Spring Training is here, which means the march to Opening Day has begun.
To prepare for the upcoming 2021 season, we’re going to begin a position preview at Crashing the Pearly Gates. We’ll break this series down into four segments: infield, outfield, rotation, and bullpen. At each position, we’ll rank the players from the best to worst, as projected by the Fangraphs depth charts WAR (Wins Above Replacement) projections, and include the possible options on the bench. Things could change in the coming weeks, whether it be player acquisitions or injuries, but a lot of the roster is likely set in stone already.
Starting off this list is the infield, a group headlined by a superstar at the hot corner.
Anthony Rendon, Third Base (5.4 WAR)
Rendon would be the best position player on nearly every other team in baseball. Only six position players have a higher WAR projection for the 2021 season. Instead, Rendon is “only” the second-best position player on a Mike Trout-led squad. In the condensed 2020 season, Rendon was as good as advertised, posting the same 154 wRC+ (Weighted Runs Created Plus) as he did in his 7-win 2020 season. In fact, if you extrapolate Rendon’s 2020 stats over 150 games, he would’ve been a near-8-win player. There’s zero reason to worry about Rendon, whose year-to-year consistency as an elite bat and strong glove at third base gives him an extremely high floor and ceiling.
José Iglesias, Shortstop (2.3 WAR)
The newcomer at shortstop is the third-best projected position player on this roster. I’m not sure I buy him as a better player than David Fletcher (more on him soon) but Iglesias does have a strong track record of high-floor production. He’s the epitome of consistency, racking up at least 1.5 WAR in every season since 2013. The ceiling is capped (career-best 2.5 WAR in 2018) due to low power and on-base skills but he’s also been insanely durable and brings a good glove to shortstop. There’s zero reason to buy into the .373 batting average from 2020 but even if he’s around career norms (87 wRC+), he’s an easy 2-ish win player in 2021.
David Fletcher, Second Base (2.0 WAR)
I, like many other members of the Angels community, feel like this projection is a tad low. In roughly two full seasons of games (283 career games), Fletcher has been worth 6.7 WAR, which equates to about 3.3 WAR per 150 games. The superb defense at multiple positions and meaningful changes at the plate makes for a high-floor player. The lower power output can help explain the 2021 projection and definitely caps his upside but the rest of the skillset has been impressive. I’d expect Fletcher to finish around 2.5-3 wins in a full season in 2021.
Max Stassi, Catcher (1.9 WAR)
After years of great defense and bad offense, Stassi made real, meaningful changes at the plate in 2020 en route to a 137 wRC+ and .533 slugging percentage. More walks, fewer whiffs, and more hard-hit balls in the air sparked a power outbreak that is semi-believable heading into 2021. Even if he regresses at the plate, Stassi is a high-floor catcher due to his premier skills behind the plate. Stassi’s second hip surgery in as many offseasons is worrisome but manager Joe Maddon said he should be good to go on Opening Day.
Shohei Ohtani, Designated Hitter (1.4 WAR)
Ohtani’s 2020 season was an unmitigated disaster, headlined by an injury-riddled two-start stint on the mound. But the results were equally disappointing at the plate, where Ohtani was well-below average (82 wRC+) in 175 plate appearances. Ohtani’s strikeout rate increased while his average exit velocity dipped below 90 mph for the first time. While there are legitimate concerns about Ohtani as a pitcher, I think there’s an easy bounce-back at the plate. Ohtani has the power/discipline blend that should lead to both homers and walks, making him a comfortably above-average or even great hitter. A return to his career norms (125 wRC+) is easily within reach and would make for a potent 2021 lineup.
Jared Walsh, First Base (1.1 WAR)
One of the best development stories for the Angels in recent memory, Walsh crushed it in a 32-game sample in 2020. Walsh, the former 39th-round draft pick, slugged .646 with a 153 wRC+ in 108 plate appearances. Walsh combined strong power (12.6 percent barrel rate) with bat-to-ball skills (13.9 strikeout percentage), along with a useful glove at first base. I’m buying Walsh as a legitimate everyday player at the position for a few years. Other sites, such as Baseball Prospectus and Pitcher List, are buying in as well.
