ANAHEIM, Calif. – There was a somewhat festive atmosphere in the Angels’ clubhouse after their game on Sunday. Probably not, because they won to get to a 73-89 record — just like in 2022. More likely, though, is that the season was finally over. Everyone had to pack their things and go home.
Shohei Ohtani walked around and hugged his teammates. There was nothing extraordinary about it, but it had a surreal feeling. Could this be his last goodbye? The end of an unforgettable era in sports history?
That was one of many questions surrounding the Angels heading into an incredibly unpredictable offseason. Here are 10 critical questions this team faces now that all 162 games are over.
Will the Angels keep coach Phil Nevin?
Nevin’s field record certainly doesn’t look good (119-149). But when an organization is forced to field 66 players in two consecutive seasons, you begin to realize that Nevin is not responsible for that organization’s problems. Owners’ lack of investment in key areas and inability to effectively replace injured players are critical deficiencies in this franchise’s infrastructure.
It’s hard to say whether owner Arte Moreno understands this dynamic. Nevin is no longer under contract after this year. He also got the job as interim replacement, a designation that was scrapped largely because of the potential sale to extend it for a season. Moreno will have to balance the obvious respect Nevin has gained within the organization against the desire to start over with someone else. But it’s hard to believe that a manager can really make a difference here.
Will the Angels keep GM Perry Minasian?
Much of what was said about Nevin could also be said about Minasian. It’s so hard to blame Minasian considering so many of his decisions were made on direct orders from his boss. Minasian’s contract runs for another year.
Right now, the Angels have a bad major league team, a bad farm system and no obvious path forward. Heck, it’s unclear if they even got under the luxury tax this season. This all reflects poorly on Minasian. But a lot of how they got here is probably not his fault.
It would be reasonable to question whether he took the right steps. Or whether the organizational infrastructure he built was productive. Just because Moreno is a bad boss doesn’t mean Minasian is a great GM. The problem is that it is almost impossible to assess correctly.
We’ll see what Moreno does. But if he goes in a different direction, the biggest question will be: Who would want to take this job?
Will any of these people be back next season? (Ronald Martinez/Getty Images)
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How will Mike Trout’s conversation with team management go?
Mike Trout said a week ago that he expects to come to spring training next year in an Angels uniform. However, he also declined to say whether he would be willing to request a trade. While it would be almost incomprehensible to imagine Trout asking to leave — and the Angels finding a suitable partner — it is still noteworthy. The three-time MVP has been frequently injured over the past three seasons and was unable to recover from a broken hamate for six months.
Will Trout and Moreno agree on what it will take for this franchise to win? And are both sides committed to doing the same in Anaheim? It’s possible that both have lost some credibility with each other. Trout because it is not as available or productive. And Moreno for missing the playoffs again in a must-win season.
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Will Zach Neto and Nolan Schanuel be everyday players next season?
Both Zach Neto and Nolan Schanuel did very well in their first taste of the big leagues. There is no doubt that both are capable of being everyday players at this level. The question the Angels need to answer this offseason is whether they will start in those roles next year.
Neto’s overall results in his rookie season were decent. His 86 OPS+ is below league average and an overall OPS of .685 is definitely not great. He wasn’t quite the same after returning from his back injury. Neto has to prove that he can play 150 games over a full season and at a consistently high level. That’s a lot to ask, and perhaps the angels are aware of it.
Schanuel looked so solid in his first month. He reached base in all 29 games he played and walked more than he hit. Anyone who can do that will stay at this level. The question is whether he can develop strength and, like Neto, maintain endurance over long periods of time.
Do the angels trust their rotation?
The Angels could very easily run it back with the same starting rotation without spending another dime. Patrick Sandoval, Reid Detmers, Tyler Anderson, Chase Silseth and Griffin Canning – all young starters who have shown tons of potential. However, the Angels’ starters haven’t been good this year. Their combined ERA of 4.47 was a weak spot.
This front office needs to ask itself whether it wants to cross its fingers and hope that these pitchers perform better because they are all capable of it, or whether committing resources to additions is necessary.
Will the Angels have a chance at signing Shohei Ohtani?
This is the question that has been discussed all year. The general consensus was that the Angels needed a solid performance in 2023 to convince him to return. Something that proved they were serious. That there was a future.
That didn’t happen.
It’s impossible to know what Shohei Ohtani is thinking. He hasn’t spoken to a reporter since August 9, and even when asked about his future, Ohtani gave answers that had little substance. It’s possible he loves Anaheim and can’t imagine being anywhere else. That would be surprising. And it’s unlikely the Angels can offer him the most money or the best chance to win. But until he signs elsewhere, there is still hope.
What awaits Mickey Moniak and Jo Adell?
Both players pose fascinating puzzles for the Angels. Mickey Moniak finished the season with an OPS of .802. He will definitely play a role next year. His 2023 season was good, but there were some concerning trend lines. He was batting just .202 with 54 strikeouts and three walks after July 28. It appears that teams have figured out that he will pursue him. Moniak has to get used to the league again.
Jo Adell looks like an impressive big league player at times. He has all the tools and there are some signs that they fit together. Still, he struck out in 40 percent of his limited major league at-bats that year. No different than 2022. If that number doesn’t go down, he can’t be counted on to start every day.
Another factor: None of the players can be optioned next year. Will the angels keep both?
Will Moreno keep the payroll high?
Moreno spent more on payroll in 2023 than ever before. And since everything went so badly, it will be interesting to see if he’s willing to do it again. According to FanGraphs, the Angels still have money left and only have about $130 million committed for next year. You will have some flexibility in spending. However, it is unclear how much they will spend.
It’s not a great free agent class behind Ohtani. Cody Bellinger, Matt Chapman, Blake Snell and Josh Hader could all be potential candidates for the Angels. But they will be expensive.
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Do David Fletcher, Jared Walsh and Max Stassi have a place in the Angels’ future?
All three were organizational parts of this season. But nobody has a stable future. David Fletcher hasn’t been productive and the Angels have apparently tried to keep his service time under five years. When he turns five, they would have to remove him from the active roster. And he could opt for free agency while the team still owes the final two years of his contract.
Jared Walsh may have to get a raise in arbitration. But the team could choose not to tender him given his struggles this year. He showed some promise when he returned earlier this month, but he also accomplished a lot. They have to assess whether he can be the 30-homer hitter he was in 2021.
Max Stassi signed a three-year contract ahead of the 2022 season. He missed all of 2023 due to a family matter and is currently on the restricted list. Who knows if he will return to baseball at that point? There are things that are more important than the game, and it’s possible that he’s focused on those things right now. He will still owe $7.5 million next year if he decides to play.
Will the Angels make big changes elsewhere in the organization?
This is kind of a catch-all question. It could mean so many things. Will they replace any of the coaches on staff? The pitching has declined significantly this season, and that could mean they’re looking to replace Matt Wise. Will they make changes in the front office? Will they look to expand certain departments? Will they ever renovate their spring training complex?
There are so many organizational deficiencies that need to be addressed. And it would be in the best interest of the organization to use this time to address them. More resources need to be added in many different areas. But will they be?
(Top photo by Zach Neto: Ronald Martinez / Getty Images)