By Tyler Sonderholzer
After a disappointing season last year, the Los Angeles Angels are looking to rebound in the 2023 Major League Baseball (MLB) season. The 2022 MLB season for the Angeles was nothing short of a disaster following a long losing streak, injuries to key players and just flat-out bad luck. However, following new signings and an expected healthy lineup, the Angels have high hopes for this upcoming season and are looking to make the postseason for the first time since 2014.
New Additions
During the offseason, the Angels had one goal, to improve their team so they can compete in a tough American League(AL) and make the postseason.
Instead of getting one big player in the offseason, the Angels chose to improve their depth by acquiring several players. The team signed pitchers Tyler Anderson, Matt Moore and Carlos Estevez through free agency and acquired infielder Gio Urshela via trade and outfielder Hunter Renfroe via trade.
Angels owner Arte Moreno originally wanted to sign Trea Turner, one of the best players on the free agent market. However, the general manager Perry Minasian was able to convince Moreno that the team would be better off if they acquire multiple solid players instead of one great player.
What needs to carry over from last year
In the midst of a disappointing season last season, there were some positives, such as outfielder Taylor Ward winning MLB Player of the Week early in the season and having a breakout season, star two-way player Shohei Ohtani having another Most Valuable Player caliber season, star center fielder Mike Trout having another stellar season and rookie pitcher Reid Detmers throwing a no-hitter and had a breakout season. For the team to be successful, all of those players need to perform as well as they did last year.
Last season, the team had a stellar start, leading their division a month into the season with great hitting, pitching and just all-around great team play. For the team to be successful, the Angels need to have that type of play all season long instead of just a month.
What to avoid
Injuries. Injuries. Injuries. That is the main thing that the Angels need to avoid, as injuries have impacted their teams for several years. It seems that every season most of the team gets injured to the point where it negatively impacts the team. In fact, the top three players on the team, third baseman Anthony Rendon, Trout and Ohtani have only played a whopping 53 games together, even though they have been a trio for three years.
Inconsistency is another factor that the Angels need to avoid as it has plagued the team as much as injuries have in the last couple of years. The team always starts off the season well before falling off and playing horribly.
Expectations for the season
The biggest expectation that the Angels have is to make the postseason for the first time since 2014. Ohtani is a free agent, meaning he can sign with any other team in the league, following the end of this upcoming season. So if the team wants to keep him, then they need to a good season.
