The 2025 MLB season has crept up quickly, with pitchers and catchers reporting to Arizona for Spring Training on Feb. 12 for the Los Angeles Angels. And while the team still has more work to do before they get a sense of their Opening Day 26-man roster, many of the big pieces are in place.
They have done plenty to address their infield depth issues, which should lead to a fascinating Spring Training positional battle. New additions Scott Kingery, Kevin Newmanm, Tim Anderson and J.D. Davis could all make noise alongisde Luis Rengifo, Nolan Schanuel, Anthony Rendon and an injured but eventual starter Zach Neto.
But one of the most interesting positional battles to watch in the spring is going to be the fight for the fifth starting spot. By all accounts, the Angels appear to haver four starters figured out, but may need Spring Training to figure out what to do with the final spot in the rotation.
According to Rhett Bollinger of MLB.com, it seems as though it’s down to one of three options for that final spot:
The top four spots in the rotation are essentially set, as the Angels signed both Yusei Kikuchi and Kyle Hendricks as free agents to join veteran lefty Tyler Anderson and right-hander José Soriano. But the fifth spot is up for grabs and the Angels have plenty of internal candidates, such as Jack Kochanowicz, Reid Detmers and Chase Silseth.
Top prospects Caden Dana (Angels’ No. 1), George Klassen (No. 3) and Sam Aldegheri (No. 8) will also get looks this spring, but Kochanowicz, Detmers and Silseth are the top candidates for that spot. Kochanowicz would likely have the leg up based on what he did over his final nine starts last year, posting a 2.78 ERA in 58 1/3 innings despite a low strikeout rate. But Detmers and Silseth both possess elite stuff and will get a shot. Silseth is also a candidate to be moved to relief, while Detmers would remain stretched out to start at Triple-A if he doesn’t make the Opening Day roster. Both Silseth and Detmers still have Minor League options, which gives the Angels some flexibility.
Based on this reporting, it seems as though the likeliest scenario for the Angels is Kochanowicz beginning the year as the fifth starter, with Silseth starting the year in the bullpen and Detmers in Triple-A. However, none of these decisions can be finalized until the Angels see how these players perform in Spring Training.
Perhaps one of the three — or one of the team’s top pitching prospects — could establish themselves as the obvious choice. Or the team could land another starter from the free agent or trade market if things shift.
But the Angels certainly have a framework of a plan as the spring gets underway.
Angels sign Tim Anderson and J.D. Davis to minor league deals
The Angels, on back-to-back days, made agreements with infielders coming off of career-worst seasons on minor league contracts. Both Anderson and Davis are less than two years removed from the height of their productivity, but saw immense drop-offs at the plate.
If L.A. can see a revival from either player, it could be a massive positive impact on their depth in 2025.
