Last season, the Angels rocked Mike Trout outside the central field. They hoped he would stay healthy as an everyday right back after he was limited to 82 games or less in three of the past four seasons. Things didn’t go as planned, as Trout suffered a sprained left knee that cost him nearly all of May. He avoided the injured list in the end but became a full-time hitter.
Trout didn’t record a single inning in center field. He made 22 starts at right, none after the end of April. However, general manager Perry Minasian told reporters this week that the Halos could beat Trout on the field next season. That may include some playing time at center back.
“I’m not giving anything away,” the GM said (link via MLB.com’s Rhett Bollinger). “We’ll see what the team looks like when we get to Spring Training and what’s there and what gives us a better chance to win games. He might be playing one position. One day he might be playing left field. Another day he might be DHing.”
As Minasian noted, a lot could depend on how the rest of the season plays out. The Angels entered the winter with a log in the corners. Not so much after the trade Taylor Ward for Grayson Rodriguez. It will still be nice for Trout to play regularly in the outfield again, especially if he wants to contribute Jorge Soler a chance to go back.
Soler is supposed to be the DH but was forced to start 39 games in right field (with predictable side effects) due to Trout’s injury. Angels are here Jo Adell 724 innings in center field. He was arguably the best defensive center fielder in the MLB and found himself back in right field the last two months of the season. The best defensive alignment is Trout in left, Adell in right, and Soler at DH.
That requires someone else to step up as a regular player. Bryce Teodosio he’s a very good defender, but he’s hitting .203/.248/.304 in 50 games. Kyren Paris again Matthew Lugo took a couple of center fielders but didn’t hit well. They probably don’t want Trout playing there every day.
The Angels are so aggressive about their upcoming promotion that it’s almost out of the question that the 20-year-old Nelson Rada you get a chance to break camp. He is a fastball and potential outfielder who split his age-19 season between Double-A and Triple-A. Rada stole 54 bases and hit a decent .398 clip behind a 12.7% walk rate. He is a gifted pure hitter but lacks overpower in his 5’9″ frame. He has hit just two home runs this year and has six long balls in his professional career. Baseball America ranks him #4 and the top player talent in the weak Halos farm system.
Even if Rada starts the season at Triple-A Salt Lake, he will likely be in the majors at some point next season. That can give them enough confidence to put things together locally. “Should we go get a center fielder? Of course not,” Minasian said. “We have other players that we believe can cover this position and obviously, Teodosio can play defense at a very high level. It’s very clear about the players. … I wouldn’t say it’s a must, but is it a place we’re looking at? Absolutely.”
As is often the case, the middle ground supply is limited. Harrison Bader it’s the only common one available in free agency, unless the team feels it Cody Bellinger he can return to the position with the daily dose. Luis Robert Jr. It is a long shot trade that is possible. The Astros are shopping Jake Meyers but I want MLB to start pitching, which the Angels don’t have in abundance. A character like him Nathan Lukes or Jacob Young they come and go but they may not move the needle enough for the Halos to put themselves first.
Angels have different needs to gauge the state of their field. They should add a wide receiver who can handle second and third base. They need at least one starting pitcher and one or two top-level relievers, ideally right-handed pitchers. Minasian confirmed this afternoon that they are still in the bullpen market after the signing Drew Pomeranz again Jordan Romano last night (via Bollinger). External additions can push Robert Stephenson again Ben Joyce to be successful Kenley Jansen on the ninth. “There’s no set up yet. We’re still looking at the barn. It’s not where we’re done,” Minasian said.
