The Angels 2025 is the subject matter of this deep dive by Rhett Bollinger. His wild prediction is that Christian Moore will win Rookie of the Year. He says Mike Trout will be team MVP if he stays healthy. Rhett also thinks the Angels have more starting pitching depth than in recent years. Bleacher Report ranked Logan O’Hoppe at no. 12 for starting catchers. Silent C got the nod to start the season as the Angels fifth starter.
When Mookie Betts gets sick, he gets really sick. MLB suspended Julio Urias through the 2025 All Star Break. Tigers outfielder Wenceel Perez will miss at least a month due to back inflammation. Manuel Margot was on the open market about a day before being signed by the Tigers. He is an outfielder so I suspect this signing is related to the Wenceel Perez situation.
The Royals acquired Mark Canha from the Brewers for a PTBNL or cash. The Braves just released right-hander Dany Jimenez. The White Sox, for their part, just released Omar Narvaez.
Off Topic
It’s not baseball, but Cain Velasquez got five years for trying to kill that guy who allegedly molested his son. That other guy’s trial is coming up in June. If he ends up in the same prison with Cain Velasquez, he is probably screwed. In other fight news, George Foreman died at the age of 76.
Photo credit: Rex Fregosi
Updated top 5 rankings of Billy Eppler’s draft acquisitions as of 3/25/25 ( By career WAR):
Lets hope Jo Adell and Kyren Paris can finally break into this group this year
Billy Epps! C-Rod might have been able to crack that line-up given arm health. He was more overdrive than Bachman.
So there it is unless noda replaces Lugo
Soler
Lopez Paris lugo trout Adell ward
Ohoppe darnauld shanuel regnifo newman Anderson
Ryan Anderson Joyce Jansen Detmers zefferzahn mcdaniels Ian Anderson Brock Burke
So this is who I have for the roster. Hendricks Soriano silent C kikuchi Anderson
How many pitchers are they carrying
13 pitchers
I am trying to figure out the roster. Confusing. Lugo must not have made the roster
It depends on Moncada’s status
I hope they give Paris reps at SS and cf
We need people with hitting and defense. Lmao
I mean, we were always gonna lose 100 games no matter any moves they make around the margins.
105 with López
But seriously I don’t think they are losing 100 games this year. Pitching has more depth
I’d love to be wrong, Bob!
I’m confused on the Lopez signing. Didn’t that guy last year who sucked wasn’t his name Lopez
That was Jack Lopez
Looks like the same guy to me
Nicky Lopez is a better defender but yeah neither can hit really.
Kyren Paris made the team
Hell yeah.
2025 AL ROY
It’ll be a 2-way battle between Paris and CMo.
Ryan Johnson!
I like RJ but I don’t think his skill level warrants not learning the ropes on the bus. Perry should be sending him to Rocket City to stretch his arm out. Just feels like Perry makes these moves to show how smart he is. Until the Angels get to .500, the rush of draftees to the majors is up for debate.
lol
He’s not eligible he lost his rookie status last year
My brain is in a tizzy.
Rengifo, Anderson, Newman, Lopez, Paris, and Moncada or another IFer.
And then Neto comes back next month.. I’m excited and very confused lol.
Yeah, it is confusing. Well, nobody can accuse Perry of not addressing depth in the IF.
But.. but… Perry is not addressing depth in the IF!!!! 😎
If Paris is up, I would like to see him play everyday, even if he moves around.
Maybe refnifo 3b and Paris 2b
Forgot about Anderson
I don’t think he will, but I am okay with that for now. I see him coming up with a huge pinch hit or two late in games to win them for us…
Excellent. And good on you Perry for doing the right thing!
Paris will win us a couple games in April (or at least play a key role). You can count on it. The kid is clutch.
One thing is for sure, we’ll be watching a lot of yutes contribute every day.
….and most have earned a roster spot, even if it’s only ST. Good times! Until it isn’t.
Angels busy today. To recap so far, Quijada and Perdomo DFA’d, Moniak released and Ryan Johnson and Nicky Lopez added to 40 man. Gotta believe Tim Anderson is also gonna be added
I just don’t understand the need for Nicky Lopez.
If Moncada is really hurt, then JD Davis is the far better offensive option.
Yeah. That’s weird.
P.M.
If Moncada is hurt there is still one more spot open. I assume it’s between Ryan Noda and JD Davis
Or Matthew Lugo
Agree. Why Lopez ?
Perry’s waiver-wire trash pick-up is getting off to a hot start
Apparently the Angels are not enamored with JDs defense
JD needs armor when he plays defense.
Any word on CMo?
No but It would be pretty shocking if he made the team. I expect him to start in AA
Kyren Paris has made the team https://x.com/samblum3/status/1904674796438511991?s=46
Good news
MLBTR reports the Angels selected Tim Anderson. It is one of those breaking news stubs.
So Andersons are now the new Rodriguii?
The Moniak release of as sadly due. He was supposed to be getting better not hitting below .200 during the spring and being unable to get the ball out of the infield last night. The bullpen looks interesting. All of the has beens are gone apparently. Suarez. Quijada, etc. I assume Detmers is making the team as a long lefty.
Who’s the fourth or fifth OF without Moniak? Does the is mean Lugo has to make it?
