Following a turbulent offseason that saw the departure of franchise icon Shohei Ohtani in a record setting deal to their inner city rivals Dodgers, the LA Angels are now expected to enter the 2024 MLB season with completely different expectations from their last few seasons which could result in a full scale rebuild.
Despite bolstering several marquee talents, the Angels once again missed the playoffs which marks the ninth season in a row where the former World Champions failed to earn a passage into the postseason.
The Angels last playoff appearance was way back in 2014 when they finished the season with a 98-64 record but would be thoroughly swept in the Divisional Series against the Kansas City Royals.
While the team has frequently failed to make any sort of an appearance in the post season in recent years, they have certainly not been shy on sublime talent.
The 2023 Angels finished with a below .500 record of 73-89 and a fourth placed finish in the AL West division, despite superstar pitcher Shohei Ohtani winning his second MVP award at just 29 years of age under second year manager Phil Nevin.
During the resulting offseason, Ohtani signed a record setting 10-year, $700million contract with the LA Dodgers which has now instantly propelled the Dodgers into firm title contention as being recognized as the much more superior LA baseball franchise.
Following this drastic departure, the Angels still posses a number of players from their main core yet there remains a high level of disfunction within the organization which may ultimately hold the team back from making a sudden return to postseason contention.
- What are the main expectations for the Angels this upcoming season?
Many bookmakers have already released their latest MLB betting odds ahead of the 2024 season with the Angels ranked at +700 to make the playoffs and -1400 to once again miss out on another postseason appearance which would mark a decade-long wait for playoff baseball to return at the Angel Stadium of Anaheim.
Alongside their playoff chances, many MLB betting odds also predict that the Angels’ regular season record could also decline with the Angels ranked at -110 to win over 71 ½ games this season and -120 to go under according to the latest odds on BetUS.
The Angels will also face some stiff competition in the star-studded AL West Division where they are ranked at +4000 to win the division behind other more noteworthy contenders such as the Houston Astros (Evens), Texas Rangers (+200) and the Seattle Mariners (+280), with only the Oakland Athletics (+15000) expected to finish below the Angels.
Overall, many are expecting the Angels to once again struggle this season especially without their former MVP superstar Shohei Ohtani with all the high expectations for LA baseball this upcoming season now likely to be available at Dodger Stadium. Meanwhile, on the other side of the Pacific in his home country, many bookmakers in Japan have already provided a variety of outright bets on the two-way player for the upcoming season.
- What talents do the Angels possess going into 2024?
Ohtani’s departure from Anaheim was certainly the offseason move that sparked the most headlines, however there is still plenty of talent readily available that may help raise some lofty expectations back to providence.
Future hall of fame Centerfielder and former three-time MVP Mike Trout will once again take the reigns as the face of the franchise despite enduring his worst statistical season of his illustrious career back in 2023 following several injury riddled setbacks where he was previously diagnosed with back spasms.
Trout’s 2023 MLB season was a disaster on all accounts as he finished the season with a .263 average and an .858 OPS, which are both way below his usual career averages of .303 and 1.002 respectfully.
Trout suffered a fractured bone injury in his hand which relegated him to just 82 games the entire season, which of course greatly affected the team record.
If the Angels want to have any chance of returning to the postseason or witness an improvement of their final season record that was below .500, then they desperately need Trout to return back to his superstar ways to help elevate this once potent offence.
The Halos also saw several underwhelming performances from the likes of new signing Lucas Giolito who was placed on waivers after just one season in Anaheim, as well as CJ Cron also failing to impress before ultimately hitting the injury list.
Their August collapse was certainly one of the very worst from any team in recent history as they were once primed to appear in the Wildcard round but would then proceed to lose several integral series to the likes of the Blue Jays, Mariners, Astros, Rangers, Rays, Reds and Phillies in the same month.
Given that they were also deep in luxury tax, the Angels were desperately forced to cut players from their roster which has now left them deeply embroiled in Draft lottery predictions rather than playoff contention.
With Ohtani gone, Trout now arguably on the decline and the roster lacking some major talent, there is hardly any great expectations for the Halos this year which could result in yet another underwhelming season of Angels baseball.
