The Los Angeles Angels have had a productive offseason towards their rebuild. From bringing in a new manager, coaching staff, and player additions on both sides of the ball, baseball in Anaheim will have a lot of new faces.<\/p>\n
The Angels have been busy this winter and have the chance to look very different when they open their season Thursday, March 26, in Houston. Kurt Suzuki was brought in as manager<\/a>, John Gibbons is the bench coach, longtime pitching coach Mike Maddux was brought in to improve the pitching staff, and Brady Anderson will be in charge of the hitters. Longtime big leaguer John Mabry was brought over from Baltimore to be the assistant hitting coach.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n Last season, the Angels\u2019 pitchers were on the wrong side of many statistics. The team posted an ERA of 4.89, the third-worst mark in MLB, posted the sixth-fewest strikeouts with 1280, and issued a league-leading 620 walks. Outside of former closer Kenley Jansen<\/a>, who went 29-for-30 in save opportunities, the Angels blew a league-high 33 save opportunities.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n This winter, the Angels have added Kirby Yates<\/a>, Jordan Romano<\/a> and Drew Pomeranz<\/a> as potential closing options for the 2026 season. Both Yates and Romano struggled in 2025, as Yates pitched in 50 games, posting a 4-3 record, 5.23 ERA and 1.33 WHIP with the Los Angeles Dodgers. Romano was even worse in his 49 games, going 2-4 with an ERA of 8.23 and a WHIP of 1.45.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n Pomeranz returned in 2025 to the big leagues for the first time since 2021 and put together a really strong year for the Chicago Cubs. The left-hander appeared in 57 games, going 2-2 with a 2.57 ERA and 1.07 WHIP. Pomeranz held opposing batters to a .210 average in 2025 and should join fellow lefty Reid Detmers<\/a> as left-handed options out of the bullpen.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n Claimed off waivers in January from the New York Yankees, Kaleb Ort<\/a> could represent a depth option from the left side. In 2025, Ort appeared in 49 games with the Houston Astros, pitching to a 2-2 record, 4.89 ERA and 1.35 WHIP. Ort\u2019s best year came in 2024, when the reliever pitched in 22 games, going 1-1 with a 2.55 ERA and 0.81 WHIP, holding opposing hitters to a .180 average against.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n The Angels\u2019 pitching rotation has the chance to improve drastically in 2026. In November, the Angels acquired right-handed pitcher Grayson Rodriguez<\/a> from the Baltimore Orioles in exchange for outfielder Taylor Ward<\/a>.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n Rodriguez missed all of 2025 while dealing with shoulder and lat injuries, but comes with four years of team control and has showcased the ability to be elite when healthy. In 2024, Rodriguez went 13-4 with a 3.86 ERA, 1.24 WHIP, across 20 starts. The 26-year-old also struck out 130 batters across 116.2 innings in 2024.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n On Dec. 2, the Angels and Alek Manoah<\/a> agreed on a one-year, $1.95 million contract<\/a> for the 2026 season. Manoah, like Rodriguez, did not appear in MLB last season as the right-hander worked his way back from Tommy John surgery. After a strong first two seasons at the big league level, the wheels fell off for Manoah in year three, pitching to a 5.87 ERA and struggling with command.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n 2024 was much better for Manoah. Prior to suffering the injury, the now 28-year-old posted a record of 1-2, with a 3.70 ERA and 1.03 WHIP, holding opposing hitters to a .189 average. If Rodriguez and Manoah can return to 2024 form, the Angels have found two key rotation options for 2026.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n The Angels\u2019 offense in 2025 was in the bottom third for many offensive categories, such as average, runs, hits, and OBP, but absolutely flourished in the home run department. The Angels\u2019 offense finished with 226 home runs, the fourth most in MLB. \\<\/span><\/p>\n Jo Adell<\/a>, Zach Neto<\/a>, Mike Trout<\/a> and Logan O\u2019Hoppe<\/a> all remain from last year’s lineup as players who hit 15 or more home runs. The Angels have brought back Yo\u00e1n Moncada<\/a>, who hit .234 with a .336 OBP and 12 home runs, while also adding Vaughn Grissom<\/a> and Josh Lowe<\/a>.<\/span><\/p>\n Grissom fits the same theme as previously mentioned; when looking at Rodriguez and Manoah, like those two, Grissom didn\u2019t appear in an MLB game in 2025. Still only 25 years old, Grissom has only appeared in 95 games across three seasons, batting .255 with a .309 OBP and five home runs.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n Acquired from the Boston Red Sox<\/a> for minor-leaguer Isaiah Jackson<\/a>, Grissom brings athletic upside and potential for a breakout year to an Angels team desperate for more consistent offense.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n Acquiring Lowe could be one of the underrated moves of the entire MLB offseason. The Angels picked up Lowe in a three-team trade<\/a> that saw the Tampa Bay Rays acquire Gavin Lux<\/a> and Chris Clark and the Reds received Brock Burke<\/a>.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n Last season, Lowe batted .220 with a .283 OBP, 11 home runs and 40 RBIs, while also stealing 18 bases. A career .250 hitter across parts of four MLB seasons, Lowe brings a power-speed combo that could help make the Angels\u2019 lineup dangerous.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n Lowe\u2019s best season came in 2023, a year in which the 28-year-old batted .292, with 20 home runs and 32 steals, getting on-base at a .335 clip. A return to that form could make for a dangerous bat in the top half of the Angels lineup.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n Jon Heyman of the New York Post reported that the Angels brought in infielder Jeimer Candelario<\/a> on a minor league deal with an invitation to spring training.<\/span><\/p>\n <\/p>\n Candelario will still be getting $15M from the Reds. $13M this year plus $2M buyout on $17M option next year https:\/\/t.co\/caASnzoCFX<\/a><\/p>\n \u2014 Jon Heyman (@JonHeyman) February 3, 2026<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\nThe Relief Pitchers<\/b><\/h2>\n
The Starting Pitchers<\/b><\/h2>\n
Help For The Offense<\/b><\/h2>\n
A Minor Trade with a Big Upside:<\/h3>\n
Another Big Trade<\/h3>\n
A Minor Signing<\/h3>\n
\n