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Los Angeles Angels’ Farm System Lacking Talent

By Matthew Schoettler

Oct 4, 2015; Arlington, TX, USA; Los Angeles Angels designated hitter Albert Pujols (5) looks down in the dugout during the game against the Texas Rangers at Globe Life Park in Arlington. The Texas Rangers defeat the Angels 9-2 and clinch the American League West division. Mandatory Credit: Jerome Miron-USA TODAY Sports
Oct 4, 2015; Arlington, TX, USA; Los Angeles Angels designated hitter Albert Pujols (5) looks down in the dugout during the game against the Texas Rangers at Globe Life Park in Arlington. The Texas Rangers defeat the Angels 9-2 and clinch the American League West division. Mandatory Credit: Jerome Miron-USA TODAY Sports /
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The Los Angeles Angels showed that they are going for broke in the short-term, by trading Sean Newcomb and Chris Ellis to the Atlanta Braves this offseason.

The Los Angeles Angels have a big problem on their hands; they lack talented prospects in their farm system, and their MLB-level teams does not look like a title contender. Sorry, but adding Andrelton Simmons to the big league roster does not help the hitting woes surrounding the Los Angeles Angels. Moreover, they have no one to help them in the near future, and the Los Angeles Angels lack high-potential prospects in their farm system.

Next: Jose Berrios: Minnesota Twins Starter in 2016?

ESPN’s Keith Law ranked the Los Angeles Angels’ farm system dead last earlier this month; also, the Angels had no prospects rated in the MLB.com’s top-100. The Los Angeles Angels traded away their one true blue-chip prospect Sean Newcomb in efforts to get better at defense. With Sean Newcomb as the only Los Angeles Angels prospect ranked in the top-100, the Angels took a huge gamble by acquiring Simmons this offseason.

The Los Angeles Angels struggle to hit the ball, so getting a defensive-minded shortstop this offseason did not make much sense, especially since the Angels had to part with their two best prospects in order to seal the deal. By giving up their two best prospects, the Los Angeles Angels are gambling on winning something in the short-term, because their long-term vision looks bleak and confusing.

When digging deeper in the Los Angeles Angels’ farm system, the team offers no real high-potential prospects. Taylor Ward’s production in the minor leagues seems to fly under the radar, but he looks like the best bet to pan out at the MLB level. Ward split time between two leagues (Rookie Level and Single-A) in 2015, and he performed well in his first professional season. Ward owned a .348/.457/.438 slash line over 56 games, with three home runs and 31 RBI.

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If Taylor Ward puts together a strong 2016 campaign, he seems like the best bet to enter MLB.com’s top-100 prospect list. Also, he could be a sleeper for their top-10 catcher list. The Los Angeles Angels lack depth in their farm system, so if Ward develops into a strong catcher, they have a solid prospect on their hands.

In addition to the Los Angeles Angels’ hitting woes, their starting pitching has struggled over the past couple seasons. Jered Weaver and C.J. Wilson continue to decline with age, and the Los Angeles Angels might be better off without Weaver in their rotation. Wilson still carries some value, and they Angels might be well-advised to trade the former ace and start stockpiling prospects for the long-term.

The top three pitching prospects for the Los Angeles Angels struggled in 2015, with only Nate Smith owning a sub-4.00 ERA. The Angels’ top prospect Victor Alcantara struggled mightily in 2015, posting a 7-12 record, 5.63 ERA, and 1.54 WHIP. With the lack of talent in their farm system, the Los Angeles Angels need to turn to replenishing their farm system in this year’s upcoming draft. 

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    • ESPN’s Keith Law believes that the Los Angeles Angels’ farm system is one of the worst farm systems he has seen in his eight years of rankings. That speaks volumes, because Law is, more often than not, close in his predictions with prospects and farm system rankings. Law also believes that the Angels have no one near top-100 status, showing just the lack of talent the team has outside of Los Angeles.

    The Los Angeles Angels made one of the most questionable deals this offseason by trading for Andrelton Simmons. The fact that they had to give up their two best prospects in order to land him leaves most people questioning the front office. The move made little sense at the time and makes less sense with time. The Los Angeles Angels traded their future for a defensive-minded player, and their farm system could be the laughing-stock of the MLB.

    Next: Jose Berrios: Minnesota Twins Starter in 2016?

    No one truly knows where the Angels are heading, but with a mediocre-to-below-average farm system, they are not heading in the right direction. The Los Angeles Angels either need to commit solely to competing in the short-term, or they must turn to rebuilding their farm system (which seems like the right choice). This could be a bumpy ride.

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