3B Rendon could be key to a solid infield for Angels

Angels pitchers and catchers are scheduled to report to spring training on Feb. 13. As we count down the days until camp begins, we are going through the various position groups to give a breakdown of where the roster stands. Today, the infielders. Previously: Outfielders, catchers.

2023 recap

The Angels built their roster with enough extra players to get them through some injuries, but it wasn’t enough for what they endured. Third baseman Anthony Rendon, first baseman Jared Walsh, second baseman Brandon Drury, utility infielder Gio Urshela and shortstop Zach Neto (who began the season at Triple-a) all spent more than a month on the injured list. David Fletcher spent most of the season at Triple-a. The Angels were so thin that they had to make midseason deals for veterans Mike Moustakas and C.J. Cron. Amid all of that, Drury had the best season, slugging 26 home runs with an .803 OPS in 523 plate appearances. Luis Rengifo started slowly but sizzled through the summer, ending up with 16 homers and a .783 OPS in 445 plate appearances. Neto, who was just drafted nine months before his debut in April, finished with a .685 OPS, but he played spectacular defense. At the end of the season, the Angels got a look at first baseman Nolan Schanuel, who they had just drafted in July. He reached base safely in all 29 of his games on his way to a .402 on-base percentage.

How it looks right now

The Angels moved on from Fletcher when he was traded in December and allowed Urshela,

Moustakas and Cron to go as a free agents, while making no significant additions in the infield. Heading into spring training, the most likely alignment is Schanuel at first, Drury at second, Neto at shortstop and Rendon at third. Of course, the Angels need to prepare for the possibility of Rendon being injured again. He has missed most of the last three seasons with injuries, but the Angels are clearly a better team when he’s in the lineup. They need to get more in 2024 out of a player in the fifth year of a seven-year, $245 million deal. They still have Rengifo, who could either play third or play second, moving Drury to third. It’s possible that those five players could deliver enough production out of the four spots, but there are questions about everyone. Rendon’s injury history is the biggest issue, but they also haven’t seen enough of Neto or Schanuel to know what to expect. Drury is 31. Rengifo hasn’t yet shown consistent production for a whole season.

The next layer

The Angels picked up first baseman Evan White in the trade that sent Fletcher to the Braves. White is an elite defensive player, but he’s never hit during his injurymarred seasons in the majors. The Angels signed third baseman/outfielder Hunter Dozier to a minor league deal. Kyren Paris, who was drafted as a shortstop, reached the big leagues in 2023 (going 4 for 40). The Angels have been bouncing him around to different positions, so he could settle in at second base or even play some outfield. Michael Stefanic made significant strides defensively and offensively last year, giving the Angels an option at second or third.

Move they could make

Moustakas is 35 and demonstrated last season that his performance suffered when he was pressed into everyday playing time. However, the Angels loved his clubhouse presence. If he were willing to come back on a discounted deal with the understanding that he would play sparingly, he could be a useful piece. They could also sign Justin Turner, 39, who was much more productive than Moustakas last season even though he’s older. Both players are Southern California natives who play multiple infield positions and could provide some leadership. The Angels also could use a true shortstop to play if Neto goes down for an extended period of time. Tim Anderson, Nick Ahmed and Brandon Crawford are all still available as free agents, although it might be tough to convince any of them to accept a Plan B.