It has been around a month since the end of the Major League Baseball season, and for many Los Angeles Angels fans, it could not have gone much worse. Not only did the team not make it to the postseason for the 10th consecutive season, but the Los Angeles Dodgers won it all – with former fan favorite Shohei Ohtani leading the way.
Many fans will have nothing but good thoughts for the former Angel, but seeing the Dodgers win a World Series the year after he left will hurt for a while. We now have a whole offseason to forget about baseball and concentrate on football, the NBA, and even March Madness when it comes around next year. But you can be sure thoughts will routinely return to the Angels and their chances next season.
If you are busy working out your baseball betting strategies and already counting the days, you may also be worrying about whether the Angels will even be able to compete. There was only a 10-game drop-off from when Ohtani was last with us in 2023, but is there any real hope that things can change for 2025?
99 Problems
Losing just ten games over an entire season after the departure of probably the most outstanding player at the current time may not sound too bad. But it would help if you considered how poorly the team had fared the year before, even with Ohtani on the roster. Losing 99 games in a season does not instill confidence in the future.
Arte Moreno thinks the Angels can turn things around and make the playoffs next year; however, letting Ohtani walk speaks volumes. That said, the Royals surprised everyone this year, so it is not as though the task is impossible. But going from almost 100 losses to nearer 100 wins is a giant swing, and at least Angels fans might have to be a little more realistic—and patient—about the team’s chances in the short term.
Keep Mike Trout Healthy
If we are still lamenting the loss of Shohei Ohtani, the absence of Mike Trout for most of last season was a major kick in the teeth. A torn meniscus meant that the Angels legend didn’t see much game time after the end of April, and there are big questions about his role for the 2025 season now.
There has been much talk about moving him to a corner outfield spot or even to a designated hitter role. The immediate plan for Trout should be to ensure he remains fit and healthy. If he can come back on top of his game next April, there will be a lot more confidence in how well the Angels can do.
Young Players
Of course, some contemplate a future with Mike Trout. The plan would be that a mega trade package could bring in a whole host of talent that would give the Angels a better chance of making the postseason than just keeping one player happy and healthy enough to push the team forward. Perry Minasian has talked about the importance of a young core to the organization, which might give a clue as to the plan for the next few years. Christian Moore and Caden Dana are presumably the players he refers to. But some veteran experience needs to be added in, too, to ensure that those young players do not get overawed when it comes down to business.
Reduce Walks
The Angels pitchers had the second-highest walk rate in Major League Baseball in 2024, so the news that Travis d’Arnaud has signed a two-year $12 million deal has got to be good news. In a career that has taken in the Mets and the Braves and a Silver Slugger Award, d’Arnaud has proven to be a more than adequate catcher, which the Angels need.
The veteran catcher will likely play backup to Logan O’Hoppe but give the roster some much-needed depth. His personality and presence in the locker room should be invaluable, not only for O’Hoppe. He is precisely the kind of veteran player that the Angels need to complement that young core that Minasian is so excited by.
Battle in the West
If Angels fans are hoping for a team that can compete in 2025, the immediate concern should be the AL West division. Although no team managed over 90 wins last season, both the Astros and Mariners looked impressive and will need to catch up to have any chance of a potential divisional title.
Add a Texas Rangers team that surprised everyone by winning the 2023 World Series. But the fact is that they did manage to go all the way – something Angels fans can only dream of. Then there is the A’s. Only going by the Athletics name as they wait for the move to Vegas, how they will do is anyone’s guess. That is terrible news for an Angels team that could well do without another successful divisional rival.
The Wait Game
Angels fans will desperately want some good news – even this early on in the offseason – it is hard to see how this team will make it to the playoffs in 2025. The good news is that there are options for building a competitive roster over the next few years. Of course, future success is not guaranteed. But as long as the organization remains patient and works the trade windows well, the Angels should hopefully end that postseason drought sooner rather than later.
