It’s no secret that the Angels’ seven-year, $245MM contract with third baseman Anthony Rendon has not gone because the membership hoped it could. Whereas Rendon turned in an outstanding inaugural marketing campaign in Anaheim in the course of the shortened 2020 season, the 4 seasons since then have been marred by harm and ineffectiveness. Rendon has totaled simply 205 video games and 863 plate appearances throughout that point, and his .231/.329/.336 (89 wRC+) slash line on the uncommon event he’s wholesome sufficient to take the sector leaves a lot to be desired. With two years and $77MM left on the contract, it might appear inevitable that the Angels will proceed to aim to make Rendon work as an everyday fixture of their lineup, however MLB.com’s Rhett Bollinger relayed feedback from membership GM Perry Minasian Monday that recommend the membership can be open to entering into one other course.
“We’ve got to be open to at the least taking a look at that spot and seeing if there are different options make us higher,” Minasian mentioned of the new nook, as relayed by Bollinger. “Clearly, a wholesome Anthony Rendon makes us so much higher. However with the final 4 years being the final 4 years, we want to have a look and sort of see what else is on the market.”
To that finish, Bollinger experiences that Rendon will enter Spring Coaching 2025 “competing for a roster spot” and added that Minasian urged the 34-year-old veteran may very well be moved right into a part-time utility function the place he sees time at first and second base along with his native place at third. That situation would possible come to go if the Angels had been so as to add a full-time third baseman to their ranks by way of commerce or free company, a chance which Bollinger notes that Minasian didn’t rule out. The Angels GM additionally famous that the membership’s inner group of infielders presents a handful of gamers able to dealing with the new nook like Luis Rengifo, Scott Kingery, and Kevin Newman.
That the Angels would take into account shifting on from Rendon as their beginning third baseman is definitely justified based mostly on his efficiency in recent times, however nonetheless registers as one thing of a shock given the substantial sum he’s owed over the subsequent two seasons. With that mentioned, this winter does supply some attention-grabbing infield candidates the membership to bolster its offense with. It appears unlikely that the Halos would greenlight one other huge third base signing with Rendon on the books, so it could be a shock to see them goal Alex Bregman in free company this winter. Trying past Bregman, free company presents quite a lot of attention-grabbing choices resembling Josh Rojas, Donovan Solano, Yoan Moncada, and Paul DeJong. Commerce candidates on the sizzling nook this winter embrace Nolan Arenado (whose cumbersome contract comes with the identical obstacles a pursuit of Bregman would), Alec Bohm, and Brett Baty.
DeJong specifically may very well be an intriguing match for the Angels given the truth that Opening Day is in query for shortstop Zach Neto following offseason shoulder surgical procedure. DeJong, 31, has loads of expertise at shortstop and will deal with the place for the Halos whereas Neto is on the mend earlier than shifting over to the new nook as soon as the teenager returns. An alternative choice may very well be utilizing the positional flexibility of Rengifo so as to add a second baseman to the combination. Gleyber Torres is the highest free agent accessible on the keystone this winter, but when the Angels are unwilling to fulfill his price ticket extra inexpensive choices embrace Jorge Polanco, Jose Iglesias, Amed Rosario, and Whit Merrifield. Iglesias and Rosario, very similar to DeJong, additionally supply ample expertise at shortstop and will assist fill in for Neto early within the season earlier than shifting off the place late within the season as soon as he’s able to go.
If the Halos do add one other bat to the offense in some unspecified time in the future this winter, Bollinger suggests the addition is much extra prone to be an infielder than an outfielder. The Angels nonetheless intend to present longtime face of the franchise Mike Trout each alternative to return from harm and re-establish himself as one of many video games greatest gamers, and whereas the membership has not but determined whether or not he’ll proceed to play heart area each day or spend extra time within the outfield corners and DH going ahead Bollinger relays that the membership believes they’ve the place coated given the presence of Jo Adell, Mickey Moniak, and Taylor Ward as attainable choices in heart on at the least a part-time foundation. Bollinger provides that whereas Jorge Soler is anticipated to get the lion’s share of enjoying time at DH after being acquired from the Braves final month, if the Angels resolve to relaxation Trout on the place or make the most of different gamers there every so often the Halos are comfy enjoying him in both outfield nook as properly.
