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Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim

2012 – Finished third in AL WestRecord: 89-73With nearly 90 wins last season, it’s hard to believe that the Angels finished ahead of only the Mariners in the West in 2012, but such was the continued excellence of Texas and an incredible late season run by the A’s, the Angels missed out on the playoffs even with one of the best lineups on paper in the league. The Angels gave Albert Pujols a ten-year contract before last year and on the same day signed C.J. Wilson, and for many Angels fans it was World Series or bust. And despite being in minor league ball on Opening Day, the discovery of Mike Trout was one of the best in the franchises history. Although Trout’s year was one of the best in rookie history, Pujols didn’t hit a home run in April and the team struggled for the most part to get anything going.

The Angels haven’t made the playoffs for three consecutive seasons and with the expanding AL West all of a sudden becoming one of the most competitive divisions in the majors, it was crucial that the Angels improved this offseason in order to make the postseason at the very least. GM Arte Moreno shocked the baseball world again by signing the biggest free agent hitter on the marker in Josh Hamilton to a five-year, $125million deal. Work has also been done to completely revamp the rotation and bullpen, so for Anaheim it is win or, well, let’s not think about that.

INCOMINGS

P Tommy Hanson, Jason Vargas, Joe Blanton, Sean Burnett, Ryan Madson

OF Josh Hamilton

OUTGOINGS

P Dan Haren, Zack Greinke, Ervin Santana, Jordan Walden

1B Kendrys Morales

IF Maicer Izturis

OF Torii Hunter

Big questions – Will Hamilton be able to stay healthy all year round? Remember, in six full seasons in the majors Hamilton has only surpassed 150 games once.  Can he get over his late-season slump from 2012? Can Pujols come out of the gate earlier this year and start hitting for power early, or is he on the downward phase of his career already? And can Mike Trout get anywhere near matching his unbelievable rookie season in 2013?

Outfielders

With Torii Hunter signing with the Tigers over the winter, the Angels outfield is switching around a little with Mike Trout switching to left field, Peter Bourjos moving into centre and new signing Josh Hamilton playing in right. Hunter will be a big miss – the Angels haven’t put together a lineup without him since 2007 – but his age (37) is old compared to Bourjos (25), who actually played in 101 games for the Angels last year.  We should focus on Bourjos because Trout’s numbers are there for everyone to see and admire – in 2012, his rookie season, Trout hit .326 with 30 home runs, 83 RBIs and 49 stolen bases. If he can match that, the Angels will be in the mix for sure. Bourjos hit .220 with 3 homers, 19 RBIs and three stolen bases last year. So, to Hamilton. Five years, and a whole lot of money. But can he stay healthy? Can he adapt? What is for certain is with the acquisition of a division rival player, it is advantage Angels and the Rangers may miss out on the postseason because of it.

Mark Trumbo will get most of the at-bats at DH and Vernon Wells will be the fourth outfielder.

Infielders

Why are people saying that Manager Mike Scioscia shouldn’t have any worries about his diamond players? Albert Pujols is a gold glove shortstop and I have no qualms there, and Eric Aybar is at least an above-average shortstop who batted .290 last year with 20 stolen bases. But third baseman Alberto Callaspo batted just .252 in 138 games, and he has questionable speed and no real power. Second baseman Howard Kendrick drove in 67 RBIs last year, and will do a job.

Catchers

Chris Iannetta should be the Angels starting backstop come Opening Day having played only 79 games in 2012. His .240 average has to improve, and so does his defence – he threw out just 16 of 46 base stealers last year, while allowing eight past balls. Backup catcher Hank Conger – this may change during spring training – competed for AAA Salt Lake last year (.295, 10 HR, 42 RBI).

Starters

Jered Weaver and C.J. Wilson return as the Angels number one and two starters after very good seasons in 2012. Weaver will again be a Cy Young Award candidate after compiling a 20-5 record last year with a 2.81 ERA. Weaver’s first seven years in the league sees his record standing at 102-52, a terrific feat. Wilson pitched in 34 games last year (all starts), going 13-10 with a 3.83 ERA. The remaining three names are all new faces on the club. Tommy Hanson came over in a trade with the Braves, Jason Vargas was in Seattle last year and Joe Blanton was a Dodger. Hanson was also 13-10 last year but had a 4.48 ERA and will have to adapt to AL hitters. The same goes with Blanton, who struggles to keep the ball in the park and had a 4.71 ERA last year. Vargas is a southpaw and had a solid year last time out, going 14-11 with a 3.85 ERA. There is depth in the rotation with Garrett Richards, Jerome Williams and Brad Mills able to step in, but there are question marks on the number three spot and down.

Relievers

A weakness for the Angels for several years, key additions this offseason means it’s a strength for 2013. After blowing 22 saves last year, the Angels have brought in Sean Burnett and Ryan Madson (closer) to support the solid cast of Ernesto Frieri, Scott Downs and Kevin Jepsen.