Angels Articles

Feb 13, 2025 - Written by Jacob Firmage

The Angels, for all their flaws, are one of the leagues most interesting teams. Up the freeway the Dodgers have become the “it” team. Everyone wants to go there and lately everyone seemingly has gone there. It is a team of stars destined for years of continuous World Series aspirations. That is what the Angels franchise was in the early 2000’s. They had a deep prospect pool along with some free agency splashes which gave them a pipeline of talent. Year in and year out they had a chokehold on the AL West. Looking long-term, who would have imagined with an owner, wanting to bring another championship to Anaheim, the well would run dry? It did though. The farm system spiraled down. Free agent miss after free agent miss. It has led to the longest playoff drought in MLB. Instead of perennial playoff team, they became the perennial “if” team.

If the Angels stay healthy, they could be a good team. If the Angels young core develops, they could be a wild card team. If they have internal improvement, they could be an exciting team. If they can hit on a few acquisitions, and supplement the roster they could find themselves more competitive. The only certainty with this team is they are interesting. They move prospects faster than any other team. They have built a strong young core. They have the number two pick in the upcoming draft and will add premium talent to an improving but still thin pool of prospects. They should improve into a better club as these young players work through the growing pains. They have a great teacher leading the big‐league club in Ron Washington. With Perry Minasian staying aboard another two seasons, the Angels should be getting closer to an organization that from the instructional leagues to the big‐league club are on the same page building a culture of winning. While Anthony Rendon finds himself on the edge of the roster, possibly to never play a game as an Angel again, Mike Trout is looking to show he is still better than most will ever be. Reid Detmers may be the biggest if on the roster. If he puts it together, and figures out the mental aspect of the game, there are few better. He is the frontline starter when he’s going well that could lead this franchise for years to come. They added Yusei Kikuchi to stabilize a rotation rich with young talent, but void of consistency and track records. Jorge Soler was brought in to pack a punch to an anemic lineup. Depth in the infield brought in to raise the floor where injuries are inevitable and you will already be without your starting shortstop for a month of the regular season. So, what if?

Being a fan of this team we have had the question “what if?” beaten into our brains. The hopium is gone. The fans have grown more confident it will not be what if it goes right, but when will it go wrong. This team has plenty of questions. They need help in the outfield where it feels even if everyone is healthy, most are best suited for a corner outfield spot. The bullpen has questions. The rotation could have used another stabilizer. For how bad the Angels were in 2024, I look at this roster and think what if. What if Mike Trout shakes that injury bug and can contribute 120‐130 games this season. What if Kikuchi, who carries an arsenal very similar to Reid Detmers is able to help the young starter take that next step? What if the young kids learned how to be major league ball players last year and are ready to learn how to be winners in 2025. The playoffs shouldn’t be the end all goal of the season. They can be successful, and miss the playoffs. Christian Moore, George Klassen, Caden Dana, the future number two pick amongst many other young players will be infused to the roster over the course of the season.  What if a few of them take the reigns and add to the core four who seized their respective positions? What if for a change, the Angels are once again playing meaningful games over the last month of the season? Is it probable? Probably not… but impossible, absolutely not. This club is better positioned than years past. Apologies for the bias, but they have one of the better coaching staffs. One constructed by Ron Washington to be teachers. The foundation of a better culture is in place. Teams have made similar jumps, so in 2025 let us forget the “what if” mantra that has defined the last decade. Instead, I ask a simple question. Why not us?

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