Los Angeles Angels: Will 2020 finally be the year?

ANAHEIM, CA - JUNE 10: Mike Trout #27 of the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim looks on during the MLB game between Los Angeles Angels and Los Angeles Dodgers at Angel Stadium of Anaheim on June 10, 2019 in Anaheim, California. (Photo by Masterpress/Getty Images)
ANAHEIM, CA - JUNE 10: Mike Trout #27 of the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim looks on during the MLB game between Los Angeles Angels and Los Angeles Dodgers at Angel Stadium of Anaheim on June 10, 2019 in Anaheim, California. (Photo by Masterpress/Getty Images)
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The farm has improved

In a sense, time has been both terrible and valuable for the Los Angeles Angels. As the losses and near-.500 seasons piled up, the minor league system has been refined, producing two top-100 outfielders in Joe Adell and Brandon Marsh (ranked Nos. 3 and 74 on FanGraphs THE BOARD, respectively).

Both could reach the majors in 2020, and while Adell has garnered more national attention, Marsh also turned in an impressive 2019, making it up to Double-A Mobile and slashing .300/.383/.428 with 7 home runs in 96 games.

The Halos farm system still has a ways to go, as the organization still lacks quality pitching; although, the system has certainly improved since say 2016, when the Angels ranked dead last by Minor League Ball (an SB Nation site). They certainly didn’t think too much of the organization’s prospect depth three seasons ago:

"“UGHHHH: The Angels get a special category of badness all their own.”"

It’s not really the prospects, though, that’s generating the excitement in LA…