How the Angels Can Still Finish Below .500 in 2023

The Angels are trying to improve their record this season, but they can't finish above .500. They have been active in the offseason, signing Tyler Anderson and trading for Hunter Renfroe and Gio Urshela.

Trout played 119 games and recorded 499 plate appearances in 2022. He was diagnosed with a back condition called T5 Costovertebral Dysfunction. The 31-year-old hasn't played more than 140 games since 2016. Anthony Rendon has played just 105 games over the last two years. Shohei Ohtani has been transcendent over past two seasons, but from 2017-2020 he was limited to a part-time DH.

Urshela is an upgrade in batting order, but he's not a good fielder. Renfroe is not an MLB-caliber hitter. Andrew Velasquez and David Fletcher played short last season. Jared Walsh has never been particularly adept with his glove. The club scored only 623 runs in 2022, 25th in MLB.

The 2022 Angels will have a formidable starting five, but they can't compete with any team in MLB. Ohtani is an ace and Patrick Sandoval and Reid Detmers are mid-rotation anchors. Anderson will be signed on a three-year deal. Sand Pablo and Detmer have poor track records of success.

Brandon Marsh was traded to the Phillies for Logan O’Hoppe. O'Huppe is currently ranked 61st overall on FanGraphs” prospect list. He is expected to start at catcher for the Angels at age 23 next season. Max Stassi batted .180/.267/.303 in 2022.

The Los Angeles Angels haven't finished above .500 since 1964. They changed their name to the California Angles in 1965 and played as the Anaheim Angels for eight seasons. Since they dropped the "of" from their names seven years ago, they haven’t finished better than 80-82.