The bench
- Kurt Suzuki
- Albert Pujols
- Luis Rengifo
- Franklin Barreto
- Matt Thaiss
- Taylor Ward
- Robel Garcia
- Phil Gosselin
Suzuki is a perfectly capable back-up veteran catcher who has been an above-average hitter for the past half-decade. Pujols, the future first-ballot Hall of Famer, is in the last year of his 10-year contract and should (but probably won’t) receive minimal playing time in 2021. Beyond those two, there are a lot of questions about who may grab bench spots.
Rengifo, the utility infielder over the past few seasons, had a disastrous 2020 season but was competent in 2019. With the ability to handle shortstop, he probably has an edge for making the club. Barreto, acquired in the Tommy La Stella trade, is out of options and would have to make the Opening Day roster or be at risk to be picked up by another club. Thaiss, Garcia, and Gosselin are likely depth pieces that start the year at Salt Lake. Ward, meanwhile, is getting reps again at catcher this spring and could be a super-utility player that plays some catcher, outfield, and third base if needed.
Overall Evaluation
This is an extremely talented group of infielders. There is a non-zero chance that the Angels get at least league-average production at every single position, including Rendon’s star-level production at third base. The high floors from Iglesias, Fletcher, and Stassi, coupled with a full season from Walsh, could propel this unit into a top-5 infield in the sport. An injury to Rendon would immediately cripple this unit but, luckily, the 30-year-old ranks 24th in games played since 2016. Multiple injuries to key players, however, could spell trouble as the depth at the upper levels of the minors is barren of quality infielders. That being said, this is a superb infield that is one of the clear strengths, if not the biggest strength, of this 2021 Angels team.
*All GIFS courtesy of Major League Baseball*
Should be a good group, the defense will be rock solid around the diamond. If one of Walsh or Stassi can continue to be productive, it might be the best infield the Angels have had in quite some time.
Forgot about J Iglesias……of course because he ain’t that good.
Marcus Semien is a way better player and vastly superior hitter. Once again we shopped at Dollar General as opposed to Nordstrom’s when push came to shove. Especially since SS is one of the most important positions in MLB and has become even more so since the 1980’s. Losing Season # 6 is well underway! 😥 Is there any gameplan being thought out here at Gene Autry Way or is this just to sustain profitability in the Dodger’s huge shadow while they fart all over us?
We’re looking like were in MLB’s version of the Hunger Games in District 12 and the Dodgers are Panem.
Jose Iglesias will be a bomb. Bye!!
Gesus 2002. Talk about a Semien Man crush. Get a room already
Iglesias was a fine addition IF the club ended up using the saved resources on pitchers. They didn’t do that, either, which is disappointing.
I know next year’s SS market is loaded but settling for a low-ceiling SS this year was an odd choice.
Didn’t we get the 4th best ranked SS on the market? (Semien, Simmons, Didi)
Depends on how good #4 is……
If you mean #4 in MIT’s graduate class or the Naval Academy then yes, #4 is great.
#4 in MLB caliber starting SS (which is far more elite than top of any individual class from the Naval Academy – in their own fields).
Discounting Iglesias’s 2020 (and fairly doing so for Semien too – though it shows him returning to form that year), there is little to no evidence that Semien has suddenly found his stride and is thus 10x better than Igelsias (as their salaries would reflect).
Semien didn’t even sign on as a SS – so I don’t understand your argument at all.
Just another person saying that spending money is the key to everything. We will see, but I think Iglesias does fine for us, and Semien ends up overrated in Toronto (whenever they get to play up there).
I don’t think he said spending money is the key to everything. He pointed out that Semien was the better option to Iglesias, which he is.
It was another example of the team settling for less than the best available. And at a key position no less. Keeping Simba would have been a better option as well.
