Angels pitchers and catchers are scheduled for their first workout of spring training on Feb. 11. As we count down the days until camp begins, we are going through the various position groups to give a breakdown of where the roster stands. Today, the outfielders.
2025 RECAP
Taylor Ward and Jo Adell each had outstanding offensive seasons. Ward hit 36 home runs and drove in 103 runs, while Adell hit 37 homers with 99 RBIs. All were career highs. Adell started the season in center field, an adjustment because of Mike Trout’s move to right field. Adell struggled so much in center that he was eventually moved back to right, with the Angels bringing up defensive specialist Bryce Teodosio to play. Teodosio was one of the best defensive center fielders in the majors, but he managed only a .553 OPS. The Angels hoped to have Trout play mostly right field, while Jorge Soler spent most of the time at DH. But Trout got hurt in late April and was forced to DH the final four months, after he returned. With Soler pressed into action in the outfield, he also got hurt. Meanwhile, neither player did what the Angels hoped for at the plate. Trout hit 26 homers with a .797 OPS – good numbers for most players – and Soler hit 12 homers with a .680 OPS.
HOW IT LOOKS RIGHT NOW
The Angels made one of the first big moves of the offseason when they traded Ward to the Baltimore Orioles for right-hander Grayson Rodriguez in November. They didn’t add anyone until earlier this month, when they picked up outfielder Josh Lowe in a three-way trade with the Tampa Bay Rays. Now, the Angels have Adell, Lowe, Trout, Soler and Teodosio, but it’s unclear where any of them will play. All that’s certain is that Teodosio will play center when he’s playing. He figures to be on the team, at worst as a defensive replacement. One of the big questions going into spring training will be whether Lowe is good enough defensively to play regularly in center. He played mostly right field with the Rays. Also, how much defense will Trout and Soler be able to play? The roster works much better if Trout can be in the outfield and Soler is the DH, but the Angels want to keep Trout in the lineup, and preserving his body by having him DH might be the best way to do that.
THE NEXT LAYER
Nelson Rada is the Angels’ top prospect among their position players. He got to Triple-A last summer a few weeks before his 20th birthday. He then posted an .849 OPS. Rada is already well above average defensively – although not quite to Teodosio’s level. He still needs work at the plate, which is why the Angels don’t want to rush him to the majors. Matthew Lugo got a taste of the majors last season, with a .707 OPS in 31 games. Kyren Paris, a natural infielder, also got some reps in the outfield. He had a sensational start at the plate before cooling off.
MOVE THEY COULD MAKE
The obvious big splash would be to stun the baseball world with a deal for Cody Bellinger. Bellinger would be a perfect fit because he can play center and he’s a left-handed hitter. Otherwise, the most logical move is to sign Harrison Bader, who is a right-handed-hitting center fielder. Bader could probably be had for about $12 million a year, which is less than Ward would have made.