Paris deserves a spot. Not sure if he will get one but it is deserved on spring performance. I assume Moore will start in the minors.
Let’s see how the games go.
It’s possible that Paris makes it and plays some CF or he plays some infield while Rengifo plays some corner OF.
Backup CF is going to be an adventure though unless Mike is going to play there.
Hell, starting CF is going to be an adventure too.
I think Paris patrolling Centerfield could be a real thing
https://x.com/Jared_Tims/status/1904653436907643077
Good avoiding 2 of your 4 minor league affiliates is silly.
I hope that new stadium is better. It IS totally stupid making your pitchers skip AAA because it’s a launching pad. It’s actually stupid to train hitters there too.
The opposite in High-A Tri-City… where bats and offense goes to die.
The entire structure is pretty stupid.
Tri City is and offensive graveyard.
Salt Lake City is 4000 feet above Anaheim.
It would be nice to have better continuity.
I am just thrilled to get back to Rancho
When did we get the Quakes back? I must have missed something.
But I’m not sure how to fix . The minor leagues have turned into a Cartel controlled Cabal anyways so even if the Angels want to change who’s going to swap with them ?
Exactly but there’s a shitpile of neutral & pitching parks in the PCL that don’t need to be avoided
Welcome to the big show Mr. McDaniels! I give Perry a big phat A+ for this offseason/ST.
“Ángel Perdomo does not have a locker either.
For those doing the math, that strongly implies that Rule 5 pick Garrett McDaniels made the team”
https://x.com/SamBlum3/status/1904652216440676500?t=99R28BvzzgSBJW74ZFwgWw&s=19
Que lastima Angel
Now Down to final roster decisions: Lugo vs Paris vs Moncada IL trip for the last 2 position spots
2 spots w/Nicky Lopez already being factored in?
I’m ashamed, I’ll admit it……Who in the Fu#k is Nicky Lopez?
lmao ! Elite glove middle IFer, no bat tool at all. Be around until Moncada is ready
Anderson and Newman asked me if they have a spot? What do I tell them?
Yes and TA making the OD roster
A+ seems rather generous. Jensen signing could be solid. D’Arnaud will be one of the best backup catchers, I’ll give him marks for that.
Other than that, not sure what direction they are trying to take. Soler for Canning is still puzzling to me. Giving 20M to Kikuchi is somewhere between silly and laughable, and then making him the opening day starter tells you all you need to know about our rotation depth. They are going to be playing some kids this year which I’m all for, but their off-season moves don’t scream rebuild. Otherwise why is Ward still here? If Rengifo starts hot and builds some value, he should be gone too.
I really don’t like the idea of doing baptism by fire for Moore. Normally I would get excited about a prospect skipping the minors, but given the Angels track record, I just roll my eyes. I hope Johnson does awesome, but with Arte/Perry, there is always a “promotional” aspect to their baseball decisions.
C for me. The team is better on paper than last year…if Trout stays healthy I can see a 7-10 win improvement. Unfortunately, that will only put them in the 70s range and middling is the worst spot you can be.
a big part of a “good grade” for this off season is NOT signing anyone but Koochie and bringing on a bunch of trade bait. We will do the draft, and then Perry may have a couple players or literally a half dozen players he can trade for more prospects if they all perform and aren’t hurt. That would be some serious GMing, especially for a guy who isn’t even a POBO.
At best a for me. He got a DH and a one No.2 or No.3 starter in Kikuchi. What else am I missing?
I like Newman and Travis d even moreso
YEEEEAAAHHHH! I dig McDipps
I had high hopes for Moniak, especially since the Angels only gave up Thor in the deal, and they’re potentially getting their future CF.
When he had that hot streak in 2023, I thought, great, we really did get something good in return. He still needed to be platooned but he looks like a legit young LH bat.
Then the wheels fell off in 2024, and when he couldn’t get regular playing time, he couldn’t get a rhythm, and he also wasn’t a good pinch hitter.
Ah well, so long Mickey.
It’s down to Perdomo vs McDaniels. Also, Nicky Lopez is here, meaning Moncada must not be ready for OD.
“Nicky Lopez has a locker in the Angels clubhouse.
José Quijada does not have a locker”
https://x.com/SamBlum3/status/1904646935224680738?t=SHLRVM2aCV6AGBaDzmTltw&s=19
Welcome to the Great Salt Lake J.D. Davis
Dont count out Moncada yet.
Who?
Cole Tucker version 2025
I thought we had depth now and didn’t need to do this anymore…
Not understanding these last minute bp/bench additions. Seems Perry has already reversed himself on Perdomo.
The Nicky Lopez addition threw me for a loop.
Is there anybody who made the bullpen that you would want Perdomo in over? The majority consensus seems to be that Perry did good with the bullpen.
No, what I’m saying is that Minasian acquired Perdomo for cash and released him in the span of a week, so that seems as arbitrary as the Lopez acquisition, given relative depth at both bench and bullpen.
Minasian is having fun trading Pokemon cards, lol.
Dipoto-esque.
Arranging the deck chairs on the Titanic?
Well I guess Nicky played for Team Atlanta last year so I’m sure they vouched for him and that’s good enough for Perry
M-I-C-K-E-Y is GONE Bye Bye Mickey. 😮