The Problem Roster Report Acquisition Targets The Plan Manifesto
A Fan-Built Blueprint for a Broken Franchise

FIX THE ANGELS

The complete, data-driven plan to end the longest active playoff drought in baseball — and give Mike Trout one last shot at October.

11 Straight Losing
Seasons
72–90 2025
Record
2014 Last Playoff
Appearance
29th Farm System
Ranking
$245M The Rendon
Disaster
1 Trout Playoff
Appearances
$60M Unused Payroll
Capacity
0 World Series
Since 2002
See the Plan Roster Report Card

The Diagnosis

Six Reasons We're Failing

Before we can fix it, we have to be brutally honest about what's broken — all of it, no excuses.

01

Ownership Interference

Arte Moreno has systematically overruled baseball operations for a decade. The Rendon contract ($245M/7yr) is the defining symbol. Short-term panic spending followed by punishing cost-cutting. The new ownership model: baseball ops runs baseball, full stop.

02

Dead Contract Toxicity

For years, $70M+ of the payroll produced near-zero on-field value. Rendon is finally bought out and deferred. Trout's contract is what it is. The era of paying players not to play must end permanently — no exceptions, no sentimentality.

03

A Depleted Farm System

Ranked 29th in baseball. A decade of rushing prospects before they were ready, trading minor league assets at every deadline, and systematically failing to develop international talent. Tyler Bremner and Denzer Guzman are the beginning — not the arrival.

04

Chronically Bad Pitching

The 2026 rotation has five arms with serious injury red flags. The bullpen lost Kenley Jansen and has no defined closer. Ben Joyce — the franchise's future closer — is still recovering from shoulder surgery. Pitching is the single biggest gap between us and the playoffs.

05

Prospect Mismanagement

Jo Adell was called up before he was ready and publicly exposed. Caden Dana was pushed too hard and regressed badly. The culture of promoting players to fill organizational holes — rather than respecting development timelines — has broken promising careers and emptied the system.

06

Wasted Resources

The Angels play in one of the biggest media markets on earth. They have $60M+ unused below the luxury tax. They earned a D-grade offseason. The problem has never been money. It has always been the will — and the competence — to spend it intelligently.

Spring Training 2026

Roster Report Card

An honest, color-coded evaluation of every key player heading into 2026. No spin, no homerism — just the truth.

