Angels Pursue High-Upside Moves to End Long Playoff Drought

The Los Angeles Angels are taking steps to rebound from a disappointing 73-99 season, their 11th straight year missing the postseason. After a campaign marked by inconsistency, General Manager Perry Minasian is banking on targeted signings and calculated risks to improve the roster.

A major offseason change came with the hiring of Kurt Suzuki as manager, signaling a shift in leadership and approach. Beyond managerial changes, the team has focused on incremental roster moves rather than sweeping overhauls, seeking to address weaknesses without overspending.

To that end, the Angels bolstered their bullpen with free-agent signings Drew Pomeranz and Jordan Romano. Minasian acknowledged that some acquisitions carry risk but emphasized the need for upside while filling multiple holes on the roster.

“We won 73 games, right? So, we need upside and to be able to add what we’ve added so far, spending limited dollars, we have a lot of holes, and we need to fill those holes. And we still have opportunity to do a lot of things,” Minasian told ESPN’s Rhett Bollinger.

1. Rotation Reinforcements

The Angels have also focused on strengthening their starting rotation. The acquisition of Grayson Rodriguez provides a potential anchor at the top of the staff, while the one-year signing of Alec Manoah adds a high-upside but high-risk option. Manoah, who nearly won the Cy Young in 2022, has struggled with elbow injuries in recent years. Minasian views the move as a chance to pair two former top-tier starters at the top of the rotation, providing both talent and depth. The combination of Rodriguez and Manoah offers the Halos a foundation to build upon, while still allowing flexibility to add pitching pieces if needed. The strategy reflects a balance between immediate competitiveness and long-term potential. Minasian’s approach underscores the team’s willingness to embrace calculated risk, aiming to maximize performance while navigating financial and roster constraints.

2. Bullpen Upgrades

Los Angeles’ bullpen ranked 28th in ERA last season, highlighting a clear area of concern. With Kenley Jensen signing with the Detroit Tigers, the Halos currently have no established closer. Minasian stressed that the team is continuing to evaluate options, with the goal of finding players who can thrive in high-leverage situations. Pomeranz and Romano provide depth, but the search for a reliable closer is ongoing. Despite the uncertainty, the additions aim to create a foundation around which the bullpen can be rebuilt. The organization hopes to complement its rotation and core lineup with a more dependable late-inning group. The Angels’ success in this area will be crucial to supporting stars like Mike Trout and Zach Neto while improving overall competitiveness and addressing glaring weaknesses from last season.

3. Looking Ahead

With these moves, the Angels are signaling an aggressive yet measured approach to ending one of professional sports’ longest playoff droughts. The combination of managerial change, rotation reinforcements, and bullpen upgrades reflects a strategy focused on incremental improvement. While questions remain—particularly regarding injury risks and the bullpen—Minasian’s plan emphasizes upside and flexibility. The team’s willingness to embrace calculated risk could pay dividends if the high-potential signings return to form. The offseason additions position the Halos to compete in the American League, but sustained success will depend on health, consistency, and performance from both veterans and younger players. Los Angeles hopes these steps mark the beginning of a turnaround, building a team capable of returning to postseason contention after more than a decade of disappointment.