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3 Things Angels Fans Have To Be Thankful For This Thanksgiving

Originally posted on The Cold Wire | By Sam Leweck | Last updated 11/25/21

For those who celebrate, Thanksgiving is a great day to be grateful.

Fans of the Los Angeles Angels certainly have a lot to be thankful for, even though the organization is still searching for its first playoff bid since 2014.

The team is having a really solid offseason, and it looks like L.A. could finally reach the postseason in 2022.

That’s definitely one thing worth getting excited over for Angels fans, and here are a few others.

3. The Futures Of Jose Suarez And Patrick Sandoval

The Angels have a couple of really talented young arms in their rotation.

Jose Suarez is one of them.

He’s just 23, and he’s under club control until 2027.

The lefty is coming off of a solid 2021 season in which he posted a 3.75 ERA over 23 outings (14 starts).

He also maintained a 119 ERA+ and 4.12 FIP.

It was his third season at the MLB level, but it was the first year that he really showcased his potential.

The future seems bright for Suarez.

In addition to Suarez, L.A. has 25-year-old Patrick Sandoval under club control until 2027.

Like Suarez, this past season was Sandoval’s third in the big leagues, and he, too, finally showed what he’s capable of in 2021.

He registered a 3.62 ERA, 124 ERA+, 4.03 FIP, and 1.21 WHIP over 17 outings (14 starts).

Sandoval, who’s also a southpaw, will hope to take another step forward in 2022.

2. Dynamic Duo Of Mike Trout And Shohei Ohtani

When most folks think of the Angels, two guys usually come to mind: Mike Trout and Shohei Ohtani.

Trout and Ohtani are two generational talents, and the hope is that Angels fans will be able to watch these guys on a contending team in 2022.

Ohtani was one of the few reasons the Angels were watchable in 2021.

At the plate, he smacked 48 home runs and posted an OPS+ of 158.

SHOHEI OHTANI BOMB

He launched his 36th HR of the season 463 feet @BRWalkoff

(via @MLB) pic.twitter.com/wjODwkBz6o

— Bleacher Report (@BleacherReport) July 28, 2021

On the mound, the two-way phenom pitched to a 3.18 ERA over 23 starts.

He finished the year with a bWAR of 9.1 and easily won AL MVP honors.

Trout, on the other hand, is one of the few reasons the Angels have been watchable for the past several years.

We didn’t get to see much of him in 2021, but that should change in 2022.

In 11 seasons at the MLB level, the 30-year-old has earned nine All-Star selections and three MVP awards.

For his CAREER, he has an OPS of 1.002 and OPS+ 176.

That’s pretty remarkable.

These two players have already given Angels fans some unforgettable memories, but they’re not done yet.

1. Angels’ New Free-Agent Signings

The Angels have made it clear this offseason that they’re serious about cracking the playoffs in 2022.

L.A. is being very aggressive in free agency, and the team has already signed two stars.

The first one was Noah Syndergaard, who agreed to a one-year deal with the club.

BREAKING: Right-hander Noah Syndergaard and the Los Angeles Angels are in agreement on a one-year, $21 million deal, pending physical, sources tell ESPN.

The Angels bolster their staff with the highest-upside arm on the market — and pay a heavy price, plus a second-rounder.

— Jeff Passan (@JeffPassan) November 16, 2021

Syndergaard is somewhat of a wild card after Tommy John surgery, but we all know what he’s capable of.

He has a career ERA of 3.32 over 121 outings (120 starts).

The Angels also signed Aaron Loup to a two-year deal.

Aaron Loup deal with Angels, per source: Two years, $17M.

— Ken Rosenthal (@Ken_Rosenthal) November 22, 2021

The lefty should bring a ton to the table for an L.A. bullpen that was awful in 2021.

Loup is coming off of a fantastic season in which he maintained a 0.95 ERA over 65 appearances.

The Angels still have work to do this offseason, but it’s clear that they’re committed to finally building a contending team.

https://www.thecoldwire.com/things-angels-fans-have-to-be-thankful-for-this-thanksgiving/feed/03 Things Angels Fans Have To Be Thankful For This Thanksgiving https://www.thecoldwire.com/things-angels-fans-have-to-be-thankful-for-this-thanksgiving/https://www.thecoldwire.com/things-angels-fans-have-to-be-thankful-for-this-thanksgiving/#respondThu, 25 Nov 2021 20:42:16 +0000Los Angeles Angels Rumors And News (Updated Daily)MLBLos Angeles Angelshttps://www.thecoldwire.com/?p=43138

For those who celebrate, Thanksgiving is a great day to be grateful. Fans of the Los Angeles Angels certainly have a lot to be thankful for, even though the organization is still searching for its first playoff bid since 2014. The team is having a really solid offseason, and it looks like L.A. could […]

This article first appeared on The Cold Wire and was syndicated with permission.

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