After finishing the 2025 season with a 72-90 record, the Los Angeles Angels haven’t had a winning season in a decade (85-77, 2015).
Los Angeles made the decision to part ways with managers Ron Washington and Ray Montgomery and to hire former Angels catcher and special assistant Kurt Suzuki as the team’s next manager.
Suzuki is tasked with fixing a roster that has several large holes. Pitching has long been a problem for the Angels and had the pitching staff just been league average, there was potential for a much better finish and possibly a sneaky playoff berth.
While pitching should be the top priority this winter, the Angels need to address parts of their infield. Second baseman Luis Rengifo is a free agent and third baseman Anthony Rendon is being paid to stay home.
Rengifo is a decent player, but the Angels need more production than a .622 OPS. In 2022, Rengifo hit 17 home runs with 52 RBI in 127 games. In 2023, he hit 16 home runs with 51 RBI in 126 games – that’s pretty consistent. However, Rengifo has regressed enough for Los Angeles to move in a different direction.
Rendon was the big ticket free agent in 2019 after he led the Washington Nationals to a World Series victory. He hasn’t played more than 58 games in a season since joining the Halos due to injury and he is the highest paid third baseman in the sport.
Unfortunately for Angels fans, reports suggest owner Arte Moreno isn’t going to be spending a lot of money this offseason to fix the team’s problems.
“Angels owner Arte Moreno is always prone to change his mind, but at the moment, the expectation is that he won't be spending big this offseason, especially with the civil trial related to Tyler Skaggs' death continuing,” ESPN’s Alden Gonzalez wrote Friday. “That leaves general manager Perry Minasian with few options to fill a variety of holes throughout his roster, most notably: third base, second base, center field, starting pitching and the back end of the bullpen.
“The Angels are one of approximately 30 teams in search of pitching depth at this moment. Their offensive needs, though, are more specific: the Angels would like some left-handed bats. At the moment, first baseman Nolan Schanuel is their only hitter capable of providing consistent production from the left side. Free agents Cody Bellinger and Trent Grisham would be ideal fits but are not expected to be in the Angels' price range. Minasian will need to be creative.”
Temper expectations regarding free agent signings for the Angels this offseason.