With the Angels’ latest lefty signing Yusei Kikuchi in a three-year deal that has now been officially announced, GM Perry Minasian spoke yesterday with reporters (including Jeff Fletcher of the Orange County Register) about the team’s transition through 2025 and their plans for the rest of the winter.
Of note, Minasian suggested that the addition of Kikuchi and co was added in the offseason. Kyle Hendricks In the club’s rotation, the Angels currently have those veteran players, Tyler Andersonagain Jose Soriano penciled in for the first four spots in their 2025 rotation. Significantly, that leaves the left Reid Detmers fighting for place in the swing around the less strong arms Chase Silseth again Jack Kochanowicz. 2024 was a brutal season for Detmers, as the lefty surrendered a disastrous 6.70 ERA through 17 major league starts.
While that production was weak, however, Detmers’ underlying metrics suggest that his performance may be a little better than it looks on paper. His 27.9% strikeout rate was actually the best of his career, and his 9.7% walk rate was up, but in line with his 2023 performance. Detmers’ FIP of 4.72 was “just” 13% worse than the league average in FIP- average, and other metrics were much stronger than his base numbers. His 3.86 xFIP was actually 6% better than the league average, and his 3.77 SIERA actually ranked Detmers 43rd among 138 starting pitchers who pitched at least 80 innings in the rotation this past season .
While the underlying metrics compare Detmers to Corbin Burns (3.75 SIERA) and Gerrit Cole (3.79 SIERA) in 2024 certainly don’t tell the whole story on their own, they provide enough hope for Detmer’s future that it’s surprising to hear he’s not guaranteed a roster spot next year. After all, the lefty posted a solid 4.15 ERA and 3.97 FIP between 53 starts in 2022 and ’23, and is a few years removed from being the Halos’ first-round pick when they picked him 10th overall in 2020. With that said, it’s easy to imagine Detmers’ performance after returning to the majors back in September raising red flags in the mind of the front office. Although he struck out 34.2% of five batters he started, he also struggled badly with the long ball, giving up 8 homers and a 15.6% average.
Minasian also didn’t decide to add anything else to the club’s rotation. “We’ll continue to look, from a free agent standpoint, from a trade standpoint,” he said, as he was passed by Fletcher. “If there is an improvement, from a rotational perspective, we will look to do it.”
With that being said, it appears that improving the rotation may take a backseat to improving other areas of the roster as the Angels look ahead to the rest of the winter. Specifically, Minasian noted that they would like to add depth to their bench and bullpen while focusing on stretching the program with another bat. The club is already adding Jorge Soler as the everyday DH and Travis d’Aranud is ready to back up Logan O’Hoppe behind the plate, but Holes remains on a roster that posted just 90 wRC+ which was 25th in baseball last year.
Nolan Schanuel, Luis Rengifoagain Zach Neto they had regular roles in the infield, with Schanuel especially appearing to cover first base. Neto is sure to be an everyday shortstop if he’s healthy, but he could miss the start of the season after being stabbed earlier this month. Kevin Newman again Scott Kingery they have already been brought in to improve the club’s bench depth, but another infield bat could help reduce the club’s reliance on regular injuries. Anthony Rendon while also supporting Neto at the start of the season.
There is also room in the field for another bat. Taylor Ward figures to be the club’s left-back every day, too Mike Trout he will be an everyday player in the outfield if he is healthy enough to take the field. Mickey Moniak again Jo Adell right now he’ll be able to run the right spot when everyone else is healthy, but improving that spot on the roster could improve the program, especially if the addition could play center at least occasionally to ease the defensive burden on Trout.
Another possibility Fletcher is floating is the Angels considering a trade for Anderson. Anderson was rumored before the summer trade deadline, but no deal came together as the Angels reportedly preferred to hold on to controlled players beyond the 2024 season. Given that reluctance over the last few months, it’s not clear that trading Anderson is something the Halos would seriously consider this winter, and it wouldn’t be surprising to see him stay.
The veteran southpaw enters the final year of his contract with the Angels in 2025 following a respectable season in 2024 in which he posted a solid 3.81 ERA despite no hits. Even if clubs project him to post numbers close to his 4.66 FIP and 4.37 xERA next year, his ability to eat up innings (179 1/3 frames in 31 starts in 2024) could make him an attractive fallback candidate. to teams that need to be included and the deal will remove the final year and $13MM of his contract will be taken off the Angels books to address other roster spots.
Of course, moving Anderson would be a step backwards for the depth of the Angels’ already depleted clubhouse. Griffin Canning again Patrick Sandoval this winter. Removing Anderson from the club’s rotation would leave them with Kikuchi, Hendricks, Soriano, and Detmers as their top four starters with Kochanowicz, Silseth, and depth options such as Sam Aldegheri in the mix of the fifth place. That being said, it’s clear that the club would at least listen to offers from him if they could find a third outfielder to join Kikuchi and Hendricks in Anaheim’s rotation next year, whether it be via trade or free agency.
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