Draft prep: L.A. Angels of Anaheim outlook

The old GM is out, but the inability to make a blockbuster trade remains and the Angels will continue to be a pitching and defense team that scratches for runs with some managerial creativity of one of the best in the game, Mike Scioscia.

Bill Stoneman failed to capitalize on a highly regarded farm system in acquiring the big bat to protect Vladimir Guerrero, and new GM Tony Reagins couldn't make deals for Miguel Cabrera or Miguel Tejada, two sluggers who could have fit in perfectly. They did add their second Gold Glove center fielder in two years, Torii Hunter, who will help protect Vlady, though.

The Angels have a deep rotation, adding another piece in Jon Garland and sending out aging shortstop Orlando Cabrera. That move seemed to be a precusor to one of the Miguels coming to town, but the Angels will give a chance to one of their homegrown talents and count on Hunter as an upgrade in power along with his unparalleled defense.

The young talent they continually passed up on trading? Jered Weaver, Ervin Santana, Joe Saunders, Dustin Moseley, Nick Adenhart, Jeff Mathis, Howie Kendrick, Casey Kotchman, Brandon Wood and Erick Aybar will all have opportunities to make more of a name for themselves this season.

This is your AL West favorite and you can find stolen bases, wins, solid ERAs and saves here.

Spring position battles

Shortstop -- Erick Aybar vs. Maicer Izturis and Brandon Wood

The Angels said, the day the traded Cabrera, the shortstop position will eventually be Wood's. That excites us, especially when you consider the Troy Tulowitzki-sized Wood, who turns 28 on March 2, once had Cal Ripken comparisons and a 43-homer season in Class A ball (2005). Aybar is a potential basestealer, while Izturis is more of a utility man. Consider those two stopgap Angels shortstop options in AL-only leagues if they win the job, but the position will merely be kept warm until Wood can cut down on his strikeouts (120 in 437 Triple-A at-bats last year) and prove major league ready.

Catcher -- Jeff Mathis vs. Mike Napoli

Mathis has tried for years to become Scioscia's pick behind the plate, so perhaps this will finally be the year. He is still just 24 (turns 25 on March 31) and has more all-around potential than Napoli, who is more of a power threat. With the offense mature enough, Mathis can steal at-bats from Napoli and make this position relatively Fantasy-worthless this season. Now, we say that with the caveat Mathis could become a top-10 Fantasy catcher at the age of 27 (2010).

Starting pitcher No. 5 -- Ervin Santana vs. Joe Saunders and Dustin Moseley

Santana was a bust as a third-year starting pitcher breakout in Fantasy leagues last season, proving completely wreckless on the road (1-10, 8.38 ERA) compared to a nearly dominant 6-4, 3.27 at home. You have to figure he will settle down and settle in as a solid Fantasy contributor for AL-only leagues and a late-round sleeper in mixed formats. Saunders will be the stopgap swing man, either from Triple-A or long relief. Moseley is the secondary stopgap who will work in long relief, but he will be lapped by the next wave of pitching prospects, including the well-regarded Adenhart.

Left field/DH -- Gary Matthews and Garret Anderson vs. Reggie Willits and Juan Rivera

Matthews was the Gold Glove center field signee before Hunter, so he will be filling in around the outfield and likely getting most of his at-bats in left, forcing Anderson to DH. We might say Anderson is washed up at 35, but he was outstanding in the second half last year (.305 with 13 homers and 65 RBI). That's a lot of RBI after the break. Willits was a rookie basestealing gem for Rotisserie leagues, but he needs a trade or an injury to get playing time. Rivera has 25-homer pop -- which the Angels seemingly still are in dire need of -- but he is too far down the depth chart after his career-threatening broken leg to be considered outside of AL-only leagues as a reserve.

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