What the Angels look like Heading into 2024
Mar 24, 2024 - Written by Bryan Whitfield
Photo Credit : @angels - Twitter/X
The Freeway Series
The 2024 season is only 4 days away as the Halos will begin a 3 game set against the Los Angeles Dodgers.. The first two games of the series will be hosted at Dodger Stadium where Griffin Canning will face Bobby Miller and in game 2, Reid Detmers will take on Gavin Stone. In the finale, you’ll see the Angels play their first game at Angel Stadium in 2024 with Chase Silseth taking on James Paxton of the Dodgers. Once the freeway series concludes, there will be an off-day followed by Opening Day on March 28th in Baltimore.
Roster Outlook
The Angels have a couple of questions that will surely be answered in the coming days. As of right now the Angels have 32 members as part of the Major League Squad that will face the Dodgers in the three exhibition games to finish off Spring Training. Overall, I’d say 23 of the 26 roster spots are locked in, with two possible spots open in the bullpen and one bench spot available on the Opening Day Roster.
Position Players
C Logan O’Hoppe / Matt Thaiss*
2B Brandon Drury / Luis Rengifo
SS Zach Neto
LF Taylor Ward
CF Mike Trout
RF Mickey Moniak* / Aaron Hicks / Jo Adell*
DH Brandon Drury / Jo Adell*
Fighting for a Spot : Miguel Sanó / Ehire Adrianza (Both not on the 40-man roster)
The Angels will have to decide between Miguel Sanó and Ehire Adrianza for the final bench spot. Adrianza in his career has played almost every position, this Spring however he has only utlitized as a middle infielder at both second and shortstop. He currently has a .194 AVG with 2 HRs and 4 RBIs in 31 plate appearances across 18 games this Spring. Sanó on the other hand plays the corners and can DH as well, this Spring he currently holds a .182 AVG with 3 HRs and 9 RBIs in 44 plate appearances across 20 games.
Starters
LHP Patrick Sandoval (3/28 Opening Day Starter vs BAL)
RHP Griffin Canning (3/30 vs BAL)
LHP Reid Detmers (3/31 vs BAL)
LHP Tyler Anderson (4/1 vs MIA)
RHP Chase Silseth (4/2 vs MIA)
Bullpen
CL RHP Carlos Estévez
SU LHP Matt Moore
MR RHP Adam Cimber
MR RHP José Cisnero
MR RHP Luis Garcia
LR LHP José Suarez*
Fighting for Spot, on 40-man Roster : José Soriano / Guillo Zuñiga
Not on 40-man Roster : Hunter Strickland
* = Out of Options
With Robert Stephenson beginning the season on the IL, there allows for two bullpen spots to be up for the taking. José Soriano was converted to a starter this Spring, but with Stephenson being down, there is a very outside chance Ron Washington moves Soriano back to the bullpen until Stephenson is ready. If Wash opts to use Soriano as a bullpen piece entering the season that would fill one of the two spots remaining. Of the 2 remaining candidates, Hunter Strickland should be a shoe in to make the Opening Day Roster as he has held a 2.70 ERA with 14 strikeouts in 10 innings of work this Spring. Guillo Zuñiga has had a good spring despite a blow out in both one of his spring appearances. Zuñiga gave up 5 earned runs in only a third of a inning on March 11th against the Texas Rangers. Aside from that he has have been excellent this Spring. Zuñiga being on the 40-man roster may give him an edge but I personally would be shocked if Stickland does not make the roster. In 8 innings this Spring as Zuñiga has a 6.75 ERA. Drew Pomeranz was a candidate for the Opening Day Roster but unfortunately had an opt-out in his contract that he exercised, the Angels had until 9am PST today to add him to the roster or release him. Pomeranz was an outside candidate to make the Angels bullpen as he was not on the 40-man roster and had a very similar Spring as Zuñiga. The Angels opted to release Pomeranz instead of adding him to the roster.
For those that are wondering why Ben Joyce, Sam Bachman and Michael Stefanic were not mentioned. Joyce was optioned to the minors on Saturday and both Bachman and Stefanic are dealing with an injury. More likely than not, Joyce, Bachman and Stefanic will find their way onto the Angels roster at some point during the 2024 season.
It All Comes Down to This
With 3 roster spots in question, the Angels will have the 3 remaining games of the Spring to decide who to keep on the 26-man roster and who won’t make the cut. If I were a betting man, I would assume Sanó, Strickland and Zuñiga will make the Opening Day Roster. Keep in mind, both Sanó and Strickland are not currently on the 40-man roster which means a couple moves will have to be made to make room for them. Pomeranz opting out makes the final couple bullpen spots a little more clear as the bullpen is now down to Soriano, Strickland and Zuñiga. Keep an eye out on the freeway series as these competitions will become much clearer in the coming days. Go Halos, and lets get this season on the road!
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