The shopping at Dollar General line is what makes me think he is happy spending and spending. You have to consider the value with the cost. Sure, we could have paid Semien 18M – though I am not convinced Semien is that much better. He had one break out season, and the rest of his entire career he is only marginally better than Iglesias has always been (Iglesias had a better break out 2020, but that is discounted in everyone’s analysis).
So, one team banks on Semien’s 2019 and pays 18M. We bank on Iglesias’ long track record as pretty decent (paying only 3.5M) and that is bad? We don’t have 15M more in room (do we?) or even the rest of Simba’s 10M salary. Even if we have 10-15M, don’t we all want more pitching rather than an improved SS? Or even improved OF?
That would be one thing IF we had used those savings to actually acquire a quality SP (which Brent pointed out), but we did not do that!
So what was that point of saving that money at SS when you go out and sign Cobb and Quintana and then stick Fowler in RF ?!!!??
Maybe I am misunderstanding. We spent a total of 13M on Cobb and Quintana. If we spent that money on Semien (or even Simba) we have 2 less starters, right?
We can quibble on which starters we landed, but it seems to me that the amount of money to be spent is right around what we have spent (34M or so this off season), with maybe 5-10M more available (but looking less than likely). Without looking at the price point, I don’t see the value in the conversation. We could almost always have paid more for a better player (maybe, if they work out), if the money is tight …
Given that constraint, who do you get instead, and which position is left not reinforced (Ward at OF, Barria and Sandoval in the rotation)?
Of course there would have been MANY other alternatives and options.
Personally I would rather have invested all remaining available resources (after RI and JI were on board) on one single GOOD pitcher instead of getting two crappy guys in Cobb and Quintana.
As others have pointed out, we have guys already in house who are better than Cobb (Barria for one). Why not save the money you pay Cobb and use the extra to acquire quality?
I mean, PTP started off well enough with the acquisitions of both Iglesiases, but what followed really made no sense.
Most of us at the time were okay with the cheaper option of Julio Iglesias at shortstop BECAUSE the expectation was that the extra money would be used to get that important stud SP.
When it didn’t happen it made the Julio acquisition seem less advantageous.
Potential alternatives and options – given the caveat that we never know what goes on in the closed doors of the negotiations (and it seems to remain true that the Angels FO doesn’t leak often).
Maybe no one wants to play for Arte, or in California, or they think Trout is a bully. Maybe we won’t pay the market price. Maybe we keep ‘missing out’. Who knows.
Just because we think we should just spend 35M on Bauer doesn’t mean he signs with us (see NYM).
I think, as you note, the Iglesii show that Perry has good intentions and can see good moves. That another (unnamed) SP didn’t come instead of Quintana is either – they wouldn’t sign, or Perry/Maddon prefer Quintana/Cobb. If it is the latter, we will just have to wait and see.
Trout a bully? Really?
Just kidding. I know you weren’t serious about that.
Marcus Semien?
No!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
We should have got Lindor!
Semien is a poor mas Lindor.
https://encrypted-tbn0.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcS7lxRBH02xUGrVvs28bUwlSUjoil5UvMMdCQ&usqp=CAU
recommended reading for sabermetric zealots! 😆 💪
How original 😃
I’m sure Brett originally just made a list of players that are good and then wailed to the heavens about how the Angels should have drafted, traded for, or signed them…. or done all three to each of them. Then he said something stupid about how a bunch of relatively smart people are stupid. Then he tried to load some photos of said players but couldn’t pull it off so they just came out as links. Then he realized that that article made him come off like a dumb muppet so he wrote this thing.
I see what is happening here. Lead wwith your best stuff and get the audience a-hooting and a-hollering and clamoring for more!
Then it will be the outfield and the folks will be in the aisles doubled over with happiness.
And then the article about the pitching.
It’s like a comedian that has gold for 8 minutes but is scheduled to be onstage for 15.
Have to start with optimism before diving into pessimism!
Arte doesn’t want to win.
