2025 season: Eliminated Sept. 15
With the Angels eliminated from the 2025 postseason, let’s take a look at the season that was in Anaheim, the questions the team must address this winter and the early outlook for next year.
Read more: What’s next for the Rockies? | White Sox? | Nationals? | Twins? | Pirates?
Things that went right
Although the Angels bowed out of the postseason race in August, they were two games below .500 when they took the field on July 30, allowing them to avoid selling at the trade deadline and giving fans hope for the future.
Los Angeles’ offense was the biggest reason for the team’s improvement, as the Angels are on pace to finish near the middle of the pack in runs scored after ranking 28th last year. Mike Trout regained his status as the leader of the offense. Trout no longer has the skills of his prime seasons, but he remains a dangerous hitter. He spent some time on the IL this year, but he still might finish with his most games played since 2019, when he appeared in 134.
The 34-year-old received more lineup support than usual, as Zach Neto, Taylor Ward and Jo Adell all had productive seasons. By early August, Ward had exceeded his previous career high in home runs. Neto built on a strong finish to 2024 and cemented his status as the team’s leadoff hitter. And after teasing Angels fans for years, Adell finally became a feared slugger who can hit near the heart of the lineup.
There weren’t as many success stories on the pitching staff, but offseason signee Yusei Kikuchi deserves credit for taking the ball every fifth day and posting a solid ERA. He represented the Angels in the All-Star Game. José Soriano also deserves mention for his reliability. And 37-year-old closer Kenley Jansen was everything the team could’ve expected as a bullpen anchor when it signed him to a one-year deal last winter.
Things that went wrong
The biggest failures were on the pitching staff. The starters often struggled to keep the bases clean, which limited how long they could remain in games. The bottom three starters — Tyler Anderson, Kyle Hendricks and Jack Kochanowicz — spent most of the season with ERAs north of 4.50. And aside from Jansen and Brock Burke, the team’s key relievers struggled to log ERAs below 4.00. The staff seemed to consist entirely of innings-eaters, lacking anyone who could make a real difference.
Although the Angels’ offense improved overall, there were still a couple of hitters who let the team down. Luis Rengifo experienced a major offensive decline. Jorge Soler was arguably even more disappointing, as he was expected to be a middle-of-the-lineup presence after he was acquired via trade last October. His play was acceptable during April but then tailed off, and he spent a significant amount of the summer on the IL due to recurring back inflammation.
[Get more Los Angeles news: Angels team feed]
Offseason outlook
The Angels’ infield is far from settled for 2026. Catcher Logan O’Hoppe failed to show improvement in any area. His mediocre defensive stats at a premium position are especially concerning. The team made a significant investment in Travis d’Arnaud as the backup catcher, but he didn’t have a great season, either. First base is covered with Nolan Schanuel, who has more MLB experience than most 23-year-olds. Schanuel knows how to get on base but has yet to establish the power stroke that is usually mandatory for a player at his position. Neto will handle shortstop, but the jury is out in regard to who will stand on either side of him. Rengifo and third baseman Yoán Moncada will both be free agents, and 2024 first-round draft pick Christian Moore struggled in his initial MLB action. The team might go with Moore at second while addressing the hot corner through free agency.
The outfield is easily the most stable part of the team, as Trout, Ward, Soler and Adell are all signed for 2026. The team will hope for a bounce-back season from Soler while appreciating that having four veteran outfielders allows the oft-injured Trout to regularly slot in as the DH.
The rotation will need to be addressed this winter. Kikuchi has two years remaining on his contract, and he will be joined in the starting quintet by Soriano. Kochanowicz could be the fifth starter, though the team would surely prefer an upgrade. Anderson and Hendricks are heading to free agency, which means it will be necessary to add at least one veteran starter, preferably one who can make a sizable impact.
The bullpen is in no better shape than the rotation, which is not surprising when looking at the Angels’ 2025 numbers. The team’s most effective reliever, Jansen, is a free agent. The returns of lefties Burke and Reid Detmers are pretty much the only things that are set. Fireballer Ben Joyce is a wild card, as he will try to return from May shoulder surgery. Adding at least two righties will be a necessity.
Prospects on the horizon
The Angels have a reputation for being the most aggressive organization in terms of promoting their prospects, which means that everyone in their farm system should be on the big-league radar.
Tyler Bremner became the focal point of the team’s farm system as soon as he was selected with the No. 2 pick in the 2025 MLB draft. Bremner was selected on the premise that he was as MLB-ready as any pitcher in the draft after throwing 221 1/3 innings at UC Santa Barbara. He should debut early in 2026 and could even make the Angels’ Opening Day roster.
There are three other hurlers who could fill roles next year: Ryan Johnson, Caden Dana and George Klassen. Johnson has already debuted as a reliever, despite a minor-league career that consists of just 54 1/3 innings of High-A ball. Klassen was acquired from the Phillies in 2024 and has worked exclusively as a starter while reaching Double-A. Dana had cups of coffee with the Angels in 2024 and this year, but his ability to crack the rotation is in doubt after he struggled mightily in Triple-A.
With Moore already in the majors, there aren’t any position-player prospects on the immediate horizon. That’s not a major problem for an organization that needs pitching more than hitting at the moment.
Goals for 2026
Although you wouldn’t know it from the standings, the Angels have mostly tried to make the postseason in recent years. Despite that, Los Angeles is on pace to finish below .500 for a 10th straight season, despite having a generational talent (Trout) for all of those campaigns and one of the greatest players ever (Shohei Ohtani) for five of them. As time continues to run out on Trout, the Angels’ front office will surely try to build a contender once again in 2026.
Addressing the pitching staff will be the key to catching the Astros, Mariners and/or Rangers. This team needs a couple of starters, a closer and a right-handed setup man. That amount of pitching will be expensive on the open market. As such, at this point, the smart money is on the Angels missing the postseason again in 2026.
Fantasy focus
Although Los Angeles lacks a player who will warrant an early-round fantasy pick, there are plenty of Angels who will appear in the middle rounds of fantasy drafts. That includes Neto, Trout, Ward and Adell. Schanuel is still in a growth stage of his career, which will make him an interesting late-round selection. Kikuchi will be a late-round pick as well, as will Jansen if the Angels bring him back for another season as their closer.
Read the full article here
