Angels 10 burning questions for the 2023 season: Predictions? MVP? Rule change impact?

As the 2023 MLB season kicks off, there are a lot of new things to learn. There are a number of major rule changes that were designed to speed up the game and increase offense. The new balanced schedule will result in all 30 teams playing every team. And an action-packed offseason saw free agents taking home major dollars with new teams.

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To get ready for the Angels’ season, here is everything you need to know:

Scores & Schedule | Roster | Stats

What to expect from the Angels this season?

Keith Law’s season projection: 82-80

The Athletic’s staff voting (percentages reflect first-place votes):

The Angels are good enough to win more than they lose if they can stay healthy. They’re a borderline playoff team. I view them as the third- or fourth-best team in the AL West behind the Astros and Mariners (and potentially the Rangers) — Jim Bowden

Bold prediction:

The Angels will have a winning record. I thought about predicting the playoffs. But I don’t want to go overboard. Do I think the Angels are set up for long-term success? No. But they have a good roster in 2023, and there’s no reason they shouldn’t be an above-average team. If they aren’t, then it will be a very poor reflection on all the decision-makers within the organization. For now, it at least appears on paper that they’ve built a winning team. And that is a bold prediction. They haven’t had a winning record since 2015! 

What moves did the Angels make this offseason?

Trades:

• INF Gio Urshela from Twins for RHP Alejandro Hidalgo
• OF Hunter Renfroe from Brewers for RHP Janson Junk, RHP Elvis Peguero and LHP Adam Seminaris.

Free-agent signings:

•  LHP Tyler Anderson, 3 years/$39 million; RHP Carlos Estévez, 2 years/$14 million
•  INF Brandon Drury, 2 years/$17 million
•  OF Brett Phillips, 1 year/$1.2 million
•  LHP Matt Moore, 1 year/$7.55 million

Sam Blum’s grade: B+

Most importantly, they can credibly say they’re more prepared for an injury, which was a massive issue last season. If Anthony Rendon gets hurt, for example, then there’s Gio Urshela and/or Brandon Drury to pick them up.

Jim Bowden’s grade: B

The Angels wanted to improve their position-player and pitching depth this offseason. They accomplished both. Drury and Urshela give them protection from injuries on both infield corners, and Renfroe provides 25-home run power and more outfield depth. Anderson and Estévez bolster their rotation and bullpen depth. — Bowden

Players to watch

Team MVP?

Shohei Ohtani, DH/SP: This is pretty self-explanatory. He is Shohei Ohtani after all. His teammate, Mike Trout, has won the AL MVP three times. But Ohtani won it in 2021 and was the runner-up in 2022. A healthy and effective Ohtani is better than pretty much any player ever, so it’s hard not to pick him. He’ll be the Angels’ ace and likely their best or second-best hitter. Hence, the team’s MVP. The Angels hope he wins that award for them for years to come.

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Who impressed the most in spring training?

Mickey Moniak, OF: Moniak’s place in the organization seemed somewhat perilous after a couple of offseason acquisitions boxed him out of a role. But his spring had put him into contention to make the team. Despite hitting .409 in  44 at-bats with an 1.185 OPS, he missed the cut. But Moniak will be in the mix this season. He believes health is directly tied to these numbers. Don’t forget, he is a former No. 1 overall pick and is still just 24 years old. It’ll be interesting to see if continues to get better.

Most impacted by the new rules?

Shohei Ohtani. Ohtani is the easy answer here. He’s impacted by basically every rule in different ways. As a pitcher, he’s a very slow worker, averaging 21.7 seconds between pitches last year, and 26.9 seconds with runners on base. That’s no longer allowed. He has some lefty pull tendencies as a hitter. That will become a good thing with the shift being eliminated. Ohtani is also a runner. He stopped stealing bases in the middle of last season. But with bigger bases and fewer throw-overs, expect Ohtani to utilize his speed and steal more bases

Who has the most to lose (or gain)?

Anthony Rendon, 3B. This is an inflection point season for Rendon. He doesn’t have anything to gain or lose monetarily. He’s set for his career on that front. But this season feels like his chance to salvage any positive feelings from his time with the organization. Rendon has missed most of the past two years due to two separate season-ending surgeries. When he has played, he hasn’t been great. If this isn’t a good season for Rendon, it will be more than fair to say that his contract will be up in the pantheon of all-time bad deals. And it would still have three years left before it expires. That said, a productive year means he’ll earn back a lot of goodwill.

Most likely to have a bounce-back season?

Jared Walsh, OF. Walsh had a horrible year in 2022. Starting on July 1, his season fell off a cliff. From that point, he hit .133 with a .421 OPS. This all came after his All-Star year in 2021. The reason why he was so bad, the team believes, is that he was suffering from thoracic outlet syndrome. He had surgery in August and is healthy now. He’ll play without pain — pain that possibly forced destructive alterations to his swing and approach. It’s easy to expect that he’ll improve significantly in 2023.

Likeliest to outperform their fantasy draft ranking??

Taylor Ward. Ranking (OF 31): He’s a very intriguing player for fantasy purposes. He had an unreal first six weeks of the 2022 season. He had a 1.194 OPS before May 20. Then from Aug 23 through Oct. 3, he had an OPS of 1.020. In between, he dealt with an injury that he believes seriously hampered his bat speed. He crashed into a wall, and it impacted his shoulder and neck. And while he was available to hit, he is adamant that it impacted his ability to hit the ball to his capabilities for several months. He stated at the outset of spring training this season that he believes his first month and last month of the season better represent his skills. And while he might not sustain a 1.000 OPS over six months, it’s not incomprehensible that he’s a highly productive All-Star player offensively. He’s already rated highly by this metric — No. 72 overall among hitters. But expect him to be better than that.

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Rookie most likely to make an impact?

Logan O’Hoppe, C: O’Hoppe is the top prospect in the Angels organization and will begin the season as the starting catcher. He made his debut in the final week of last season. The Angels are in need of a catcher of the future, and the Angels traded Brandon Marsh for O’Hoppe to make him that guy. He’s got power, can reach base and is a strong defensive player. It wouldn’t be shocking to see him compete for Rookie of the Year. That’s probably his top ceiling, best-case scenario. Regardless, he’ll play a big role.

How good is the Angels’ farm system?

No. 1 prospect: Zach Neto, SS

Neto is a definite shortstop who projects to be a plus defender, while at the plate he’s got some extra movement before he gets his swing going but then is very short to the ball. — Law

Organization’s ranking: No. 25

The Angels’ 2017-19 drafts haven’t added much to the system at all so far, and their seven-figure international signings haven’t worked out, except for that one guy they signed from Japan’s NPB. (I don’t count NPB/KBO players as prospects.) — Law

Required reading

• If the Angels are to end their playoff drought, these are the 10 things that need to happen.
• Taylor Ward has an ambitious goal in mind, but he can reach it if he stays healthy.
• Owner Arte Moreno finally spoke to the press; some of his answers deserved scrutiny.

(Photo of Shohei Ohtani: Mark J. Terrill / Associated Press)

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