Doolittle’s (ESPN) take on all 30 teams win-loss record for the 2026 season. The Hopium crowd will of course find fault with the observations, however the data does support the general observations he presents.

27. Los Angeles Angels
Win average: 68.8 (Last: 69.6, 27th)
In the playoffs: 2.9% (Last: 3.1%)
Champions: 0.0% (Last: 0.0%)

Why the heck didn’t the Angels get some help for Mike Trout in the outfield?

You can always pick on the Angels’ rotation outlook, but that gets old, so we’ll go with what projects to be a bottom-three outfield. Trout, for his part, barely helps that forecast given that he mostly DHed a season ago. That’s an appropriate career move for the future Hall of Famer, but then don’t you need to adjust the rest of the roster accordingly?

Jo Adell broke out in the power department in 2025, finally manifesting one of the highly touted tools that once made him an exciting prospect. But that’s kind of all he does, and he proved to be no solution in center field, where he started 89 times. Jorge Soler is a defensive menace, but if he’s healthy and DHing, then Trout can’t. Newly acquired Josh Lowe can run, but he’s not really a center fielder, either, and has a sub-.700 OPS in each of the past two seasons. Bryce Teodosio plays center but is already 26 and in limited time has a career OPS+ of 45 with a lone big league homer. Speed-and-defense prospect Nelson Rada is a possibility but is only 20 and lacks power.

The answer to the question, then, might well be that the Angels hope the old Mike Trout will resurface in 2026.

Last edited 2 hours ago by Senator_John_Blutarsky

Super Member

HalosFanForLife

1 hour ago

Reply to Senator_John_Blutarsky

it’s so amazing how our outfielders have made the position look so difficult. Ward was pretty bad too. i think Trout still is serviceable (though not elite anymore)- but he’s an injury waiting to happen there. Adell will hopefully look to improve – but he’s not there for his glove prowess. We’re an outfield that as a whole can’t hit, can’t field, but… they don’t have great arms.

Legend

Senator_John_Blutarsky

1 hour ago

Reply to HalosFanForLife

The challenge for the team over the next 3 to 5 years is that, other than Neto, the team does not have a player in the top 15 at their position. The “glass half empty” view might be that other than Neto, we don’t crack the top 20 at any position.

As for pitching, it’s just as challenging. The closest we come to having a player in the overall top 100 pitchers would be Soriano.

It will be fun watching to see which prospects develop into at least average MLB players. However, it’s never enjoyable losing.

Last edited 1 hour ago by Senator_John_Blutarsky

Legend

steelgolf

1 hour ago

Reply to HalosFanForLife

Which is why the Soler signing was so head scratching. Soler is a far worse Adell, with little OBP and horrible defense. It’s like someone signed him without paying attention to the current roster. “Oh, he is a power threat in the line up”, yeah, wind power from all of his whiffs. Yeeeesh. Just cut him loose and find something useful for that slot.