I railed that a good or great infield is way more important than the outfield ( have to make defensive plays and hit too ).
J Iglesias doesn’t cut it…..sorry he doesn’t. 😫
I think ( Rendon, Fletcher and had we had Semien instead of Iglesias would’ve been the best INF we had since 2002……especially if Jered Walsh turns out to be a real deal guy at 1B ). Must be that WAR and Sabermetrics stuff again.
Pennies on the dollar wins out again 😥 . Thanks Arturo.
We’ll see if Semien and his extra 15M dollars (plus us then going over the luxury tax) would have been worth it.
I suspect Iglesias could have a 5 WAR season and you would still be complaining.
Yeah but this year we got closing material.
Closers don’t help if you don’t have the lead going into the 8th and 9th. : )
Yes but dint we lead the league in BS? I’m sure they weren’t all blown in the 8th or 9th, but if a decent closer could’ve converted half of those blown leads we would’ve been in the playoffs.
Man, we have led the league in BS for so many years now
lmao
The Monkee’s sang Neil Diamond’s song “I’m a believer” and took it to the top, so I can see the team actually taking the division. I will not be surprised at Fletcher totaling up over 200 hits in 2021. I want to believe that Ohtani bounces back and Walsh puts it together. If we lose any of the three infielders to injury we are done. But the three have stayed healthy so far. Rendon is the best at 3b since Figgins and he may turn out to be a super pick up as this season we play out all the schedule. Iglesias is a great pick up and Fletcher is a Super Star even if I am the only “Daydream Believer” in Angels Fandom. It would be a pleasant surprise to have Walsh become a a creditable star in his own right. Our bench is good compared to the benches of the last 5 years, but it is still mediocre. “Will the real Stassi please stand up”. All I hear is how good his defense is but I just do not see it. But in a sixty game schedule Stassi and Walsh and Bundy excelled and now we will find out if it was a fluke. I do believe that we will see some career years coming out of the infield.
Winning the division is certainly possible this year but I still think Houston has a comfortable edge right now and even Oakland has made enough interesting moves. That said, the West is open for the taking for the first time in quite some time.
If the Angels can manage to stay healthy, especially in the rotation, they can probably stay in the race most of the year.
http://t0.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcRpw8KXW7AKMADWAWZfqazgurLRVBRP_r1TyyC1gsj1aol8fwwUIpElUe0lYgq- 💪
I am actually excited by how strong our bench depth is compared to the dark days of Featherstone & Pennington. I’m not nearly as snuffy about Rengifo as some. We were all ablaze with righteous anger when he wasn’t getting playing time a couple years ago. He played fine since then, then cratered in 2020. I think he was a no ST victim and never got right but will be a .250ish hitter who can sort of run and has a little pop again. Ward, Gosselin and Suzuki are all far better depth options than we are used to. Not having the talent level dive off a cliff when ever a couple players take an off day is going to be nice and will probably net us a couple extra wins this year.
The OF options are deep too, imo. I just want some more pitching options (as do we all) – or everyone to take a step (or three) up (which is less likely).
I’ll have the outfield preview out early next week and I have to say that I disagree about the OF depth. There’s an awful lot of risk in Upton/Fowler and if both perform poorly, it’s going to either create a major issue at the MLB level.
I fully believe in both Adell and Marsh but if they’re not ready until midseason, it could be a rough few months for the corner outfielders.
So, if both the starting OF perform poorly, and the heir apparent top ranked prospects don’t come through, then we have a problem. And even then, we have brought in 3-4 veteran options, or could plug in Ward or Walsh or Fletcher (should all else fail, and we have to use everyone).
I just see that as a lot more options (and some pretty good ones if people play to form – which all of this relies on) than we have had in a long time. The Navapile wasn’t that long ago, and Goodwin was a lucky waiver wire pickup (in March) when we had the depth of Hermosillo and Puello.
