At one point, even around the trade deadline (early August), the Los Angeles Angels were over .500 and actually competed.
However, things went south after the deadline, key players got injured and/or underperformed, and LA is now 68-82 as of Monday afternoon.
The best they can finish at this point is 80-82, meaning that they will be a losing team for the eighth consecutive year.
“The Angels will finish under .500 for the eighth year in a row, the longest active streak in MLB,” Talkin’ Baseball tweeted.
The Angels will finish under .500 for the eighth year in a row, the longest active streak in MLB pic.twitter.com/Te9fYFFm4u
— Talkin’ Baseball (@TalkinBaseball_) September 18, 2023
It seems impossible to think about a team that has both Shohei Ohtani and Mike Trout and hasn’t been able to finish over .500 since 2014.
There has to be some really bad rosters over the years, a bit of bad luck, lots of injuries, and poor management.
Yes, the American League has been very competitive in the last ten years, but how can a team with Ohtani and Trout on the same roster since 2018 not even finish over .500?
It’s one of the biggest mysteries in baseball?
Now, the future of the franchise looks bleak.
Ohtani, a free agent after the World Series, probably won’t return to the Angels and will seek a contract with a team that can actually help him win.
Trout has become injury-prone over the years and his defense and baserunning have slipped a bit, but remains a top hitter when healthy.
There is a non-zero chance he asks for a trade, and the team will reportedly grant his wish if he ever voices it.
Even with Trout in the fold, it’s hard to see the Angels competing in the next two or three years.
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