OC Register: What’s next for Angels’ Justin Upton after a rollercoaster 2021 season?

[AngelsWin.com]

ANAHEIM — Justin Upton’s place in the Angels’ future is uncertain.

After Joe Maddon said that he doesn’t “anticipate” Upton coming back in the last two weeks that the back injury that currently has him on the injured list, the Angels manager said Upton will “be in the mix with all these other guys,” for playing time in the outfield next year.

Upton, 34, has finished off a third consecutive disappointing season. He was on the injured list twice with back injuries, and in between, he hit .211 with a .705 OPS.

He lost most of 2019 to injuries and had a .724 OPS when he played, and he started the shortened 2020 season so badly that he lost his job. He had a hot finish to the season but still ended up with a .711 OPS.

Upton’s career OPS is .814. The major league average for a left fielder is  .738.

“I like the guy a lot,” Maddon said. “He has leadership qualities among the group. He really does. And I’d like to believe that there’s more of what we saw when he was really hot. He carried us for about a month.”

Upton hit .320 with a 1.020 OPS over the 25-game span after the Angels moved him into the leadoff spot in late May. Then he hurt his back for the first time, and he wasn’t the same when he came back, before going on the injured list for a second time.

His absence, along with Mike Trout’s injury, allowed for the Angels to get a longer look at Jo Adell and Brandon Marsh. Both players have shown some encouraging signs, but it’s worth noting that Adell still had a .703 OPS and Marsh had a .676 mark heading into Monday’s game.

Certainly, there is reason to hope Marsh and Adell improve with experience, but Maddon said neither of them is a lock for an everyday role next year.

The Angels obviously could also trade Marsh or Adell to add pitching.

“These other guys are wonderful, Marsh and Jo, but you have to decide how ready they are by next year in order to really carry you to where you want to be,” Maddon said. “Are they really ready to put you in that first division or not?”

HAPPY RE-BIRTHDAY

Monday marked exactly two years since Mark Langston was clinically dead for a few minutes in the press box at Houston’s Minute Maid Park, the result of a ventricular fibrillation.

Two police officers who happened to be eating in the dining room just across the hall from the Angels’ radio booth revived Langston, and on Monday morning he texted them to mark the day.

“I texted them and told them thank you for responding to God’s tap on the shoulder, because I needed it,” Langston said on Monday. “I’ve been grateful every day since. It puts a lot of things into perspective. I never took anything for granted anyway. God’s timing is God’s timing. I’m very grateful.”

NOTES

Shohei Ohtani reported no issues a day after he pitched eight innings, Maddon said. Ohtani had reported some soreness before that start, which is why it was pushed back a couple of days. Maddon said the second day after Ohtani pitches is normally when he feels the impact, so Tuesday will be a key day to determine if and when Ohtani will start again. Maddon said “if he comes out of this properly, he probably will have another start, yes.” …

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• Angels robbed of game-tying hit in the ninth, lose again to A’s
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• Rookie journeyman Jhonathan Diaz debuts in Angels’ loss to A’s

Reliever Austin Warren was activated on Monday, after missing a month because he tested positive for COVID-19. Warren said he never had any symptoms, but he had to spend 10 days quarantined in a Baltimore hotel room, which set back his pitching preparation. …

Right-hander Cooper Criswell was optioned to make room on the roster for Warren.

UP NEXT

Angels (LHP Packy Naughton, 0-2, 4.32 ERA) vs. Astros (RHP Jose Irquidy, 7-3, 3.38), Tuesday, 6:38 p.m., Bally Sports West, 830 AM

View the full article

[BTH]

54 minutes ago, AngelsWin.com said:

Certainly, there is reason to hope Marsh and Adell improve with experience, but Maddon said neither of them is a lock for an everyday role next year.

The Angels obviously could also trade Marsh or Adell to add pitching.

“These other guys are wonderful, Marsh and Jo, but you have to decide how ready they are by next year in order to really carry you to where you want to be,” Maddon said. “Are they really ready to put you in that first division or not?”

It's gonna be interesting to see how the Angels approach the outfield in the offseason.

Another factor to consider is that Trout's gonna be coming back from his injury next season, so you may not be able to count on him as much as you'd like too.

[beatlesrule]

Both Adell and Marsh have a 0.1 bWar this year. Upton has a -0.6.

[DMVol]

3 hours ago, beatlesrule said:

Both Adell and Marsh have a 0.1 bWar this year. Upton has a -0.6.

Adell and Marsh are young guys just getting started…..Upton hasn’t played consistently and has been largely unproductive since 2018…..

[Stradling]

I’d take Upton’s offense over a ton of guys we have seen play outfield this year including but not limited to, Lagares, Wong, Gosselin, Rengifo.  

