ANAHEIM -- It was the kind of moment the Angels dreamed about when they convinced two-way sensation Shohei Ohtani to sign with the club before the 2018 season.

With the championship on the line, Ohtani registered a huge strikeout to secure the title and flung his glove to the ground and his hat in the air in celebration.

But as we all know, it didn¡¯t occur with the Angels, as it instead came in an unforgettable World Baseball Classic final for Team Japan with Ohtani striking out his Halos teammate Mike Trout to secure the victory. But it was the kind of marquee moment on the big stage that the Angels have been searching for since their last trip to the postseason in 2014. And now there¡¯s even more urgency, as Ohtani is heading into his final year of club control before he hits free agency after the season.

Ohtani has stated in the past that winning is the most important thing to him, and after he tasted it in the Classic, a return to the postseason seems like a must if the club wants to convince Ohtani to sign long-term.

The Angels improved their depth this offseason, though, and they believe they have what it takes to get to the postseason. Manager Phil Nevin said watching his star players shine in the World Baseball Classic makes his team even hungrier to win in October.

¡°You kind of put yourself in that situation,¡± Nevin said. ¡°Whether it¡¯s Shohei pitching in the ninth or Mike batting in those situations. And then seeing them up on the podium and seeing Shohei¡¯s excitement. I told them both, ¡®The three of us will be up there on the podium [in the postseason]. And it¡¯ll be special.¡¯¡±

What needs to go right?
The Angels pitched well enough to compete last year, as their 3.77 ERA ranked as the ninth-best mark in the Majors. But their offense let them down, as their 623 runs scored ranked as the sixth-lowest total in MLB last season.

The Halos made it their mission to improve their overall depth and acquired veterans such as infielders Gio Urshela and Brandon Drury and outfielders Hunter Renfroe and Brett Phillips. They also strengthened the rotation by signing lefty Tyler Anderson, and they signed Carlos Estévez and Matt Moore to help anchor the bullpen.

The Angels need the offense to step up and for their starting pitchers to remain healthy like they were last season. The club knows what it's going to get from superstars like Trout and Ohtani when they are on the field, but it needs its improved depth to help carry it to postseason contention.

Great unknown:
Can Anthony Rendon get through an entire season healthy? Rendon was one of the best third basemen in the Majors during his seven seasons with the Nationals, and he was rewarded with a seven-year deal worth $245 million before the 2020 season. But he has been hampered by injuries over the last two seasons with the Angels, slashing .235/.328/.381 in a combined 105 games.

Rendon underwent right wrist surgery last season, but he had a healthy offseason and looked dominant offensively in Spring Training. If he can stay healthy, it would be huge for the Angels. They went 26-20 when he started at third base last year and 47-69 when he didn¡¯t.

Team MVP will be ...
It¡¯s impossible to pick against Ohtani at this point, especially after he won the American League MVP Award in 2021 and finished second to Aaron Judge last year. He¡¯s coming off an incredible showing in the World Baseball Classic and is considered the favorite to be the AL MVP again. There¡¯s simply no other player like him in the world. But Trout has won three AL MVP Awards and could find himself in the mix again if he can stay healthy.

Team Cy Young will be ...
Ohtani again. He¡¯s one of baseball¡¯s best pitchers, and he finished fourth in the balloting for the AL Cy Young Award last year. His fastball reached as high as 102 mph in the Classic, and he pairs it with an assortment of other unhittable pitches like his splitter, cutter, curveball, sinker and sweeping slider. But watch out for lefties Patrick Sandoval and Reid Detmers, who both look like breakout candidates and potential All-Stars.

Bold prediction:
The Angels finally break their postseason drought and return to the playoffs for the first time since 2014. The team leans on its improved depth and its rotation topped by Ohtani and a slew of lefties in Sandoval, Anderson, Detmers and José Suarez. Ohtani and Trout are both in the mix for the AL MVP Award, and Ohtani takes it home for the second time in three years.