Angels Quiet Winter, But a Wishful Offseason Looms
The 2025 winter meetings have wrapped up, and the Angels steered a notably calm course. This quiet pace isn’t surprising; in recent years their biggest offseason moves tend to come either before the official gathering (Jorge Soler, Yusei Kikuchi, and Kyle Hendricks in 2024) or after (Kenley Jansen in February 2025).
Even the Angels’ small-scale moves were understated and predictable. They’ll draft 12th in the 2026 MLB draft, and they neither gained nor lost anyone in the Major League Rule 5 Draft (though they did part ways with four pitchers in the minor league portion, adding Eybersson Polanco from the Red Sox). A notable development was the completion of the coaching staff: Darryl Scott from the Rockies joins as assistant pitching coach, while Dom Chiti and Derek Florco are promoted from within as bullpen coach and third hitting coach, respectively. This group feels like a balanced mix of fresh faces and seasoned hands, designed to support and complement new manager Kurt Suzuki.
Suzuki faces one notable decision after the Angels traded their No. 25 prospect Isaiah Jackson to Boston for Vaughan Grissom. The trade stays aligned with the team’s approach: acquire a young, controllable player with upside, even if Grissom has shown uneven results in recent seasons. Unlike bounce-back targets like Grayson Rodriguez or Alek Manoah, the hope here is not a surgical comeback but a rebirth of Grissom’s once-promising potential.
On the positive side, general manager Perry Minasian reaffirmed the plan to add pieces—primarily a starting pitcher, a second or third baseman, and a center fielder. Neither Manoah nor Grissom is guaranteed a starting role, which is a relief for fans who remember spring camps dominated by less-than-ideal options. Realistically, the biggest moves so far have had limited impact on the Angels’ market. Cedric Mullins’ signing with Tampa Bay narrows a center-field option, and Rasiel Iglesias’ return to the Braves eliminates a potential reunion. It still seems unlikely that players like Dylan Cease, Kyle Schwarber, Pete Alonso, or Edwin Diaz were seriously in Anaheim’s sights.
Diaz’s situation also highlights a growing concern: who will close games for the Angels in 2026? Many expect Kenley Jansen to return, but the closer market is crowded and expensive. Diaz, Iglesias, Devin Williams, Ryan Helsley, Emilio Pagan, and Kyle Finnegan have already found new homes. Minasian has even hinted that the team might trust Robert Stephenson and Ben Joyce enough to skip adding another closer. That’s a sizable risk, especially given injury histories, and it intensifies the pressure on pitching coach Mike Maddux to work miracles with recovering arms.
Money remains crucial. The potential restructuring of Anthony Rendon’s final contract year is still in limbo, and unless Rendon formally retires, this won’t swing the competitive-balance tax (CBT) calculations. The team did save money by trading Taylor Ward.
"Minasian said he plans to reinvest the $13–14 million saved by making the trade to help the team in other areas."
But what will that reinvestment actually yield? It could fund another year of Jansen, if he’s open to a one-year deal, or simply be distributed across several young players hoping for a breakout.
The Angels remain linked to several free agents who could fit their needs, including Cody Bellinger, Zac Gallen, and Eugenio Suárez, though credibility varies. Trades also remain on the table, but potential outgoing assets will require careful consideration.
There are a lot of “ifs” hanging over Anaheim. If Rodriguez, Manoah, Stephenson, and Joyce return to full health, the pitching staff could look stronger than it has in years. If Grissom thrives with a new environment, if Christian Moore slides smoothly to third base, and if Kyren Paris locks in his early-2025 swing, the infield could be more stable with fewer tweaks. The outfield questions linger from Mike Trout’s health to Bryce Teodosio’s bat. It’s encouraging that the offseason moves so far seem aimed at a future beyond 2026, but for now the Angels’ fingers are crossed as they shape the plan.
Would you agree that the 2025–2026 window hinges on whether these “ifs” translate into consistent performance, or do you think the team needs bolder moves to alter the trajectory?
