Fanmail Friday #8 - Should the Young Core be Extended?
Mar 15, 2025 - Written by Jesus Barrera
Photo Credit : @Angels - X
It's that time of the week again. Every Friday, fans have the ability to interact with us directly. A member of the Inside Halos team answers a set of questions submitted by our followers via Instagram or the Q&A Google Form and this weeks questions all came from our Instagram page, @insidehalos. Make sure you mark your calendars and submit your questions for us to be answered every Friday right here on InsideHalos.com!
Q: How are we feeling with the team, honestly? (@it's._.ricky) & Q: Playoff team? Yet (@slattjavi)
A: The spade is a spade. I’m not feeling too great and no the Halos will not be a playoff team in 2025. I wish they would, but it’s a longshot. They definitely won’t replicate another ugly 99-loss season, but they simply didn’t improve much. The team remains limited on both sides of the ball and the moves for the rotation after Yusei Kikuchi were very underwhelming to say the least. Jose Soriano has the best upside of all the rotation pitchers, but he along with Reid Detmers and Jack Kochanowicz will be in uncharted waters in regards to their workload. Tyler Anderson had a solid 2024, and although I hope he surpasses my expectations, I don’t expect much contribution from Kyle Hendricks.
I did like the addition of Travid d’Arnaud as a backup/mentor for Logan O’Hoppe. The trade for a power bat in Jorge Soler was necessary, but he’s a very streaky player. We have to embrace his peaks and as well as his valleys. Soler is limited defensively and should be getting the majority of his at bats at DH, instead of the corner outfield spots. The upside bet made for 3B Yoan Moncada and closer Kenley Jansen were made with an eye to improve the team at the trade deadline. You also have to see what you got with Mickey Moniak and Jo Adell because time is running out. Big bats like Pete Alonso and Anthony Santander were available late into the winter, but should we blame ownership and the front office for balking at another big contract for a bat after the Rendon disaster?
In my opinion the guys the Halos should’ve broken the bank for were Corbin Burnes or Blake Snell. Snell signed with the LA Dodgers and Burnes joined the Arizona Diamondbacks. I fully expect the front office to avoid the pursuit of big money players until Anthony Rendon comes off the books.
Q: When do you think we’ll extend Neto, O’Hoppe, and the rest of the young core? (@max.domer)
A: The time really is now. The player I would undoubtedly push my all chips in to extend is Zach Neto. The 2022 1st rounder was awesome to watch in his first full season in the bigs. Neto hit 23 homers, drove in 77 runs, stole 30 bags, while holding a 113 wRC+. Fangraphs had Neto valued at 3.5 wins above replacement. Neto has the potential of being a 30-30 guy this season and beyond. Along with his solid defense, he is what you want at shortstop.
The case for O’Hoppe is much different due to the second half struggles he had last season. I would definitely begin the dialogue with his agent by this summer if O’Hoppe plays past those struggles and continues to grow into the ball player we all know he can be. The interest should be there, but I would argue that they should be more cautious than with Neto. The sooner the Angels can lock them up long term the better. If an extension or extensions come to fruition, I predict they will get done in the next offseason.
Having Neto, O’Hoppe, Christian Moore, and potentially Jace LaViolette up the middle in Anaheim is something that could be very possible by 2026 or 2027. Pretty good, huh?
Q: Buyers or sellers? (@kennedy4president)
A: It is obviously very early as Spring Training hasn’t even concluded yet. However, with the previous pattern and the lull that Angels baseball has been in for the past decade or so, I can confidently predict that they will be selling come deadline time. The AL West will be one of the weaker divisions in baseball this year, but the other teams in the division are a tier ahead of the Angels. Both Texas teams should be leading the fight for the division.
The Angels should approach this deadline with an eye on turning the corner in 2026-2027. The retooling of the roster and minor league levels with young projectable players is just as important this year, as it was the year before. Pieces that can be flipped for future contributors are Taylor Ward, Tyler Anderson, Luis Rengifo, and Kenley Jansen. If Yoan Moncada can stay on the field and produce, he will also hold some value this summer. Remember, the Angels are still in this predicament because of their refusal to trade Shohei Ohtani two deadlines in a row. A trade of the two way superstar would have fast forwarded the retooling of the minor league system and we would’ve been having a far different conversation right now, but we gotta roll with the punches.
Q: If Mike Trout stays healthy this season, would you move him back to center? (@ohnaka)
A: I firmly believe that the days of Mike Trout as the full time CF for the Angels are coming to an end. I wouldn’t be surprised if he has brief cameos in CF this year or the next, but the wear and tear at CF is something that can continue to impact him. It is well known that the injury bug has been all over him for several seasons now, so having him at a lighter position is what is best for him and the ball club. Trout is a phenomenal athlete and I have no doubt his transition to RF will be effortless. Staying on the field all of 2025, would not change my opinion on him going back to CF.
