2022 was yet another difficult campaign for the Angels. The Los Angeles Angels lost 89 games in 2022, the seventh consecutive losing season in Anaheim. The upcoming 2023 season is a major one for the Angles, and Los Angeles will look different come this spring. Here’s a look at what the Angels did this past winter.
Related: 2022-23 MLB Offseason Recap: Los Angeles Dodgers
Notable Additions
- LHP Tyler Anderson
- INF Brandon Drury
- RHP Carlos Estevez
- OF Brett Phillips
- OF Hunter Renfroe
- 2B/3B Gio Urshela
Arguably the most notable addition this winter was the signing of starter Tyler Anderson. This will mark the sixth stop for Anderson since the start of 2019, as he is set to join the Angels after a career season with the Dodgers. Across 178.2 innings, Anderson went 15-5 with a 2.57 ERA, 1.00 WHIP and 1.7 BB/9. The lefty was one of just 22 pitchers in 2022 to throw at least 150 innings and post an ERA of 3.00 or better.
In addition to Anderson, the Angels added three noteworthy hitters to team with Mike Trout and Shohei Ohtani. Outfielder Hunter Renfroe, and infielders Gio Urshela & Brandon Drury will be headed to Anaheim for this season. All three are well-traveled, but each were quite sound at the plate this past season. Renfroe hit 60 home runs between 2021-22, while 2022 Silver Slugger winner Brandon Drury turned a 28 home run campaign into a new two-year deal with the Angels. Urshela, meanwhile, posted a 121 OPS+ with Minnesota last year.
Notable Subtractions
- RHP Archie Bradley
- INF Matt Duffy
- RHP Janson Junk
- RHP Michael Lorenzen
- RHP Oliver Ortega
- RHP Elvis Peguero
- C Kurt Suzuki
Anaheim didn’t do too bad this winter, as far as departures are concerned. Arguably the most notable name to depart was pitcher Michael Lorenzen, who’s shown good stuff in his career but has also battled control issues. Veterans Archie Bradley and Matt Duffy also departed via free agency.
Catcher Kurt Suzuki won’t be back either, as the 39-year-old announced his retirement after the end of the 2022 campaign. Suzuki played his final two seasons in Anaheim, but didn’t put up much in the way of offense. The ex-Angel hit just .207/.283/.324 over 406 plate appearances from 2021-22.
A Recap
Anaheim — as of yet — didn’t do anything to address the catcher position this offseason. But aside from that hole, the Angels did make tweaks to needy areas of its roster. LHP Tyler Anderson will look to replicate a career season and slot in to a rotation that already includes a number of talented arms in Reid Detmers, Patrick Sandoval, and Jose Suarez. The Angels also added a number of solid bats that should provide some depth in Anaheim.
With the impending free agency of Shohei Ohtani looming, it’s now or quite possible never for the Angels to make the playoffs with this core. It won’t be easy, though, for the Angels to make it back to the postseason with the presence of the Astros and Mariners.
