Angels and franchise shortstop Zach Neto filed a $4.15MM settlement in January. That includes the first of four years of arbitration eligibility for the former first-rounder, who reached the Super Two level this offseason.
If the parties discussed the possibility of any kind of long-term agreement, those talks apparently did not progress. Neto’s agent, Ryan Hamill of CAA, tells Bill Shaikin of the Los Angeles Times that the Angels made no official long-term commitments last season. It is unclear whether the sides will hold talks during spring training.
The Angels did not make long-term commitments. All of their free agent work was limited to one year, with not a single player making more than $5MM. They also signed new manager Kurt Suzuki to a one-year contract (reportedly after negotiations with Albert Pujols failed).
It was a disappointing season for Halos fans who endured the longest playoff drought in 11 years. That was before owner Arte Moreno’s confusing comments last week, in which he said polls showed “winning is not in (fans’) top five things” when attending games. Even if one believes that to be true of the fans, it’s a strange statement for an owner to make on the record, knowing it will attract the attention of players and coaches.
Neto told Shaikin that he “really (doesn’t) have an answer to that” when asked if Moreno’s comments would concern him in the extension talks. However, he spoke at length about valuing loyalty and said he would agree to a long-term deal. “If it happens, it happens. I’d like to live here. I’d like to be here. But, if not, not all streets are meant to be.”
That might be a moot point. The Angels terminated their local television deal with Main Street Sports this offseason, eliminating an important source of revenue. MLB is holding its own market distribution this year. Neto is coming off back-to-back seasons that Baseball Reference rates five wins above replacement. He is on the verge of free agency at the age of 29. There’s a good chance it could take $200MM+ if the Angels want to buy out multiple free agency years.
Neto will be in the middle of the diamond for the next few seasons in both situations. There is very little certainty around him around the infield dirt. The Halos are back Yoan Moncada a one-year, $4MM deal to serve as a third-party startup. Christian Moore favorite at second base, there Vaughn Grissom, Denzer Guzman and unregistered invitees Nick Madrigal again Adam Frazier it can be all in the mix.
Moore, the eighth pick in 2024, pitched 411 2/3 innings at Keystone as a rookie. He was a full-time second baseman in pro ball and for most of his college career at Tennessee. The Angels gave Moore four innings at third after removing Moncada in Saturday’s game.
Suzuki told reporters (including Jeff Fletcher of the Orange County Register ) that Moore could get a start at the hot corner while Moncada plays for Cuba in the World Baseball Classic. They could very well increase the versatility of a second-year center fielder, which would make it easier to carry a veteran second baseman like Frazier or Madrigal to the bench.
In the case of a few injuries, trades in the offseason Josh Lowe is battling what appears to be minor soreness in his left oblique (via MLB.com’s injury tracker). Lowe said he will miss a few days but doesn’t expect that to threaten his availability on Opening Day. The right oblique has given Lowe problems the past two seasons, so it’s a relief that the current issue is on the other side.