Shortstop
Zach Neto
10.2 bWAR since Opening Day 2024
Cornerstone
6th in bWAR among all 26-and-under players in baseball. Recurring shoulder injury is Franchise Medical Priority #1. Must be extended NOW — 7yr/$140-175M. Begin talks this week.
Center Field
Jo Adell
37 HR · 98 RBI · .778 OPS in 2025
Breakout Confirmed
The transformation is real. CF defense and strikeout rate remain concerns but the 37 HR are not a mirage. Our most valuable trade chip — don't move him cheaply. Starting CF in 2026.
RF / DH
Mike Trout
.232/.359/.439 · 26 HR · 32% K-rate · 130 G
Declining, Still Dangerous
Late-season surge (5 HR in final 7 games) shows the mechanical fix is real. Primary DH in 2026. Protect the knee at all costs. He deserves real teammates — finally.
First Base
Nolan Schanuel
.264 avg · 12.6% K-rate · .389 SLG · +2.3 mph bat speed
Solid Core
Elite plate discipline. Power is the missing piece (.125 ISO for a 1B is too low). Bat speed work is ongoing. Don't alter his approach per Suzuki. Extend: 5yr/$65M after power shows.
Catcher
Logan O'Hoppe
Disappointing 2025 — both sides of the ball
Reboundable
Elite tools behind the plate. 2025 regression is a genuine concern. Suzuki (former catcher) must mentor him personally. Do NOT extend until he proves 2025 was an outlier.
DH / LF
Jorge Soler
Dreadful 2025, but .477 SLG / 123 wRC+ from 2023–24
Buy-Low Gamble
If he bounces back to 2023-24 form, he's a dangerous RH bat sharing DH with Trout. One prove-it year only. No extension regardless of results.
Third Base
Yoán Moncada
1yr / $4M · Hasn't hit 100 G/year since 2021
Band-Aid
A patch on a chronic wound. Hasn't been healthy in years. The 3B position must be solved at the trade deadline or 2027 offseason with a real, committed acquisition. Our most urgent need.
Left Field
Josh Lowe
Acquired from TB in 3-team deal; adds left-handed bat
Viable Addition
Addresses the lineup's left-handed deficiency. Has tools but hasn't broken through offensively full-season. Give him a defined LF role and evaluate at the deadline.
Second Base
Christian Moore
Walk-off HRs in MLB debut · swing concerns flagged by scouts
Development Case
Clutch performances in his MLB debut showed the talent. Evaluators flag real swing-path issues. Starting 2B in 2026. If he struggles, option him — do NOT destroy his confidence by keeping him as a public failure.
OF / Utility
Kyren Paris
1.309 OPS through 46 April PA in 2025; cooled off
Useful Depth
Athletic super-utility who gives Suzuki lineup flexibility. Hot starts are real even if he cools. Excellent 4th OF/utility piece. His athleticism is legitimate.
Utility Infield
Vaughn Grissom
Acquired from BOS · Out of minor league options
Bench Depth
Can play 2B, SS, and 3B. Out of options means he makes the roster. Valuable bench flexibility, not a starter. Important insurance for an infield that needs it.
SP #1 — LOCK
Yusei Kikuchi
Solid 2025 · Forearm issue entering camp, cleared
Ace by Default
A legitimate #2 on most staffs. The forearm must be tracked daily — if Kikuchi misses significant time, this rotation is in crisis. The staff's load-bearing pillar and our most important pitcher to keep healthy.
SP #2 — LOCK
José Soriano
2025: 10-11 · 4.26 ERA · 169 IP · 31 starts
Innings Eater
169 IP was remarkable given his injury history. Durability is priceless on this staff. The 1.40 WHIP needs work but he is the rotation's foundation alongside Kikuchi. Invaluable for a contending team.
SP #3 — LOCK
Reid Detmers
2025: Bullpen (3.08 xFIP, 63.2 IP) · Elbow Sept
Rotation Question Mark
Returning to the rotation for the first time since 2024 (~5.00 ERA in 75 career starts). His stuff plays better in relief. Late-September elbow scare (no surgery) hangs over this assignment. Has upside, needs to prove it.
SP #4 — EARN IT
Grayson Rodriguez
Missed ALL of 2025 · Bone spur surgery Aug · Throwing clean
The X-Factor
26 years old with 3.86 ERA over 238 career IP before injuries. If healthy for 25+ starts, this becomes an above-average rotation. He's smiling and throwing clean in camp. The risk is real; the upside is franchise-defining.
SP #5 — EARN IT
Alek Manoah
Missed all 2025 (TJ) · 3.96 ERA in 10 MiLB starts · $1.95M
Low-Risk Flier
Was a 16-win All-Star in 2022. TJ returns can be excellent. At $1.95M this is a no-brainer low-risk bet. His minor league work was unimpressive but he's competing. Projects as depth if Rodriguez wins the 4th slot.
SP Depth — AAA
George Klassen
97 MPH · Elite slider · 2025 All-Star Futures Game
Fast-Track Now
The most exciting arm in the system. While primarily a starter, his 97 MPH heat and elite breaking ball make him a bullpen weapon immediately. AAA April, MLB debut June/July. He and Joyce are the future of this staff.
Future Closer
Ben Joyce
Shoulder surgery May 2025 · Throwing clean in camp
Return Target: May/June
Triple-digit heat. The franchise's true closer. His return mid-season is the single most important in-season roster event. Must be managed with extreme care. When healthy, he takes the 9th inning and it's not a debate.
Opener Day Closer
Kirby Yates
1yr / $5M · Veteran closer history · Age 38
Bridge Closer
Named Opening Day closer by default. Has the experience and the stuff to hold the role until Joyce returns. Workload must be managed carefully at 38. Shifts to setup once Joyce is back and ready.
Setup
Jordan Romano
1yr / $2M · Elite splitter · Elbow history
High-Upside Depth
Elite when healthy. His splitter is a genuine wipeout pitch. Perfect setup arm if we get 60 healthy games from him. Low-risk investment with real 8th-inning upside.
LHP Specialist
Drew Pomeranz
1yr / $4M · Post-Tommy John · Veteran left
Bullpen Balance
Provides important left-handed balance in the bullpen. Serviceable if healthy. At $4M the risk is acceptable for what he provides as a situational left-hander.
Closer Candidate
Robert Stephenson
2.70 ERA in 12 late-2025 outings · Thoracic outlet symptoms
High Risk / High Reward
Thoracic outlet syndrome is a serious, career-threatening condition. His 12-game stretch at end of 2025 was excellent. IF healthy, a legitimate high-leverage arm. Cannot be the plan — must be the bonus.
Middle Relief
Ryan Zeferjahn
Elite raw stuff · Severe control problems
Control Issue
The stuff is legitimate. The inability to throw it in the zone is not. Low-leverage only until someone solves the mechanical issue. Could be an intriguing trade chip for a development-focused organization.

