“OFFSEASON OBLIVION: ESPN Insider Unleashes Scathing Report Card, Torching Angels’ Winter Moves with a Nearly Failing Grade”
Anaheim, California – The Los Angeles Angels’ offseason has been met with a resounding thud, at least according to ESPN Insider, Buster Olney. In a scathing report card, Olney handed the Angels a nearly failing grade, citing a lack of impactful moves and a failure to address the team’s glaring weaknesses.
Olney’s report card, which assigned the Angels a dismal grade of D+, is a damning indictment of the team’s offseason strategy. Despite entering the winter with a clear need for starting pitching and bullpen depth, the Angels opted for a conservative approach, making only incremental additions to the roster.
“The Angels had a chance to make a real statement this offseason, but instead, they played it safe,” Olney wrote. “Their failure to land a top-tier starter or a proven closer will likely haunt them in the competitive American League West.”
The Angels’ lack of aggression in the free agent market has been a subject of debate among fans and pundits alike. While the team did manage to re-sign star outfielder Mike Trout to a massive extension, their other moves have been met with a collective shrug.
The signing of reliever Aaron Loup, while solid, does little to address the team’s need for a shutdown closer. The addition of starter Griffin Canning, meanwhile, is a low-risk, low-reward move that fails to inspire confidence.
As the Angels prepare to embark on the 2023 season, the pressure is mounting on general manager Perry Minasian to deliver results. With a roster that remains riddled with holes, the Angels’ chances of competing in the AL West appear slim.
“Minasian and the Angels’ front office have a lot to prove this season,” Olney concluded. “If they can’t find a way to get this team over the hump, it may be time for a change in leadership.”
The Angels’ nearly failing grade from ESPN Insider is a wake-up call for a franchise that has been stuck in neutral for far too long. Will Minasian and company be able to turn things around, or will the Angels continue to languish in mediocrity? The clock is ticking.
