Here are the 2016 MLB fantasy projections for the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim (ZiPS projections courtesy Dan Szymborski; Steamer projections courtesy Jared Cross, Dash Davidson and Peter Rosenbloom; Zeile projections courtesy FantasyPros):
Hitters
C Carlos Perez
| SOURCE | R | H | HR | RBI | SB |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| ZiPS | 35 | 76 | 5 | 34 | 2 |
| Steamer | 26 | 64 | 4 | 27 | 2 |
| Zeile | -- | -- | -- | -- | -- |
Perez is not worth drafting - even in AL-only leagues. Aside from hitting .361 in just 72 at-bats in Triple-A last season, Perez has been a fairly mediocre offensive catcher in the minors. He'll likely split time with Geovany Soto.
1B Albert Pujols
| SOURCE | R | H | HR | RBI | SB |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| ZiPS | 76 | 146 | 28 | 90 | 5 |
| Steamer | 72 | 138 | 27 | 86 | 4 |
| Zeile | 77 | 142 | 30 | 87 | 4 |
Don't be the guy to reach on Pujols in any draft. He's still capable of hitting 30 bombs, but it's unlikely he gets close to his total of 40 from a season ago. His bat speed has declined significantly. Based on his pedigree, he'll be a mid-round pick in mixed leagues and will be taken far too early in AL-only leagues.
2B Johnny Giavotella
| SOURCE | R | H | HR | RBI | SB |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| ZiPS | 57 | 124 | 5 | 50 | 7 |
| Steamer | 46 | 111 | 5 | 42 | 5 |
| Zeile | 55 | 127 | 5 | 49 | 5 |
This light-hitting second baseman has no fantasy value. Giavotella may be able to provide value to the Angels with defense and a decent batting average, but he's never had an OPS in the .700s in his five-year career. Don't count on him breaking out at age 28.
3B Yunel Escobar
| SOURCE | R | H | HR | RBI | SB |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| ZiPS | 53 | 133 | 7 | 47 | 2 |
| Steamer | 59 | 137 | 8 | 51 | 3 |
| Zeile | 61 | 144 | 8 | 53 | 2 |
Escobar's .790 OPS a season ago was the highest of his career since he was a 26-year-old shortstop for the Braves back in 2009. It's unlikely he hits .314 again, and he has little to no value since he will lose his SS eligibility after playing 3B full-time last season.
SS Andrelton Simmons
| SOURCE | R | H | HR | RBI | SB |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| ZiPS | 61 | 140 | 8 | 54 | 5 |
| Steamer | 53 | 130 | 8 | 53 | 5 |
| Zeile | 61 | 142 | 8 | 53 | 5 |
Simmons is arguably the best defensive shortstop in the game, but that means little from a fantasy perspective. He launched 17 home runs as a 23-year-old in 2013, but hasn't had more than seven since. It's smart to stay away from Simmons as he adjusts to American League pitching.
LF Daniel Nava
| SOURCE | R | H | HR | RBI | SB |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| ZiPS | 33 | 70 | 5 | 28 | 3 |
| Steamer | 31 | 65 | 5 | 28 | 3 |
| Zeile | 26 | 55 | 4 | 23 | 3 |
Nava has had one impressive season in the majors, slashing .303/.352/.445 in 2013; he has struggled to be an everyday player since. He's a switch hitter, but a career .212 average from the right side limits him to a platoon role.
CF Mike Trout
| SOURCE | R | H | HR | RBI | SB |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| ZiPS | 110 | 169 | 37 | 101 | 19 |
| Steamer | 104 | 166 | 36 | 104 | 15 |
| Zeile | 107 | 170 | 37 | 101 | 14 |
Trout can confidently be taken first overall, though Bryce Harper's upside may be higher. A .300 average, 30 homers and 100 RBIs seem like a lock, but his steals are the big question. They've declined from 49 to 11 in four seasons. His attempts may decrease after he was caught seven times a year ago.
RF Kole Calhoun
| SOURCE | R | H | HR | RBI | SB |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| ZiPS | 82 | 144 | 21 | 74 | 6 |
| Steamer | 76 | 145 | 21 | 70 | 5 |
| Zeile | 80 | 156 | 23 | 77 | 5 |
Calhoun set career-highs with 26 homers and 83 RBIs a season ago. Projected to hit in the two spot gives him potential to see plenty of good pitches to hit. Don't be surprised if he hits 20-25 homers. As long as his batting average doesn't continue to dip, he should score plenty of runs.
