3 Angels Who Won't Be on the Roster at the Start of the 2023 Season

A lot of experts predicted this would be the year for the Los Angeles Angels. A revamped pitching staff combined with the star power of Mike Trout and Shohei Ohtani looked good on paper. It hasn't looked good on the field, though, as the Angels remain out of playoff contention with a 51-67 record.

The front office is going to have a number of tough decisions to make this upcoming offseason. The biggest one may be whether the team wants to go all-in next summer or start a small rebuild of sorts. Nevertheless, here's a look at three Angels players who won't be on the roster next Opening Day.

Los Angeles Angels Roster

1. Jesse Chavez, RP

Jesse Chavez was acquired as part of the trade that sent Angels closer Raisel Iglesias to the Atlanta Braves in early August. There's little reason to believe the team brings him back in free agency, though. The 38-year-old reliever had enjoyed a resurgence with the Braves, posting an ERA under 2.15 in each of his last two seasons with the team. However, Chavez has already allowed eight runs in only 6.2 innings pitched for the Angels. Something isn't clicking and it wouldn't be surprising to see Chavez want to head back east when the chance arises. His stint in LA lines up to be a short one.

2. Archie Bradley, RP

Another veteran reliever set to hit the free agent market for the Angels is Archie Bradley. Bradley was signed to a one-year deal worth $3.75 million after posting a respectable 3.71 ERA across 51.0 innings in 2021. It's been a different story in 2022 as various injuries and an inability to shut down opposing hitters have have caught up to him. Bradley owns a 4.82 ERA and 1.29 WHIP across 21 appearances (18.2 innings) this season. He has also struck out only 15 batters and walked seven. The Angels are likely going to be active in their search for reliable relievers in free agency, but don't expect one of their targets to be Bradley.

3. Taylor Ward, 3B/OF

While this one may seem like a stretch, it's important to keep in mind that Taylor Ward's trade value may never again be as high as it is right now. The 28-year-old slugger is in the midst of a great season and is slashing .265/.357/.453 across 94 games. Ward has also already posted career-high marks in runs scored (53), home runs (16), RBI (44) and stolen bases (3). Ward is under team control through the 2025 MLB season and starting to come alive at the plate. That's a combination that should net the Angels a talented prospect or two in return. It wouldn't be surprising to see the front office test the market at least.

Larry Rupp is not a FanDuel employee. In addition to providing DFS gameplay advice, Larry Rupp also participates in DFS contests on FanDuel using his personal account, username phillyfan424. While the strategies and player selections recommended in his articles are his personal views, he may deploy different strategies and player selections when entering contests with his personal account. The views expressed in their articles are the author's alone and do not necessarily reflect the views of FanDuel.