Opening Day for the 2024 MLB season is a little over two weeks away, when the Los Angeles Angels take a trip to the East Coast to play the Baltimore Orioles on March 28. That gives the Angels only 11 Spring Training and three exhibition games to figure out how they want to finalize their 2024 Opening Day 26-man roster.
Some things about the Angels roster are certainly settled in. For example, Mike Trout and Anthony Rendon, barring injury, will be on the 26-man roster. They are the team’s two highest-paid players and are expected to sit in the middle of the order against the Orioles later this month. The Angels also seem confident in their young building blocks of Logan O’Hoppe, Zach Neto and Nolan Schanuel.
The biggest areas of uncertainty for the Angels as they build out the roster are the bullpen and the outfield. L.A. made a host of new bullpen signings that completely reshaped it from where it was last season. However, marquee signing Robert Stephenson is likely to begin the season on the Injured List with shoulder soreness.
That leaves Carlos Estévez with only some of the Angels’ new signings like Matt Moore, Adam Cimber and Luis Garcia, all of whom figure to be in the Opening Day bullpen.
Another big decision is if the Angels choose to have four outfielders or five, and who misses the cut if they choose four. Trout and Taylor Ward are locks. But then, Jo Adell, Mickey Moniak and Aaron Hicks appears to be in a positional battle. If they choose four, one gets cut. Adell is notably out of minor league options, meaning if he does not make the roster, he’ll be waived or traded.
Moniak and Hicks make up a strong platoon option as the former is much better against righties and latter excels against lefties. Adell would be the odd man out if the Angels choose to go that direction.
Angels Opening Day 26-man roster Prediction
Catchers
Logan O’Hoppe
Matt Thaiss
Infielders
Zach Neto
Anthony Rendon
Luis Rengifo
Nolan Schanuel
Ehire Adrianza
Outfielders
Jo Adell
Aaron Hicks
Mickey Moniak
Mike Trout
Taylor Ward
Starting Pitchers
Tyler Anderson
Griffin Canning
Reid Detmers
Patrick Sandoval
Chase Silseth
Bullpen
Adam Cimber
Jose Cisnero
Carlos Estévez
Luis Garcia
Jimmy Herget
Ben Joyce (optioned – Robert Stephenson on IL)
Matt Moore
Jose Soriano
Jose Suarez