This is a pretty clear transition year for the corner outfield spots. The hope, I imagine, is Upton/Fowler can hold down the fort enough for the year and hand it over to Adell/Marsh by the end of the year. If the youngsters can get real, legitimate playing time to end the year, you can roll into 2022 with an Adell/Trout/Marsh trio.
Well, I also think there is some hope that Upton turns things around, and can play his contract to close to value. That would provide some more security to the transition.
But yes, a Trout + Adell/Marsh (or Adams or Knowles eventually) would be great and cost-effective. That is clearly the hope, and why anyone signed now is short-term – from a year to even less if all goes well.
High probability THAT risk will occur, I agree here. Just look at the last 3-years running for our corner OFs. Perry played small-ball and small market with his bridge year mentality.
We have the bodies for the OF, but not sure if they count as “depth.” The only sure thing is Trout and even there, I don’t know how much of a future he has in CF. A lot of options (Upton, Fowler, and Jay) are likely used up, underdeveloped (Adell and Marsh), longshot bounce back candidate (Schebler), or never better than a backup (Lagares).
THIS…could not have said it better.
Put Adell and Marsh of the equation and not rely on them. Let them crush their way to the SHOW.
When duz LF Upton finally come off the books? 😣
Before Bobby Bonilla.
2022.
They’ll shed roughly $50 million of AAV between Pujols and Upton during the 2021-2022 offseasons.
Ball & chain contracts fershure
Interesting perspective. I’m not as confident about the bench in the event of injuries forcing someone to take a starting role. Even Suzuki, who I am totally fine with as a backup catcher, is stretched too much if he’s your number one option, IMO.
I will say that I really like the development of Ward, especially if he’s able to handle some catching duties. If he can turn into a super-utility option who plays all over the field, that’d be huge for the club.
Grandpa’s roster spot and our need for pitching depth will prevent us from carrying Ward on the bench. I just don’t see Fowler being the backup centerfielder for this club. So Lagares, Schebler or Jay will end up with the 13th spot ( Or 12th if you classify Shohei as a pitcher. The only exception to this is if somehow Marsh makes the team out of spring training then he could shift over and spell Trout when he needs a break.
Yep. Lagares is basically the only back-up CF option at this point. Fowler’s been bad in right field and shouldn’t sniff any time in CF this year.
Never quite understood why Ward was pulled from being a backstop. This is from Rick Wilson, the day he and Jedi drafted him: “He’s got good size to him, he’s durable, he’s a got a well-above-average arm,” Wilson said. “He can really, really throw. When it’s all said and done, he’s going to be a premium defender; he’s going to be able to shut down the running game. He controls the staff, and he’s got some strength in his swing and controls the strike zone.”
My take, as a catcher, might be able to live with him on the team. Otherwise, he would like good in a Mariner uniform back with Jedi.
The curse of the Premium strikes again.
Wasn’t it that his bat suffered greatly when he advanced as a catcher. Relieving him of the catching responsibilities has led to a bounce back (or step up) from the bat. Now that the bat is there (sort of), they are trying catcher (where he might have a chance of making the team).
But a good 3rd round catcher (where he should have been drafted) that can’t hit wouldn’t help us at all.
Man…nightmares, Featherstone. Used to curse at the TV wondering why he was in the lineup. 2nd was a cesspool after HK47 left.
Whoa, you’re calling Johnny G a cesspool?
I liked Johnny G.
He certainly hustled, but it is telling that he was out of baseball shortly after we replaced him.
Man, if Pujols only sees the occasional start to spell Ohtani on days he can’t hit, and days Walsh needs a day off, I will be extremely happy.
What a fun group that should be. Great breakdown, Brent.
Wha? You’re no gonna flock to see Albert Pujols like the Salmon of Capistrano?
That is a deep Dumb and Dumber reference.
Bubba Harkins would approve.
https://theathletic.com/1698866/2020/03/31/the-angels-played-dumb-and-dumber-for-visitors-before-day-games-for-25-years/
I’ve been hoping for a reduction on Pujols’ playing time for a half-decade now. With him being in his final year and Walsh potentially being a legit option, I can actually see Pujols take a serious bench role for the first time.