[tdawg87]

3 minutes ago, Stradling said:

I’d take Upton’s offense over a ton of guys we have seen play outfield this year including but not limited to, Lagares, Wong, Gosselin, Rengifo.  

Right, but would you take it over Marsh or Adell?

[Jason]

2 minutes ago, tdawg87 said:

Right, but would you take it over Marsh or Adell?

Nope. Adell and Marsh have more upside at this point 

[Stradling]

10 minutes ago, tdawg87 said:

Right, but would you take it over Marsh or Adell?

No, which is why I said he should be our 4th outfielder. 

[tdawg87]

3 minutes ago, Stradling said:

No, which is why I said he should be our 4th outfielder. 

He won't be if he's on the roster.

[Stradling]

2 minutes ago, tdawg87 said:

He won't be if he's on the roster.

Why?

[tdawg87]

Just now, Stradling said:

Why?

[Stradling]

2 minutes ago, tdawg87 said:

We have seen Maddon bench Upton before for more productive players.  

[tdawg87]

Just now, Stradling said:

We have seen Maddon bench Upton before for more productive players.  

For how long?

We have Ohtani at DH. He has nowhere to play. If he's on the roster, he's getting at bats he doesn't deserve.

[Blarg]

14 hours ago, AngelsWin.com said:

“These other guys are wonderful, Marsh and Jo, but you have to decide how ready they are by next year in order to really carry you to where you want to be,” Maddon said. “Are they really ready to put you in that first division or not?”

With the right manager? Yes. 

[Stradling]

7 minutes ago, tdawg87 said:

For how long?

We have Ohtani at DH. He has nowhere to play. If he's on the roster, he's getting at bats he doesn't deserve.

His place to play is 4th outfielder, keep everyone fresh.  Give days off.  DH when Ohtani starts.  If they DFA him we will end up with Rengifo or Rojas or Wong running around the outfield for 50-80 games. 

[tdawg87]

1 minute ago, Stradling said:

His place to play is 4th outfielder, keep everyone fresh.  Give days off.  DH when Ohtani starts.  If they DFA him we will end up with Rengifo or Rojas or Wong running around the outfield for 50-80 games. 

And that will be basically the same value, but $23 someodd million cheaper.

[Stradling]

1 minute ago, tdawg87 said:

And that will be basically the same value, but $23 someodd million cheaper.

And that’s only true if someone actually picks up Upton’s contract.  It’s a sunk cost.  And no Wong nor Rengifo would put up the offensive numbers and neither appear to be good outfielders. 

[tdawg87]

Just now, Stradling said:

And that’s only true if someone actually picks up Upton’s contract.  It’s a sunk cost.  And no Wong nor Rengifo would put up the offensive numbers and neither appear to be good outfielders. 

Right, but Rojas and Ward can. Same with Lageres.

[Stradling]

1 minute ago, tdawg87 said:

Right, but Rojas and Ward can. Same with Lageres.

I’d take Rojas or Ward.  I think Ward will be traded.  I think Rojas might be unprotected. 

[Angel Oracle]

5 minutes ago, tdawg87 said:

Right, but Rojas and Ward can. Same with Lageres.

Lagares has shown signs of providing enough offense for a 4th OF who plays solid defense.

Solid defense, something Upton and those others don’t supply.

But alas, Upton is owed $28 million, and then finally freed of that contract.

Edited September 21, 2021 by Angel Oracle

[tdawg87]

If the Angels are paying Upton his full contract in 2022 to be a significant part of their roster, then nothing has changed and we are fucked, again.

I defended him a ton last year, but he's clearly done being useful for this team. 

[T.G.]

19 minutes ago, Stradling said:

I think Rojas might be unprotected. 

Racist

[Stradling]

10 minutes ago, tdawg87 said:

If the Angels are paying Upton his full contract in 2022 to be a significant part of their roster, then nothing has changed and we are fucked, again.

I defended him a ton last year, but he's clearly done being useful for this team. 

Would you consider 4th outfielder a significant part of their roster?  We are paying him his full contract.  So that money is spent.  They are paying him about 1/6 or 1/7 of the total salary which sucks.  I would much rather have him out there if there is an injury or when their is an injury than having some utility guy running around out there.  Also we probably shouldn’t pretend like Trout or Marsh will get through an entire season healthy.  There is a very real chance we will see 2 on the IL at the same time.  This year we had times where our only real outfielder on the team was Lagares with Ward being the one with the 2nd most amount of reps in the outfield.  

[Stradling]

1 minute ago, True Grich said:

Racist

Depends, how many teams has he played for? 

[Angel Oracle]

If Upton struggles the first quarter of 2022 season, don’t be surprised if he gets released.

If they can release Pujols and eat the rest of his $30 million salary, it would stand to reason they would do the same with Upton and the rest of his $28 million salary.

Edited September 21, 2021 by Angel Oracle