Q&A Friday - New Faces of the Franchise?
Jan 5, 2024 - Written by Bryan Whitfield
Credit - @Angels - Twitter/X
We are thrilled to announce that starting this week, we will be hosting a weekly Q&A event, where fans can interact with us directly. On Thursday over on the InsideHalos Instagram, there will be a question posted on stories to submit any questions you have regarding baseball or the Halos. Additionally those that don’t have Instagram but still want to send in questions can do so by emailing us at insidehalos@gmail.com. This is a fantastic opportunity to have your burning questions answered, gain insights into latest rumors or news, as well as spark discussions within our passionate community. Whether you're curious about players, team dynamics, or the future of the Halos, our Q&A is the perfect platform to delve into all things related to the world of Halos. Mark your calendars and make sure to join us every Friday for an illuminating and interactive experience right here on InsideHalos.com!
Q: How many years will it take for the Angels to rebuild/get into the playoffs? (@JosephGomez075)
A: It’s very possible the Angels make the playoffs in 2024 as long as they make the right moves. Although with the subtraction of Shohei Ohtani and so far having only added Adam Cimber, Adam Kolarek, Luis Garcia to the bullpen and Zach Plesac (still not made official by the team) as a rotation option, the Angels still have a lot of work to do. If the Angels were to go into the 2024 season as is, it’s very unlikely the Angels make the playoffs. All signs currently point to the Angels making additions in the coming days and weeks. As of right now, the Angels have a need for a couple starters, one or two relievers as well as a middle of the order bat whether that is in the form of an outfielder or not is yet to be seen but they are linked to multiple players including the top end guys like Blake Snell, Jordan Montgomery, Shōta Imanaga, and Cody Bellinger. Their current window seems to be 2025 and beyond but I wouldn’t rule out 2024 until we see what the team looks like heading into Spring.
Q: Is Zach Neto, Logan O’Hoppe, and Reid Detmers the faces of our franchise going forward? (@p3pr_chris)
A: As of right now, I wouldn’t give them the face of the franchise, although I do think eventually they could blossom into that. Mike Trout will remain the face of the Angels at least over the next couple seasons, beyond that, Zach Neto, Logan O’Hoppe, and Reid Detmers do have the chance to be the new faces of the Angels going forward. There are plenty of other Angels out there that can also be a face of the franchise, Nolan Schanuel, Chase Silseth, and Mickey Moniak should be given some consideration for that role going forward dependent on how they perform over the next couple seasons. As of right now, Neto and O’Hoppe would be my picks for future face of the franchise as we head out of the Trout and Ohtani era.
Q: Who do you want the most in free agency? (@jfliss_7)
A: There are plenty of good options still available on the free agent market. For me it would be Blake Snell, although Cody Bellinger would be my second choice. The Angels lack a true ace, currently as it stands if the Angels were in the postseason they’d be running a rotation of Reid Detmers, Patrick Sandoval and Chase Silseth? While they all have a lot of potential, they are yet to prove themselves as anything more than a number 3 or 4 in a postseason rotation. Adding Blake Snell should be the Angels main focus within the coming weeks, he’d bolster this rotation and give the Halos a true ace entering 2024 which is something the Angels haven’t had in awhile. Both Imanaga and Montgomery would be good back-up plans if Snell doesn’t work out but I wouldn’t class either as a true ace.
Q: Do the Angels need a veteran catcher instead of Matt Thaiss? (@coolbrad84124)
A: Adding a veteran catcher to this roster might not be a terrible idea, but I would be ok with keeping Matt Thaiss as the primary backup to O’Hoppe. The Angels also have Chad Wallach and former top prospect, Francisco Mejía, in the minors as depth. As it currently stands, Gary Sánchez is the best catcher available on the free agent market. Other options include: Yasmani Grandal, Curt Casali, Austin Nola, Jacob Stallings, and Mike Zunino. Of those catchers, Gary Sánchez would be the only option I would be ok with adding, especially if we add Blake Snell it wouldn’t hurt to add his personal catcher. Sánchez also would give the Halos an option off the bench as a pinch hitter.
Q: Would adding Blake Snell give the Angels too many lefties in the starting rotation? (@colin_fredericks_)
A: In short, yes, adding Blake Snell would in fact give the Angels too many lefties in the starting rotation. It likely would force the Angels hand to trade one of their current lefties; Reid Detmers, Patrick Sandoval, Tyler Anderson as well as Jose Suarez. Reid Detmers is unlikely to be moved, so is Tyler Anderson due to the contract commitment. Jose Suarez has already garnered some interest this offseason and it’s hard to imagine Patrick Sandoval hasn’t either. Both Sandoval and Suarez likely would end up getting moved elsewhere to get pieces to help supplement another area of need such as outfield, a middle infielder, relief pitching or a middle of the order bat. Jorge Polanco and Max Kepler come to mind as a possibility of who the Angels could look to trade for in exchange for Sandoval. Just because Snell is a lefty, it shouldn’t give the Angels a reason not pursue him. Acquiring Snell would give the Angels options to improve elsewhere.
Thank you to everyone who participated in today's Q&A session at InsideHalos.com. Your insightful questions truly helped make today's discussion engaging and enlightening. We covered a wide range of topics, from the team's off-season plans to the outlook for the upcoming season. I appreciate your ongoing support and dedication to the community. Keep an eye on our website for more exclusive content and future Q&A sessions every Friday. Let’s make some moves! Go Halos!
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