OC Register: Angels’ top 5 spring training questions revisited

[AngelsWin.com]

MESA, Ariz. — The Angels packed up this week from just the kind of spring training that a general manager enjoys.

An uneventful one.

With many of the regulars having left for Southern California a day earlier to prepare for the Freeway Series, which begins Sunday at Dodger Stadium, the Angels prepared for their final game in Arizona on Saturday. It was the culmination of 39 days with plenty of good vibes under new manager Ron Washington and little news.

The most significant injury was right-hander Robert Stephenson’s shoulder inflammation. Stephenson will begin the season on the injured list, but there’s no timetable beyond that.

The biggest headlines belonged to Anthony Rendon, who in the first days of camp said he puts his family as a higher priority than baseball. That shouldn’t have caused the reaction that it did, but Rendon has become a lightning rod for criticism because of his injuries and his public image.

There are still a few roster decisions to be made during the Freeway Series, most notably if Miguel Sanó will make the team and if José Soriano will be a starter in the minors or a reliever in the majors.

While we wait on those final items, let’s look back at what we learned regarding the five spring training questions we identified when camp opened.

What does Arte Moreno have to say?

Moreno spoke to the Southern California News Group early in camp and clarified the biggest question facing the organization, although perhaps not to the liking of many frustrated fans.

Moreno, who in early 2023 pulled the team off the market, said he’s planning to stick around “for the long term,” with no plans to sell the team.

Moreno also explained that it was the plan to reduce the payroll from 2023. He said they wouldn’t “spend money just to show that we’re going to spend money unless it’s going to substantially change the team.”

The Angels talked to free agents Blake Snell and J.D. Martinez, but ultimately each signed elsewhere.

How are Mike Trout and Anthony Rendon doing?

Rendon missed a week with a groin injury, but otherwise the two are going into the season – or at least the Freeway Series – healthy.

Both players have been injured for much of the past three seasons. Trout said he’s feeling as good as he’s felt in years. He’s also accepted the fact that he will be DHing about once a week, which could help keep him fresh.

Neither player hit well in the spring, for what it’s worth.

Trout had a .673 OPS in Arizona. He said he doesn’t think age is catching up to him, but that there’s a mechanical change he’s been working to make in order to regain his MVP form.

Rendon’s OPS was .674, and that included a .424 on-base percentage. Washington is considering using him in the leadoff spot, a spot he hadn’t occupied since 2015.

How will the outfield shake out?

With Trout in center and Taylor Ward in left, the Angels came in to camp with uncertainty in right. They had Aaron Hicks, Mickey Moniak and Jo Adell vying for time in right or DH. Moniak and Adell are out of options, meaning the Angels would likely have all five on the roster.

Hicks (1.235 OPS), Moniak (.810) and Adell (.804) all showed encouraging signs in the spring, which didn’t really clarify anything.

When Washington was asked if it would be difficult to sort out the playing time, he said: “It’s not going to be hard, because whatever lineup I put out will be the lineup. They’ll get some playing time. Every single one of them. How I’m going to do it, I really couldn’t tell you now, but they’ll all get some playing time.”

Will Ward return to form?

Ward hadn’t played since suffering multiple facial fractures after he was hit in the face by a pitch last July.

He realized early in camp that pitchers are going to pitch him up and in to take advantage of any discomfort he might still feel from last year’s incident, and now he says he’s prepared.

Ward said he also feels like his swing is where he wants it to be in order to get back to the elite level he showed at the start and end of 2022. He had a .642 OPS in Arizona.

Are the young players ready for increased roles?

The Angels are counting on catcher Logan O’Hoppe, shortstop Zach Neto and first baseman Nolan Schanuel for everyday roles in 2024, even though none has played a full big-league season yet.

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Neto had a sensational spring, producing a .929 OPS and showing Washington significant improvement in the field. O’Hoppe had a .549 OPS and Schanuel had a .677 OPS. Schanuel also ended camp with a back issue.

NOTES

Nolan Schanuel (back) returned to the lineup to DH on Saturday, his first game since March 17. …

Luis Rengifo (hamstring) had been penciled in to the lineup to play Saturday, but the Angels instead decided to give him one more day off. He is expected to play in the Freeway Series. Rengifo last played in a game Tuesday. …

The Angels will have Griffin Canning, Reid Detmers and Chase Silseth pitch the three games against the Dodgers in the Freeway Series, in that order.

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