The Shopping List

Acquisition Targets

Ranked by priority. Every target is specific, sourced, and achievable within our current payroll structure. No wishful thinking — just names, costs, and timelines.

01
Zach Neto Extension
Los Angeles Angels · SS · Age 24 · 10.2 bWAR in < 2 seasons
Extension
7yr / $140–175M
⬛ CRITICAL
02
Kris Bubic — Kansas City Royals
LHP · 2.55 ERA in 20 starts (2025) · Cost-controlled · Rotator cuff strain
Trade
Klassen + prospect
⬛ HIGHEST
03
Harrison Bader — Free Agent
CF · 13 DRS, 6 OAA in 2025 · Elite defense · Allows Adell to corner
Free Agent
2yr / $25M
⬛ SIGN NOW
04
Nolan Arenado — St. Louis Cardinals
3B · 8× Gold Glove · 2yrs/$31M remaining · NTC waived · Trout's WBC teammate
Trade
Modest prospect + STL eats salary
▲ HIGH
05
Joe Ryan — Minnesota Twins
RHP · 3.42 ERA, 171 IP (2025) · 1.04 WHIP · 2 years control
Trade
Adell + prospect (if competitive)
▲ DEADLINE
06
Luis Robert Jr. — Chicago White Sox
CF · 5-tool · .793 OPS in healthy 52 G (2025) · 2yr control · $20M/yr
Trade
Adell + prospect
▲ BIG SWING
07
Nolan Schanuel Extension
Los Angeles Angels · 1B · Age 24 · Elite OBP · Power developing
Extension
5yr / $65–75M
▲ MID-2026
08
Tarik Skubal — Free Agency
DET → Free agent Nov 2026 · 2× AL Cy Young · Sub-2.80 ERA × 3 years
Free Agency
$32–36M AAV / 7yr
▲ 2026–27 OFF
09
Luis Severino — Oakland Athletics
RHP · 3.02 ERA on road in 2025 · Low-cost deadline value play
Trade
Low cost / cash consideration
— MEDIUM

The Blueprint

Three-Phase Revival Plan

A specific, phased roadmap from last place to the World Series — built around the players already here and the moves we make next.

1
Now → End of 2026
Foundation & Culture Reset
80–85
Target Wins
  • Begin Neto extension talks immediately — non-negotiable
  • Sign Harrison Bader to fix CF defense
  • Trade for Kris Bubic (KC, LHP) — rotation anchor
  • Ben Joyce returns as closer (May/June)
  • George Klassen MLB debut (June/July)
  • Grayson Rodriguez healthy full season = contention
  • July 31: Buy aggressively or sell rentals — no middle ground
  • Suzuki builds accountability culture from day one
2
2027 — 2028
Playoff Push
88–93
Target Wins
  • Rendon fully deferred — $35M+ freed for real signings
  • Pursue Tarik Skubal in free agency aggressively
  • Real 3B solution in place (Arenado or Bohm)
  • Denzer Guzman arrives at MLB level
  • Klassen + Joyce = elite 8th-9th inning duo
  • Farm restocked via international signings + smarter draft
  • First playoff appearance since 2014
  • Young core on team-friendly extensions
3
2029 — 2030
World Series Window
92–100+
Target Wins
  • Tyler Bremner anchors the rotation as the true ace
  • Skubal + Bremner + Soriano = World Series rotation
  • Trout's final great seasons in legitimate contention
  • Farm graduates at pre-arb cost free up payroll
  • AL West title the primary target
  • Mike Trout's legacy defined — in October
  • This is why we did everything above
ENOUGH.
ENOUGH.
ENOUGH.

Mike Trout signed a 12-year, $426 million contract in 2019 because he believed in this franchise and this city. He has honored every word of it — through two meniscus surgeries, a bone bruise, 11 seasons without postseason baseball, and a revolving door of teammates who were never good enough.

The resources exist. The market exists. The young talent exists. Zach Neto is one of the best young shortstops in baseball. Jo Adell just hit 37 home runs. Grayson Rodriguez is a 26-year-old ace waiting to be healthy. The Angels are not a poor franchise. They are a franchise that has never had the courage to build intelligently.

This plan is not complicated. Spend the $60M sitting unused below the luxury tax. Trade for real pitching. Sign Neto before he walks. Stop rushing prospects. Build real infrastructure. And hold ownership accountable to the promises they make.

"The only thing that has ever stood between the Angels and October baseball is the will to do what this plan describes. That changes now."