DH C.J. Cron
| SOURCE | R | H | HR | RBI | SB |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| ZiPS | 54 | 128 | 19 | 67 | 3 |
| Steamer | 50 | 111 | 17 | 59 | 3 |
| Zeile | 52 | 119 | 19 | 64 | 3 |
Cron has some serious pop in his bat. He's only played parts of two seasons in the show, totaling 27 long balls in just 657 plate appearances. Don't be surprised if 2016 is a breakout year. However, he doesn't have enough pedigree to be drafted anywhere before the final round in most mixed leagues.
Starters
RHP Garrett Richards
| SOURCE | GS | IP | K | BB | ERA |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| ZiPS | 29 | 182.1 | 170 | 62 | 3.21 |
| Steamer | 31 | 196 | 169 | 66 | 3.54 |
| Zeile | 31 | 203 | 177 | 68 | 3.54 |
Richards will be in the first tier of pitchers off the board in AL-only drafts, and a mid-round pick in mixed leagues. A fireballer, Richards has 200-strikeout potential and plenty of wins upside. However, it's concerning that he has lead the league in wild pitches in back-to-back seasons.
LHP C.J. Wilson
| SOURCE | GS | IP | K | BB | ERA |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| ZiPS | 23 | 141.2 | 119 | 57 | 4.13 |
| Steamer | 29 | 178 | 146 | 69 | 4.05 |
| Zeile | 27 | 145 | 121 | 57 | 4.11 |
Wilson has thrown back-to-back seasons of sub-200-inning baseball after exceeding 200 innings in four straight seasons. This could be a sign of decline for the 35-year-old, and a recent left shoulder injury will leave him sidelined until at least mid-May. He can be taken as a late-round flier in AL-only leagues, but don't expect anything lower than a 3.50 ERA when he returns.
RHP Jared Weaver
| SOURCE | GS | IP | K | BB | ERA |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| ZiPS | 25 | 151.1 | 103 | 40 | 4.46 |
| Steamer | 28 | 167 | 102 | 44 | 4.32 |
| Zeile | 26 | 166 | 110 | 43 | 4.31 |
Weaver had only one season throughout his 10-year career with an ERA above 3.91 before last season. Part of his decline is due to his plummeting velocity. It's possible he figures out how to pitch with a fastball in the mid-high 80s, but he should only be taken as a late-round flier.
LHP Andrew Heaney
| SOURCE | GS | IP | K | BB | ERA |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| ZiPS | 30 | 177 | 145 | 50 | 3.76 |
| Steamer | 23 | 130 | 102 | 38 | 3.89 |
| Zeile | 23 | 151 | 123 | 44 | 3.83 |
Heaney is highly-touted lefty with loads of upside. At 25, he's still a gamble with just 23 starts under his belt. As a ground ball pitcher with a superb infield defense behind him, Heaney can be taken in the middle rounds in AL-only drafts and extremely late in mixed leagues.
RHP Matt Shoemaker
| SOURCE | GS | IP | K | BB | ERA |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| ZiPS | 25 | 143.2 | 122 | 34 | 4.01 |
| Steamer | 11 | 80 | 64 | 18 | 3.77 |
| Zeile | 19 | 132 | 112 | 33 | 3.98 |
Shoemaker is incredibly tough to project. He came out of nowhere as a 27-year-old in 2014, winning 16 games with a 3.04 ERA and a 1.07 WHIP. Last season, the league seemed to figure him out, as he regressed to a 4.46 ERA and a 1.26 WHIP. Hector Santiago could very well win the fifth starter's spot.
Closer
RHP Huston Street
| SOURCE | IP | K | BB | ERA |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| ZiPS | 55.2 | 53 | 16 | 3.40 |
| Steamer | 65 | 55 | 20 | 3.72 |
| Zeile | 61 | 54 | 18 | 3.45 |
Street isn't your conventional closer with a blazing fastball, as his jaw-dropping slider has made him most of his money. His fastball is still hard enough to keep hitters honest, making him a serviceable fantasy closer on an Angels team that should be in a lot of tight games.
