DETROIT — Starting pitching has been one of the biggest issues for the Angels during their decade-long playoff drought.
As they slog to the end of another losing season, they can again point to the rotation – which ranks 28th in the majors with a 4.85 ERA – as the primary culprit.
Nonetheless, General Manager Perry Minasian just received a two-year contract extension, which is recognition of what owner Arte Moreno perceives as positive growth.
The development of the position player core – catcher Logan O’Hoppe, shortstop Zach Neto and first baseman Nolan Schanuel – has been well-documented.
In order to support them with quality young starting pitchers, the Angels are going to need to do better in getting performance from a list of pitchers who clearly have the talent.
“We’re not perfect, by any stretch, but we’re a lot better than we were two or three years ago, which we should be,” Minasian said.
The only two unequivocal success stories in the 2024 rotation are right-hander José Soriano and left-hander Tyler Anderson.
Anderson is 34 and pitching better than he has in seven of his eight previous season, which raises the question of just what he’ll be in 2025.
Soriano is 25, and his 3.42 ERA this season is indisputably the single most positive development for the major league pitching staff.
The 2025 rotation starts with those two, unless Anderson is traded. Griffin Canning, 28, has a 5.18 ERA, the result of a rollercoaster season of good and poor performances. His value, however, is his ability to take the ball and provide innings.
The Angels also could go out and get a starter or two. The top of the free agent market will include pitchers like right-hander Corbin Burnes (Baltimore) and left-handers Max Fried (Atlanta) and Blake Snell (San Francisco), who has an option. The best pitcher on the trade market will be Chicago White Sox left-hander Garrett Crochet.
“We’re going to look at everything,” Minasian said. “It’s obviously an area we need to improve. We’re going to need internal improvement, no matter what. You’re not going to replace an entire rotation.”
If the Angels are going to find that internal improvement, they are going to need to hit on two or three pitchers from a list that is full of potential, but also questions.
It hasn’t gone well for the last couple of years. As recently as last year, the Angels had high hopes for their rotation based on the success that left-handers Patrick Sandoval, José Suarez and Reid Detmers had in 2022.
All three were disappointments, and Sandoval is now out until late next season after undergoing Tommy John surgery.
Detmers, of course, is still just 25, so any discussion of rotation upside starts with him.
He is arguably the most talented starter in the organization, but he’s been maddeningly inconsistent. He pitched brilliantly in April, but he had gotten so bad by early June that the Angels sent him to Triple-A. He has a 5.88 ERA at Triple-A, but four of his last six outings have been good. He struck out 20 and walked three in his last two games.
“Hoping to see a little more consistency there,” Minasian said. “But we believe he’ll be a big factor for us going forward.”
Right-hander Chase Silseth, 24, was a non-factor this season after beginning the year in the rotation. In between two elbow injuries, he pitched poorly at Triple-A. He underwent elbow surgery earlier this month. Minasian said he’ll be ready when spring training begins.
Minasian believes Silseth could still be the pitcher who had a 3.21 ERA over his final seven starts of 2023.
“We’ve seen him when he was healthy, and we’ve seen how effective he can be,” Minasian said. “I know Chase and how bad he wants to be good, and what he’ll put into it this offseason to be in the best shape he can possibly be in. We believe he’s somebody that’s going to factor next spring, and have a chance to start games and win games for us.”
Right-hander Jack Kochanowicz, 23, is in the Angels’ rotation right now. After struggling in his first two major league starts in July, he’s had three straight quality starts in August, with a 3.20 ERA. He throws an upper-90s sinker that helps him get ground balls and quick outs.
Right-hander Sam Bachman, 24, was moved along slowly this season, after having shoulder surgery. He’s now starting at Triple-A. He’s had dominant starts and sloppy ones.
Right-hander Caden Dana, 20, is the top prospect in the organization, and one of the top 100 prospects in all of baseball. He’s posted a 2.52 ERA at Double-A, where he’s one of the youngest pitchers in the league.
“Caden Dana, in our eyes, has got a chance to be really good,” Minasian said. “He’s done some great things at a young age, at a challenging level, and he’s gotten better as the year has gone on, which is a good sign. He’s thrown more innings than he ever has, and he’s getting better. That’s a real positive.”
Right-hander George Klassen, 22, was the key player the Angels got from the Philadelphia Phillies in the Carlos Estévez trade. He’s got a fastball that touches 100 mph. Control is his main issue, but he’s improved this season.
Left-hander Samuel Aldegheri, 22, also came in the Estévez deal. His raw stuff isn’t as good as Klassen’s, but he’s more polished.
Detmers, Silseth, Kochanowicz, Bachman, Dana, Klassen and Aldegheri will all have a chance to win spots in the Angels’ rotation in 2025. They’ll also be able to fill in the gaps with pitchers like Carson Fulmer, Davis Daniel, Kenny Rosenberg and Suarez, who have all had varying levels of major league success without the raw stuff of the others on that list.
“We’re trying to create depth,” Minasian said. “The good teams have depth.”
The next group, which is more targeted toward 2026, includes pitchers like right-handers Joel Hurtado and Walbert Ureña.
“They haven’t had unbelievable years statistically, but they’ve taken the ball every time and gotten better over the course of the year,” Minasian said. “I believe next year is when you’ll see them pop.”
Two pitchers the Angels drafted last month – second-round picks Chris Cortez and Ryan Johnson – also have Minasian optimistic.
“We like the arms we have,” Minasian said. “Not only the stuff, but the people. I think they’re built the right way, the right DNA. I love what we’re doing in the minor leagues from a pitching standpoint as far as (minor league pitching coordinator) Dom Chiti and his staff, and (director of player development) Joey Prebynski and his staff, and what their message is. I think that will correlate to success here.”
Angels (RHP Johnny Cueto, 0-1, 4.26 ERA) at Tigers (LHP Brant Hurter, 1-1, 3.57 ERA), Tuesday, 3:40 p.m. PT, Bally Sports West, 830 AM
