Los Angeles Angels manager Ron Washington knew he would have some tough decisions to make if he wanted to transform Mike Trout’s team into playoff contenders. Opening day is less than a week away and the Angels outfield is kind of crowded.
The Halos have five options to fill what is traditionally four spots. Mike Trout and Taylor Ward of course are already penciled in as starters, so there’s been some stiff competition for those third and fourth outfield spots between Mickey Moniak, Jo Adell and free agent signing Aaron Hicks.
Jo Adell, who we’ve been waiting to have that breakout season and get the call every day, is out of minor league options and the Angels are unlikely to trade him or let him hit waivers, so he will be playing. The 26-year-old started on Opening Day 2023.
Teams don’t usually carry five outfielders on their roster; however, Washington believes he can finesse the outfield rotation in his favor over the course of 162 games.
“It’s not gonna be hard because whatever lineup I put out, it’s gonna be the lineup,” Washington said. “So it’s not going to be hard. They’ll get some playing time, every single one of them. So how I’m going to do it, I really couldn’t tell you that right now. But they are going to get some playing time.
“Who’s the pitcher, who has good matchups, who fits well at that time against that pitcher, those types of things,” Washington said. “Who needs a break? And we’ll use the DH, because every one of those guys is gonna find themselves getting a little bit of DH time also.”
Adell has been on a roller coaster between the pros and minor leagues for several seasons now. Of not for his lack of options, he most likely would have been optioned to Triple- A to keep getting at-bats, while Moniak and Hicks shared a platoon role.
Hicks slashed .349/.446/.524 with a .970 OPS against left-handed pitching last season while Moniak slashed .294/.322/.544 with an .866 OPS against righties.
If Adell can gain some consistency with his bat-to-ball skills, while showing more than just flashes of the elite power he possesses, he can lock down a significant amount of time at DH and also spell Moniak or Hicks on any given day.
Aaron Hicks Wants Te Be Everyday Player Again
Hicks had a career resurgence once he left the Yankees and ended up in Baltimore, helping the Orioles capture their first AL East division title after nearly a decade-drought. He naturally wants to play every day again, as he’s been the best of the three competing outfielders in Spring Training.
“If you make yourself feel like you’re a bench player, you’re going to be a bench player,” Hicks said this week. “Obviously, I want to work my way into playing every single day. But, you know, whenever my name is called, I’ll be ready to go.”
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Washington has his work cut out with an Angels team who was 73-89 last season and that was with Mike Trout and Shohei Ohtani’s masterful pitching and hitting. Ohtani is gone and LA will try to piece together a competitive lineup. With renowned fielding specialist Washington at the helm, we know defense will be a strongpoint of this rebuilding club.
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