2024-25 MLB Offseason Recap: Los Angeles Angels

The Angels missed the MLB Postseason yet again in 2024, the 10th-straight season Los Angeles (AL) missed out on October baseball. To solve at least some of their roster problems, the Angels were highly active.

Notable Additions

• C Travis d’Arnaud (1.1 bWAR)
• SP Kyle Hendricks (-1.6 bWAR)
• RP Kenley Jansen (1.3 bWAR)
• SP Yusei Kikuchi (1.4 bWAR)
• INF Yoan Moncada (0.3 bWAR)
• INF Kevin Newman (2.2 bWAR)
• OF/DH Jorge Soler (1.1 bWAR)

The 2024 campaign did not go well for the Angels, for a variety of reasons. Los Angeles struggled to find consistent pitching, while their offense lacked dpeth when Mike Trout went down. The Angels sought to solve both of those problems.

Yusei Kikuchi comes over on a multi-year deal after striking out a career-best 206 hitters last season. Kikuchi’s made adjustments over the years, both to his arsenal and delivery, to become more consistent. Now, he’ll look to slot in to help lead the Angels’ rotation alongside Tyler Anderson.

Additionally, the Angels are taking a shot on ex-Cub Kyle Hendricks, who struggled with the Cubs last season.

Kenley Jansen comes over from Boston after two years as the Red Sox’s closer. His cutter, much like in past years, remained a formidable weapon in 2024.

As for the offense, Travis d’Arnaud is joining the Angels to help solidify the catcher position in Anaheim. Logan O’Hoppe was great overall last season but was heavily used and struggled late in the second half. Jorge Soler was also acquired as part of a salary dump deal with the Braves.

The Angels also added a pair of veteran infielders on Major League deals: Yoan Moncada & Kevin Newman.

Moncada was a highly-touted prospect with Boston and Chicago (AL) and performed exceptionally well when healthy on in his career. The switch-hitter hit 25 home runs and a .919 OPS in 2019 but his career was derailed by injuries.

With Anthony Rendon out for likely all of 2025, Moncada, if he can stay healthy, will get a shot for a rebound.

Newman, meanwhile, had his most productive season in 2024 from a WAR standpoint since 2019. That season, Newman hit .308/.353/.446 (.800 OPS) with 12 home runs and 38 extra-base hits. Last season with the Diamondbacks, Newman posted an OPS of .686. However, the journeyman infielder’s long been a reliable defender and knows how to put ball in play.

In addition to those signings, the Angels picked up infielders Tim Anderson and J.D. Davis on Minor League deals.

Notable Losses

• INF Brandon Drury (-2.0 bWAR)
• DH Willie Calhoun (-0.2 bWAR)
• SP Griffin Canning (0.0 bWAR)
• SP/RP Roansy Contreras (0.4 bWAR)
• RP Matt Moore (-0.5 bWAR)
• OF Kevin Pillar (0.3 bWAR)
• SP Patrick Sandoval (0.0 bWAR)

The Angels opted not to bring back Griffin Canning or Patrick Sandoval. Both were non-tender candidates — but for very different reasons.

For Canning, the former second-round pick flashed middle-of-the-rotation stuff and missed bats in 2023. But, a poor 2024 saw the Angels cut bait, trading him to get Soler.

Sandoval, meanwhile, had one of the league’s better changeups but was scheduled to miss most, if not all, of the 2025 season recovering from UCL reconstruction surgery. The lefty signed a multi-year deal woth Boston.

The Angels didn’t re-sign Brandon Drury, who posted a .469 OPS last year after hitting 26 home runs the year earlier.

What to Expect in 2025

The Angels will certainly look different this year. Mike Trout is moving off center field to try to keep him on the field, while their new-look rotation — which will likely include a mix of youngsters and veterans — hope to give the Angels a shot to compete.

It won’t be easy. The Mariners have a strong rotation, the Astros have a rebuilt, yet strong offense, while the Rangers have something to prove after missing out on the playoffs last October.

Do the Angels likely have enough to make the postseason? Probably not. Los Angeles does have impact players and potential, especially if some of their youngsters come up and shine. However, there are questions that need to be answered.

Namely, does this team have enough offensive depth? Can their bullpen, which includes Jansen and Ben Joyce, piece together games in the middle innings? And, can Mike Trout play at least 100 games, something he’s done just once in a full season since 2019?