Major League Baseball

Angels update from MLB Winter Meetings

Published Dec. 10, 2014 6:14 p.m. ET

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The MLB's best regular season team in 2014 has been relatively quiet thus far during the Winter Meetings. The Angels are returning the core of their 98-win team. So why should they make noise? 

For one, the Angels failed to achieve their ultimate goal, getting swept in the first round of the playoffs, a series that still haunts manager Mike Scioscia. As a result, some changes were imminent. 

"I don't know if you ever stay status quo," Scioscia said. "I think off seasons bring different things you're looking for and different things you can do. And a lot of the players that (general manager) Jerry (DiPoto) has already acquired are going to be in our depth chart and helping us out. I don't think you're ever sitting there status quo. And I think when we come out of this we'll be a better team than when we came into it."

The key word of the Halos' offseason is depth. Injuries devastated one of the best rotations in baseball. Josh Hamilton and David Freese were periodically unproductive. Even Mike Trout discovered that he's not immune to a pedestrian slump. As soon as DiPoto fixed the bullpen, he had other issues to fix. 

The bullpen has seen the addition of left-handers, there are some new guys in the rotation and the only thing left is middle infield help. 

"To use a football field as a metaphor we're in the opponents' territory and now we just have to figure out how to get in the red zone and put it away," he said. "There are a number of players that really fit our needs that we feel are young, controllable, option-able guys that have major league experience and can play in the middle of the field, particularly shortstop."

Any more additions are expected to be minor. The Angels have a good thing going and, if it isn't broken, why fix it?

"I think we're at a level right now where I think we have a pretty deep offensive lineup that is still very, very potent. As Jerry said, I think some of the changes he's talking about might be a little more subtle," Scioscia said. "Right now we like our team and we certainly like where we are.  And I think the pieces that will come over that are going to add depth are going to be important."

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The Two-Hole

The MVP that hits in the No. 2 spot? Only in Anaheim. 

Unconventional? Maybe, but it's effective and Scioscia wants to make sure he's getting production out of that spot in the order. Scioscia has thought about moving him down in the order as he's blossomed into more of a cleanup hitter, but probably not just yet. 

"Depending on what happens, you might see Mike hitting third," Scioscia said. "I think the one thing that I think has played itself out is the fact that Mike, as a leadoff hitter, is not quite as productive as Mike hitting second or third, and I think that's where his future will be."

As of right now, the Angels don't have anyone who gets on base like Trout does. Kole Calhoun has blossomed into a true leadoff hitter, but there hasn't been a clear candidate for the No. 2 spot other than Trout.

"I really like Kole Calhoun hitting in front of Mike. I think you saw the benefit of Kole being able to able to drive the ball and being a spark plug for us," Scioscia said. "You know, the two hole in our club is a little different, because you have the best player in baseball hitting three. It's not like some clubs you talk about the two hole and you have a good three hitter. You have the best player in baseball in your lineup hitting third. The two spot is not really setting the table, but you need somebody that needs to do something with the fastball and really be able to make a team think twice about just coming after a hitter."

Injury Updates

Garrett Richards (knee) is expected to be healthy at the start of the season, but the Angels are still bracing themselves for a full season without Tyler Skaggs (Tommy John surgery).

"I don't think we're going to see Garrett opening day, but I think the prognosis of having him back somewhere in the first month to maybe the first six weeks of the season look very good," Scioscia said. "But you're not going to take a chance with Tyler. And I think that his being a starting pitcher and just looking at when he had his surgery, I think you have to plan for him not being here. And if something happens where he comes back, he gets safely stretched out and he's available, then it's a bonus. But no one is going to rush that."

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