MLB · AL West · Est. 1961 · Angel Stadium
Updated March 16, 2026
The Angels raised eyebrows by hiring Kurt Suzuki as manager despite him having zero professional coaching or managing experience. It's a bold gamble on leadership and communication skills, and early spring training returns suggest Suzuki is winning over a skeptical clubhouse.
Acquired from the Orioles in the Taylor Ward trade, Grayson Rodriguez didn't pitch in the majors last year due to injury. If healthy, his elite stuff gives the Angels a potential frontline starter, but the track record of pitcher reclamation projects in Anaheim is not encouraging.
Mike Trout's career has been derailed by injuries in recent seasons, and every spring training brings the same question: can the greatest player of his generation stay on the field? The Angels' 2026 ceiling depends almost entirely on the answer.