Thursday, April 03

CHICAGO -- The Angels’ roster to start this season suddenly looks much different than it did just a week ago.

It started on Sunday, when lefty José Suarez, who was projected to be the club’s long reliever, was traded to the Braves for fellow long reliever Ian Anderson. It then continued on Monday with right-hander Jack Kochanowicz winning the fifth starter competition over Reid Detmers, who is heading to the bullpen.

And then things really took a twist on Tuesday, when center fielder Mickey Moniak was surprisingly released just two days before Opening Day. It meant Kyren Paris played his way onto the team as a backup center fielder with a strong spring spurred by changing his swing mechanics to look more like Aaron Judge’s swing.

Los Angeles also designated for assignment lefty relievers Angel Perdomo and José Quijada, and both had been projected to be part of the bullpen. But Perdomo struggled in his two spring outings with the club after being acquired in a trade with Atlanta on March 17, and Quijada’s velocity was way down this spring. It led to No. 7 prospect Ryan Johnson making the roster despite never pitching in the Minors after being drafted just last year, while Rule 5 Draft pick Garrett McDaniels also made the club as a result.

The Angels also signed veteran infielder Nicky Lopez to a one-year, $850,000 deal on Tuesday and announced non-roster invitee Tim Anderson made the club, which means No. 13 prospect Matthew Lugo will open the year at Triple-A Salt Lake. Lugo had a huge spring offensively, but Los Angeles wants the outfielder to get consistent playing time in the Minors. It’s the same situation for No. 1 prospect Christian Moore, who showed some flashes in his first Spring Training but will head to Double-A Rocket City for more seasoning.

Here’s a look at how all those moves affect the roster and who will play where going forward.

Infield

Third baseman Yoán Moncada, who has been dealing with a deep bone bruise in his right thumb, was able to avoid the injured list but wasn’t in the starting lineup on Opening Day -- though he pinch-hit in the eighth inning of the Angels' 8-1 loss to the White Sox and stayed in to play third. But the Angels now have a glut of utility infielders after signing Lopez and with Paris and Tim Anderson both making the club.

When Moncada returns to the lineup, Luis Rengifo is expected to start mostly at second base, but Anderson, Lopez and Paris will also see time there. Kevin Newman will be the primary shortstop until Zach Neto returns from his right shoulder injury at some point in April, but the Angels also don’t have a true backup first baseman behind Nolan Schanuel with J.D. Davis and Ryan Noda not making the Opening Day roster. Newman is expected to be the backup at first with Lopez his primary backup at short. But Los Angeles now has several players who can play multiple positions on the infield, which covers them because Moncada and Rengifo have had injury concerns in recent years.

Outfield

The decision to release Moniak and pay him roughly $484,000 instead of his $2 million contract was a bit of a shock, if only because he was projected to split time in center with Jo Adell because of Mike Trout’s move to right field. Moniak already had center-field experience, and now the Angels don’t have a true backup center fielder behind Adell. But the club believes that Paris can handle it because of his athleticism.

Anderson saw some time at center in camp and could be used in case of an emergency, while Rengifo was scheduled to play there this spring but never was able to because of his hamstring injury. Lugo could be an option early in the season if he continues to play the way he did in Spring Training.

Bullpen

Closer Kenley Jansen and setup relievers Ben Joyce, Brock Burke and Ryan Zeferjahn were always locks to make the club, but Suarez and Quijada were considered highly likely to make the team, as well. That changed with their roster moves, as Ian Anderson will now be the Angels' long reliever, and Detmers can also give them multiple innings out of the bullpen.

Johnson, the first player to reach the Majors without playing in the Minors since Garrett Crochet in 2020 -- and having made his MLB debut on Opening Day -- could be the Angels’ secret weapon, as he has a funky delivery but throws strikes. As a Rule 5 Draft pick, McDaniels will have to hold onto his roster spot or be offered back to the Dodgers.

Before Yusei Kikuchi on Thursday, who was the last Angels pitcher to start on Opening Day in his club debut?

A. Dylan Bundy

B. Shohei Ohtani

C. Trevor Cahill

D. Andrew Heaney

Infielder Tim Anderson made the roster despite being signed to a Minor League deal and started at second base against his former club on Opening Day on Thursday with Moncada out with his thumb injury. Anderson, who played for the White Sox from 2016-23 and was an All-Star in ‘21 and ‘22, said he enjoyed his time in Chicago but is excited about his opportunity with Los Angeles.

“No one ever wants to leave home, but how will we know what's out there if we never leave home?” Anderson said. “So just going out and trying to find better opportunities and continue to chase greatness.”

Neto is making solid progress in his return from right shoulder surgery in November, as he’s playing in Minor League games back at the club’s Spring Training complex in Arizona. He’s fielding grounders and throwing in practice but isn’t quite ready to play shortstop in a game just yet. But he homered in a Minor League game and shouldn’t be out too long.

“Knowing Zach, because he hit the ball out of the ballpark, he thinks he's ready to come up here,” manager Ron Washington said with a smile. “We still have to progress him in his throwing and his movements and just keep up with it and make sure that everything he's doing is proper.”

C. Cahill, in 2019.

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