Daily News (Los Angeles)

Does Moreno plan to keep team, and how will he help it win?

- By Jeff Fletcher jfletcher@scng.com

Here are some of the key questions the Angels hope to answer during spring training:

WHAT DOES ARTE MORENO HAVE TO SAY? >>

The Angels owner traditiona­lly spoke to reporters on a wide range of topics near the beginning of spring training each year. Moreno abandoned that practice in 2021 and 2022, but he again answered questions in 2023.

Now, there are a handful of pressing issues that fans would like to see him address, starting with whether he has plans to revisit the sale of the team after taking it off the market a year ago.

Moreno can also speak to the way the Angels handled the Shohei Ohtani talks over the winter, and what he intends to do to help the team win now that Ohtani is gone.

HOW ARE MIKE TROUT AND ANTHONY RENDON DOING? >>

Rendon has missed at least half of the season for three years in a row, and Trout has missed significan­t time in each of those years, too.

How they look and feel in spring training won't be entirely revealing — after all, most players show up in “the best shape of their lives” — but there could be something to make of what they did over the winter and what they say about their efforts to prevent further injuries.

HOW WILL THE OUTFIELD SHAKE OUT? >>

Nothing is certain other than Trout being the center fielder, and even that has some questions because of his injuries. He hasn't played more than 125 games in the outfield since 2016.

Otherwise, the Angels have Taylor Ward, Mickey Moniak, Aaron Hicks and Jo Adell all vying for playing time. Certainly, the playing time and roles will evolve throughout the season, but the performanc­es of all of those players in spring training will establish their roles out of the gate.

Moniak and Adell are both out of options, which could complicate things.

If more than three of those players are hitting well enough to be in the lineup at the same time, the Angels do have the DH spot to use for one of them.

WILL WARD RETURN TO FORM? >>

WHO'S IN, WHO'S OUT?

As the Angels head toward their first workout of spring training on Wednesday, here's a reminder of the roster changes that have taken place over the winter:

Who's in?

RHP Robert Stephenson, signed as a free agent from Tampa Bay

LHP Matt Moore, signed as a free agent from Miami RHP Luis Garcia, signed as a free agent from the Padres

RHP Adam Cimber, signed as a free agent from Toronto

RHP José Cisnero, signed as a free agent from Detroit RHP Zach Plesac, signed as a free agent from Cleveland OF Aaron Hicks, signed as a free agent from Baltimore RHP Guillermo Zuniga, acquired in a trade with St. Louis

DH Shohei Ohtani, signed

Ward deserves a question of his own, within the previous one, because of what he endured last year.

Ward fractured bones in his face in a frightenin­g incident last July, when he was hit in the face by a pitch. Ward left the field with a blood-soaked towel on his face, and he never returned to action.

General manager Perry Minasian said in December that Ward has done well and they are planning on him being the same player he was before the injury, but it will be worth watching to see how he responds to live pitching in spring training.

ARE THE YOUNG PLAYERS READY FOR INCREASED ROLES? >>

Catcher Logan O'Hoppe and shortstop Zach Neto both made impressive debuts as rookies in 2023, both on and off the field, demonstrat­ing skill and leadership.

However, it's a lot to ask players with so little experience to take on such prominent roles. Both players still have holes in their game that they will need to tighten.

First baseman Nolan Schanuel and right-hander Chase Silseth also could work into prominent roles despite limited major-league experience. as a free agent with Dodgers

IF David Fletcher, traded to Atlanta

C Max Stassi, traded to Atlanta and then traded to Chicago White Sox

IF Gio Urshela, unsigned free agent

IF C.J. Cron, unsigned free agent

OF Randal Grichuk, unsigned free agent

IF Mike Moustakas, unsigned free agent

IF Eduardo Escobar, unsigned free agent

RHP Jaime Barria, nontendere­d, signed with Cleveland

1B Jared Walsh, non-tendered, signed with Texas OF Brett Phillips, signed a minor league deal with the White Sox

1B/OF Trey Cabbage, traded to Houston

LHP Kolton Ingram, claimed on waivers by Detroit

C Juan Flores

C Caleb Hamilton C Zach Humphreys C Francisco Mejia C Alberto Rios

C Chad Wallach

3B/OF Hunter Dozier IF/OF Cole Fontenelle IF Charles Leblanc IF Richie Martin

3B/1B Miguel Sanó 1B Evan White OF Willie Calhoun OF Jake Marisnick OF Jason Martin OF Nelson Rada

RHP Caden Dana

RHP Carson Fulmer RHP Joel Hurtado

RHP Travis MacGregor RHP José Marte

RHP Cam Minacci

RHP Alan Rangel

RHP Hayden Seig

RHP Walbert Urena LHP Nick Jones

LHP Adam Kolarek

 ?? BOB LEVEY — GETTY IMAGES ?? Mike Trout's health is a key to the Angels' success. He's missed significan­t time in each of the last three seasons.
BOB LEVEY — GETTY IMAGES Mike Trout's health is a key to the Angels' success. He's missed significan­t time in each of the last three seasons.

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