2014 Season Review:
The Los Angeles Angels are coming off a season that saw them win 90+ games fro the first time since 2009, when they won 97. It was also the first time that the Angels had made the playoffs with Albert Pujols and Josh Hamilton on the roster. In 2014, everything seemed to go right for the Angels who had struggled for success in 2012 and 2013. OF Mike Trout is without a doubt the American League MVP this season, hitting 36 home runs and 111 RBIs this season. The keys to the Angels’ 2014 success besides Trout were the emergence of Kole Calhoun, Garrett Richards, and Matt Shoemaker. Of course the 28 homerun, 105 RBI performances by Albert Pujols also played a significant role in the Angels’ 2014 season.
The only thing that went wrong for the Angles in 2014 was Josh Hamilton battling injuries throughout the season, as well as injuries to Tyler Skaggs, Jeff Weaver, and Shoemaker. Besides that, the Angels had a pretty solid 2014 season and were one of the favorites to reach the World Series out of the American League behind the Tigers heading into the postseason. However, the Kansas City Royals would have none of that as the Royals swept LA in three games as they marched to the World Series.
2015 Guaranteed Contracts:
The Angles already have $128,558,333 million in guaranteed contracts for next season.
· LF Josh Hamilton - $25,400,000
· 1B Albert Pujols - $24,000,000
· LHP C.J Wilson - $18,500,000
· RHP Jered Weaver - $18,200,000
· 2B Howie Kendrick - $9,850,000
· SS Erick Aybar - $8,750,000
· RHP Huston Street - $7,000,000
· CF Mike Trout - $6,083,333
· C Chris Iannetta - $5,525,000
· RHP Joe Smith - $5,250,000
Arbitration Eligible Players:
· 2B Gordon Beckham
· 3B David Costlessse
· RHP Kevin Jepsen
· RHP Fernando Salas
· RHP Vinne Pestano
· LHP Wade LeBlanc
· RHP Hector Santiago
· OF Collin Cowgill
· RHP Garrett Richards
Options:
· Sean Burnett (Team) - Declined
· Huston Street (Team) – Exercised
Costless Agents:
· LHP Sean Burnett
· RHP Jason Grilli
· 3B John McDonald
· LHP Joe Thatcher
Team Needs:
This offseason the Angels will want to focus on adding more pitching depth to their rotation as well as their bullpen.
With starting pitchers Garrett Richards, Matt Shoemaker, Jared Weaver all going down with injuries in 2014, the Angels will want to add a starting pitcher to solidify the back-end of their rotation for depth if one of their top three pitchers goes down. Possible pitchers the Angels could be targeting are A.J Burnett, Jason Hammel, Brandon McCarthy, Jake Peavy, and Ervin Santana among others.
The Angles also are allowing three pitchers out of their bullpen walk this offseason, which creates a whole in Angels’ bullpen that was solid for the most part in their 2014 campaign. By allowing two left-handed relievers to walk, the Angels will look to sign at least one lefty for use out of the bullpen. Currently the best left-handed options out of the bullpen for the Angels may be former Red Sox and Orioles reliever Andrew Miller as well as former Yankees and Tigers reliever Phil Coke.
Future Outlook: UP
If 2014 was any indication of the future for the Angels organization, it’s one that presents a very bright future. With AL MVP candidate Mike Trout signed under contract until 2021, the Angles have the future face of baseball in their grips for another six years. With Garrett Richards, Jered Weaver, and Matt Shoemaker all returning in 2015 the Angels pitching should hold up to it’s 2014 status of being one of the best in the American league. With a farm system that has a good group of players with a good future in the majors, the Angels have very few things to worry about in the future. However with Albert Pujols and Josh Hamilton not getting any younger, the Angels will have to eventually find replacements at first base and left field.