3 Angels Storylines to Watch for the 2023-2024 Offseason

The Los Angeles Angels are heading into the offseason with a ton of questions to answer. It was another frustrating year for the organization, and they missed the postseason once again. The Halos haven’t seen the playoffs since 2014, and it has been rough sledding since.

But this offseason gives them a chance to possibly start fresh if they want. Their roster may look very different moving forward, and they will be searching for a new manager as well.

So, what are the biggest storylines to watch for with this team over the winter?

1. Shohei Ohtani

Anything and everything for the Angels starts with what happens with Ohtani. He is the lifeblood of this team, but the organization could very well see him walk out the door. Ohtani is a free agent, and it is widely expected that he will be leaving the team this winter.

He has given the Halos his prime years, and they have failed him. Winning is the biggest priority for Ohtani, and the Angels haven’t shown him that they can field a winning team whatsoever. So, he will likely leave for greener pastures, leaving the Angels having to figure out what to do going forward.

It has been reported that if Ohtani does leave, the Angels may look to enter into a rebuild. This would be the smart move, but it remains to be seen if owner Arte Moreno would actually execute that plan.

2. What to do with Mike Trout

The longtime star of the Angels could also be on the move this winter, although it’s much more complicated than Ohtani. The Halos could look to trade their former MVP, and there has been a lot of buzz around the possibility. 

Trout is under contract until 2030 and he is owed over $35 million each year until then. There aren’t many teams that are going to be willing to take that salary on unless the Angels pony up a good amount to cover his paycheck.

While a trade remains a longshot, if Ohtani leaves, the team may be more willing to move Trout. They could net some future assets, and relieve themselves of a massive contract. This could be the best course of action for the team, so they can fully start over to get themselves back into a spot of contention down the line.

3. Building out the starting rotation

Starting pitching is the name of the game in baseball, and the Angels have fallen behind over the years. They have a few quality pitchers for next season, but they need more help.

They may not be able to land some of the bigger names like Blake Snell or Aaron Nola, unless they throw the bag at them, but they can still field a decent rotation. Someone like Sonny Gray could make sense to come in and be the ace of this team. 

The Angels could also benefit from bringing in some veteran pieces to help mentor the younger guys they have. Some names could include Lance Lynn, Luis Severino or Kyle Hendricks. These types of pitchers could help the Angels navigate the next season or two while also making good money from the team.