Fantasy baseball: 2020 Los Angeles Angels fantasy preview

2020 Los Angeles Angels projected starting lineup:

Tommy La Stella, 2B (.295, 16 HR, 44 RBI, 0 SB in 292 AB)
Mike Trout, CF (.291, 45 HR, 104 RBI, 11 SB in 470 AB)
Anthony Rendon, 3B (.319, 34 HR, 126 RBI, 5 SB in 545 AB with WAS)
Shohei Ohtani, DH (.286, 18 HR, 62 RBI, 12 SB in 384 AB)
Albert Pujols, 1B (.244, 23 HR, 93 RBI, 3 SB in 491 AB)
Justin Upton, LF (.215, 12 HR, 40 RBI, 1 SB in 219 AB)
Brian Goodwin, RF (.262, 17 HR, 47 RBI, 7 SB in 413 AB)
Andrelton Simmons, SS (.264, 7 HR, 40 RBI, 10 SB in 398 AB)
Jason Castro, C (.232, 13 HR, 30 RBI, 0 SB in 237 AB with MIN)

For as many question marks as there are in this lineup, there are two of the more sure things in baseball in Trout and Rendon. The Angels spend a lot to get Rendon, but he shores up a position that has been weak for the Angels since Troy Glaus moved across the diamond in 2004.

Trout is still the number one overall pick in most drafts. One thing is for sure: he will go no lower than third. I still expect Bregman and Arenado to go ahead of Rendon, but I don’t mind taking Rendon in the second round. He’s a great consolation prize and should still put up huge numbers in this lineup, especially batting behind Trout.

Now the questions. How will La Stella do leading off over a full season? Can Upton and Pujols rebound from down years? Will Ohtani’s return to the mound affect his batting stats? One at a time, please!

As far as La Stella, he’s a solid middle round pick even if he doesn’t start swiping bases. He is a solid hitter, has ample power, and could score well over 100 runs. Upton? He’s a risk. However, so many were burned by him last year that he can fall a ways in drafts and is an interesting mid-round flier since he’s healthy and not far removed from his best years.

Pujols is another story. He turned 40 over the winter, and though he still has some pop, he’s not as quick with the bat as he used to be. Pujols is really only a late round pick at this point. Sorry Albert. I really have enjoyed watching you all these years. It’s nothing personal and he’s still not really going to hurt your team.

Ohtani is an entirely different animal, and it’s hard to peg his draft slot. He was supposed to be able to join the rotation in May. Since the season likely wont start until then anyway, you can get around 15-20 starts out of Ohtani this year. However, he is coming off of Tommy John surgery and wont play the day after he pitches. That’s an extra 15-20 games missed. Ohtani still has good upside, but don’t reach for him. I don’t think I would take him sooner than the 10th round.

Simmons is a decent enough hitter to use at CI, but if he’s your starting shortstop, you’re not a contender. He doesn’t provide enough peripheral stats.

Prospects to watch:

Jo Adell is already a veteran of two Futures games and could take over a starting outfield slot at some point this year. It will depend on how Goodwin and Arismendy Alcantara perform and if Adell can cut down the strikeouts. He whiffed 13 times in 25 spring at bats, but still hit .280. He’s a raw prospect but is worth a look if he gets the call.

There is a chance that Brandon Marsh could join him if Upton falters or gets hurt, but Marsh wont bypass Adell anytime soon. Both of these guys are really only worth a look when called up. I wouldn’t waste a valuable bench slot in them in standard leagues.

At some point Jared Walsh is going to take over for Pujols. He hit .325 with 36 homers and 86 RBI in 99 games at AAA Salt Lake City last year. There’s a chance that Walsh earns a piece of a platoon with Pujols and he will certainly give the vet days off and fill in at first for when Ohtani doesn’t DH. Walsh is an interesting late round flier. He didn’t make a huge splash in his first exposure to the majors last September, but he has clobbered the minors for a couple of years now.