Q: Who can make the biggest impact to the team out of the not as well known Angels? (@ggonzales_82)
A: Great question! Kyren Paris has hit the ball very well this spring. He totally deserves to break camp with the major league team and be on the opening day roster. If his spring performance is indeed a breakout and he figures things out in the bigs, he can impact the team in two different ways. His emergence can force the Angels' hand with Luis Rengifo this summer. Rengifo carries solid value at multiple infield positions and will surely garner interest at the deadline. Paris coming into his own can create an opportunity for the Angels to improve for 2026 and beyond.
Paris performing well, can also create more developmental time for Christian Moore. It is important for Moore to continue to workout his kinks with breaking stuff and on the defensive side of things. The potential that Moore has is undeniable, he needs to keep cooking before becoming a major leaguer.
Q: Is this make or break season for Detmers? (@salty.toothpick)
A: If this isn’t a make or break season for Reid then I don’t know what is. Detmers has ridden some highs at the major league level like tossing a no-hitter and some lows like suffering multiple demotions.
Detmers’ inconsistencies have plagued his short career in Anaheim. His potential has remained in showing flashes here and there and he’s coming off a nightmarish 2024 season. It really is time for Reid Detmers to saddle in. I do anticipate him making the rotation out of Spring Training, but I do think that they will have him on a short leash if things start crumbling around him. Reid’s struggles have nothing to do with his talent. He simply hasn’t put it together at the major league level and I also believe he has to have a stronger mindset. Again I don’t doubt he doesn’t have one, but he really needs it now more than ever.
Q: If you could bring a player from that 2009 lineup to the current team who would it be? (@jesus.ulloaa)
A: This is an awesome question and a nice blast from the past. While the Angels 2014 team was the best in the bigs that season, 2009 was simply different as that was Vlad Guerrero’s last go with the Angels and the contention window was coming to a close with a great crop of homegrown players.
An anchor to the pitching staff like Jered Weaver or John Lackey would be a god send to this year’s pitching staff. With either of them in the mix, you finally have a capable horse leading the rotation taking the weight of a number one off of Kikuchi. Although he has shown that type of upside, he profiles better as two or middle of the rotation arm.
On the offensive side of things plugging in a feared bat like Vlad's would pay dividends for this young team. I mean this current Angels lineup could use a jolt from a hall of a famer, lol. Lets not forget the monstrous 2009 that 1B Kendrys Morales had as well. Oh what could have been of Kendrys in Angel red if he didn't shatter his ankle at home plate that fateful day.
Q: What are our rotation strengths & weaknesses (@james_cano_562) & Who’s your ideal 13 pitchers making the big league club to break camp? (@greg_titiriga)
A: Along with the uncertainty you have with some of the pitchers in the rotation, you will also be navigating questions with durability and effectiveness. Yusei Kikuchi has proved he has been both effective and durable throughout his major league career. Jose Soriano was effective in his first year as a starter, but was shut down in August due to arm fatigue. Tyler Anderson held a 4.66 FIP in 2024 and is going into his age 35 season. Kyle Hendricks is joining the Angels after coming off the worst year of his career. Reid Detmers is also a question mark due to his inconsistencies and is running out of time to cement himself into the rotation. If and when Jack Kochanowicz joins the rotation, you will also deal with the growing pains that come along with a young starter. Although he performed well in 2024, the sample size was small. He is someone who can grow into a mid to back of the rotation role.
If all goes well and the rotation reaches its potential, I believe it can be an average group. If it works out that way, we would be winning half the battle and banking on the offense to pick up some slack. I just don’t see it working out that way, because the depth can get thin right away and nothing has gone right for the Angels in the past decade or so. The offensive additions were not very impactful either.
Rotation:
Yusei Kikuchi
Jose Soriano
Tyler Anderson
Reid Detmers
Kyle Hendricks
Bullpen:
Kenley Jansen
Ben Joyce
Ryan Zeferjahn
Brock Burke
Jose Quijada
Jack Kochanowicz
Garrett McDaniels
Michael Petersen
I would personally insert Kochanowicz into the rotation and have Hendricks in the pen for a long role. This will more than likely not happen as Hendricks will start. Jack K will get more time to continue his development in the minors, this unfortunately means that Jose Suarez will be the long guy. Having both Suarez and Quijada in the bullpen is not ideal. I do not understand why Suarez remains with the Angels, it is what it is. Ryan Johnson has also pitched well this spring, but he needs to develop as a starter.
Thank you all so much for those who participated this week, if we didn’t get to your question or if you have any questions you want to submit to InsideHalos.com, please click the button to submit your questions for next weeks Fanmail Friday! Thanks and see you next Friday for more!
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