.
2) Who will be the manager that the Angels hire?
After Phil Nevin was fired on October 3, the Angels are still looking for a new manager. Although the identities of those who have interviewed for the job have not yet been revealed, there are a number of potential applicants, including
3) In their free agency, how combative will they be?
It doesn’t seem like a rebuild is in the works, as general manager Perry Minasian stated after the season that the intention is to field a competitive club in 2024 and the Halos have a clear interest in bringing back Ohtani. However, will the team surpass the luxury tax, as demonstrated by its actions during the Trade Deadline? How much more are the Angels ready to spend this offseason to improve the squad around Ohtani, should he return? And in the event that they don’t, how and how much will they change course? All of those are important issues that will be worth keeping an eye on this winter.
4) Will the team start with a five-man rotation, and if so, how many more starters are needed?
Even if Ohtani does make a comeback to the team in 2024, it won’t include him in the rotation because of elbow surgery to fix a ruptured right UCL. It indicates that, with him in the mix, the team will probably go to a five-man rotation from its current modified six-man rotation. The Angels will need to add one or two more starts to their pool of internal contenders, which includes Patrick Sandoval, Reid Detmers, Chase Silseth, Gryphon Canning, and Tyler Anderson.
5) Following its drive during the Trade Deadline, is the team willing to move even more prospects?
At the Trade Deadline, the Angels made a bold move by dealing away a number of their best prospects, including southpaw Ky Bush and catcher Edgar Quero. With a seven-game losing skid to start August, the Halos swiftly went out of contention, and the deals ultimately didn’t work out. The farm system was already regarded as poor. Hunter Renfroe and Gio Urshela, two veterans entering their final year of contracts, were acquired by the team during the previous offseason. Rather than signing a free agent, the Halos might take a similar approach this offseason, but it would further weaken their farm system.
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