TEMPE, Ariz. — Position players technically don't report to spring training until Monday, but manager Ron Washington already knows his defense will feature some moving parts.
With Zach Neto likely not ready to return from shoulder surgery by opening day, Anthony Rendon being on the shelf long-term as he prepares for hip surgery soon and Mike Trout's recent struggles with injuries, Washington will have to figure out where everyone fits. Washington broke down which guys will be getting work at multiple positions this spring.
"(Luis) Rengifo is going to help us in the middle," Washington said. "He's going to help us on the corner (third base) and we're going to even give him some time in the outfield this spring."
Non-roster invite Tim Anderson made a name for himself as an all-star shortstop with the Chicago White Sox and even won a batting title in 2019. The last two seasons have been a steep drop-off in production that resulted in -3.5 bWAR. Washington said that Anderson will get work in the outfield this spring as well as shortstop.
"He's an athlete, so I have no problem that he would probably be able to do it if we need him to be out there," Washington said.
Although it's not official yet, the Angels agreed to a one-year $5 million contract with Yoán Moncada last week and will likely have the best chance to be the starting third baseman.
As for the outfield, both Washington and general manager Perry Minasian said that they will talk with Trout once he reports to camp and plan where he will play. One thing that Washington did say is that he isn't going to have Trout play in the field every day and Trout will get some time as the designated hitter.
Trout will only get "some time" as the DH because of the addition of Jorge Soler. Soler is mostly a DH at this point, but Washington still wants him to work out in the outfield this spring and expects to see him on the field from time to time.
"He might get 10 games the whole year in the outfield, but he will get a game in the outfield at some point because the roster and the schedule might say so," Washington said. "Somebody might be down. Somebody might be hurt, and we got no choice."
Jo Adell and Mickey Moniak's situation is more up in the air. Washington said that both will be playing a little bit of all three outfield positions at some point and that their roles will be solidified as the spring progresses and things start to sort themselves out.
The one thing that Washington was certain about in the outfield was his left fielder.
"Taylor Ward is our left fielder," Washington said. "Now, that's not saying that Taylor may not have to move to center at a game because of the way things work out, or he might not play rightfield at a game just because who I got to put out there, they only can play in one spot. But Taylor Ward is the left fielder."
The Lineup
Washington also gave some insight into what you can expect for the Angels lineup heading into the season.
At the top of the order, Washington wants his three best hitters to hit one, two and three in the lineup. Washington tabbed Trout, Soler and Ward as the three best hitters in the lineup but has yet to figure out the order in which those three will hit.
When Neto comes back from his injury, Washington anticipates him hitting fifth or sixth in the lineup.
Last season, the young core of Neto, Logan O'Hoppe and Nolan Schanuel were often hitting in the top half of the order. Those three now seemingly will be in the middle to the bottom half of the order, and Washington believes it will be beneficial for them.
"I do not want to push those young kids in a position that's too powerful for them," Washington said.
Sam Bachman update
Sam Bachman said that he is feeling excellent because this is the first full offseason he's had in a couple of years. Over the winter, Bachman and the Angels had a set plan to hopefully keep him healthy for a full season.
"A lot of stability," Bachman said. "I'm a strong guy, but I gotta be stable through my joints, through my hips, through my core. It's gonna prevent the back stuff, the shoulder stuff, anything from flaring up."
Bachman is also slimmer than last season. Bachman weighed in at 235 pounds last season but said he is now 220 pounds. This wasn't something that the Angels wanted him to do, but Bachman said he wanted to do this himself and get down to around the 225 pounds he weighed when he was drafted.
Bachman has been throwing off the mound for the last three weeks and is preparing himself this spring to be able to fill any role the Angels may need him to be in.