This story was excerpted from Rhett Bollinger¡¯s Angels Beat newsletter. To read the full newsletter, click here. And subscribe to get it regularly in your inbox.

ANAHEIM -- The Angels are ready to turn the page on a difficult 2024 season and have their eyes on building a consistent winner led by their youth movement.

General manager Perry Minasian has acquired several veteran players this offseason to improve the roster, but he knows there¡¯s still plenty to do before the club heads for Spring Training in mid-February. The Angels are coming off a 99-loss season, so Minasian said they have room to improve in just about every area, adding that he plans to continue to stay active on both the free agent and trade front leading up to the start of the season.

¡°I feel like we've brought in some really good people,¡± Minasian said. ¡°I feel like we've brought in some leadership in the locker room. I feel like we brought in talent on the field. We need to do more.¡±

One (realistic) FA target who would still be a perfect fit
Veteran infielder Jorge Polanco is a free agent and would fit the Angels well because he can play multiple infield positions and is a switch-hitter. He¡¯s coming off a tough year with the Mariners, hitting .213 with 16 homers and 45 RBIs in 118 games, but Seattle can be a difficult place to play offensively and he dealt with a knee injury that ultimately required surgery in October.

He¡¯d be an affordable short-term option for the Angels at second base with Luis Rengifo shifting over to third base and Anthony Rendon serving in a backup role. The Angels don¡¯t want to block top second base prospect Christian Moore, and Polanco can handle second until Moore is ready. He¡¯d improve their depth and give the Angels more infield insurance along with Scott Kingery and Kevin Newman, especially with shortstop Zach Neto likely to miss time early in the season after undergoing right shoulder surgery in early November.

One player poised to have a breakout season
Catcher Logan O'Hoppe was an All-Star candidate in 2024, but ultimately endured a tough second half to the season. He still slashed a respectable .244/303/.409 with 20 homers and 56 RBIs in 136 games in his first full season as a catcher.

He also learned a lot about how to handle a pitching staff and get through the grind of a full year behind the plate. This year he¡¯ll get some help, however, as the Angels signed veteran Travis d¡¯Arnaud to a two-year deal worth $12 million to be O¡¯Hoppe¡¯s backup and mentor. They also hired highly respected catching/pitching coach Sal Fasano to join the staff.

One prospect to watch in 2025
The Angels have had success in getting their first-round picks to the Majors in a hurry, having seen that happen with first baseman Nolan Schanuel and Neto, and Moore is the next one expected to fit that mold. Moore, ranked as the club¡¯s No. 2 prospect by MLB Pipeline, excelled in his first taste of the Minor Leagues after being the No. 8 selection in the 2024 Draft.

He¡¯ll come to Spring Training competing for the club¡¯s starting spot at second base, although the Angels are expected to add at least one more veteran infielder to their mix before they head to camp. Moore, though, is considered close to being Major League ready and should make an impact at some point in '25.

One prediction for the new year
Mike Trout finally stays healthy, puts together his first full season since 2019 and is in the mix for the AL MVP race. Trout, 33, plays more corner outfield to stay healthy and responds with a 40-homer season while also being more aggressive on the bases.

Most of his recent injuries have been due to bad luck such as a left knee injury in ¡¯24 and his hamate fracture on a swing in ¡¯23, but this year will bring better fortune for Trout, who remains signed through 2030. Trout is itching to prove he still has plenty left in the tank, and this is the year he proves he¡¯s still an MVP-caliber player.