Off topic. Taijuan Walker signed with the Mets. Odorizzi still available, but after that it doesn’t seem worth going after a FASP.
I can’t even think of a logical landing spot beyond the Angels for Odorizzi now. The Angels have the need and financials to make it happen.
I am still stupidly hopeful. If not Oderizzi then Mike Leake…. or even Jeff Samardzija…. or even even Cole Hammels. Shane Green and Ryan Tepera are still out there too I think. I’d be moderately glad to have any of those show up in Tempe.
that’s a solid infield, especially with Walsh playng most of the games at 1b, rather than splitting with Albert, although I’d expect Albert to have some time there, too. As for Barreto, send him to SLC. I don’t believe he’d get picked up by anybody. And if he was, that’d be ok with me.
I have the same thoughts about Barreto. The Angels aren’t in a position to just hand ABs to someone like him and even a guy like Rengifo has been useful at the MLB level.
Pujols, meanwhile, shouldn’t be getting any meaningful time this year, especially with the positive development from Walsh.
Do we know if Barreto is even recovered from the shoulder injury? Those can last a while, and it has only been about 5 months.
Can we stash him on the injured list?
60 day all the way baby.
This is a really nice infield and could be the strength of the team. And with the gloves they bring, could make the pitching staff look a little better than it really is. Perry didn’t add a ton of upside in the rotation but he did add quite a few ground balls.
If Ohtani reverts to 125 wRC+ and Walsh cools down but stays 110 wRC+ or above that would be really big. At the beginning of last season on the Angels and Orioles were projected to get below replacement production from first base
Getting that production from both Ohtani/Walsh just deepens this lineup so much. I think both of those marks are completely attainable for both of them.
Nice. I know spring optimism gets the best of me.
If Walsh is legit that’s a really nice addition. Ohtani is the key to this year, I think.
Using my eyes and not analytics, assigning Fletcher a 2.0 WAR based on his tool set is ridiculous. He’s worth at least 3.0 and then some.
I’m a fan of underestimation. It makes disappointment less likely and pleasant surprise more likely.
The projections will often sell guys like Fletcher short (lower power output, lack of major prospect status). I’m with you on buying him as a 3-win player. He’s given no indication that he can’t hit that mark based on his MLB production.
That is likely true. I think Walsh and Ohtani can exceed these projections too. That said, I am happy with his projection already – so any underestimates just gives license for optimism (is that allowed?).
I think Walsh and Ohtani are the keys to our offense.
We all know that Trout and Rendon will put up numbers (barring injury of course) but if Ohtani disappoints with the bat and Walsh craters then we all of a sudden become a beatable offense that is very top heavy.
In this scenario we’ll see the number of walks for Trout and Rendon skyrocket.
Of course whomever is hitting 5th in our lineup becomes VERY important. The typical scenario will be two out and two on in the 1st. How often will that no. 5 hitter come through?
If Shohei bats cleanup then it appears that either J-Up or Walsh will be tasked with hitting 5th. A tall order and a lot of pressure will be there.
The first five;
Fletcher
Trout
Tendon
Ohtani
Walsh
Joe could also bat Shohei 3rd in order to hinder oppositional pitching matchups.
Thus;
Fletcher
Trout
Ohtani
Rendon
Walsh.
In either case the 5 hitter is pivotal. There will be a lot of pressure on Walsh. My fear is that he falls back significantly with the bat and our offense suffers.
Not sure Joe would put Upton at 5th but that is a possibility.
I’m really pulling for Walsh. He’s a good guy. A team really needs unheralded guys coming out of nowhere to contribute and be impactful. Aka Fletcher. Plus, keeps Albert on the pine.
Agree, nice to have a prospect pop up and do well, but keeping Albert on the bench has to be worth another win on his WAR total.
Me too. I’ve got my fingers crossed.