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2020 MLB Season: The 5 most improved teams

By Edward Lennon

ANAHEIM, CA - DECEMBER 14: Los Angeles Angels General Manager Billy Eppler, left, stands with Anthony Rendon, center, and Los Angeles Angels team owner Arte Moreno, right, as Rendon is introduced during a press conference as the newest member of the Los Angeles Angels at Angel Stadium in Anaheim on Saturday December 14, 2019. Rendon helped lead the Washington Nationals to the World Series championship and reached an agreement on a seven-year, $245 million contract with the Los Angeles Angels. (Photo by Mark Rightmire/MediaNews Group/Orange County Register via Getty Images)
ANAHEIM, CA - DECEMBER 14: Los Angeles Angels General Manager Billy Eppler, left, stands with Anthony Rendon, center, and Los Angeles Angels team owner Arte Moreno, right, as Rendon is introduced during a press conference as the newest member of the Los Angeles Angels at Angel Stadium in Anaheim on Saturday December 14, 2019. Rendon helped lead the Washington Nationals to the World Series championship and reached an agreement on a seven-year, $245 million contract with the Los Angeles Angels. (Photo by Mark Rightmire/MediaNews Group/Orange County Register via Getty Images) /
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(Photo by Mark Rightmire/MediaNews Group/Orange County Register via Getty Images)
(Photo by Mark Rightmire/MediaNews Group/Orange County Register via Getty Images) /

2020 MLB Season: 5 Most Improved Teams

Los Angeles Angels

Even though they have had the best player in baseball in Mike Trout for the last eight seasons, the Angels desperately needed to improve their roster.

They finally added another elite bat to their lineup. After Anthony Rendon agreed to a seven-year, $245 million contract, their offense reached a whole new caliber.

The 2019 All-Star hit 34 home runs, drove in 126 runs, scored 117, and had a 1.010 OPS. for Washing in 2019.

The Angels also signed catcher Jason Castro, who will be a major upgrade, both offensively and defensively, from Jonathan Lucroy and Max Stassi.

Castro, 32, has six seasons of at least 10 home runs, bringing more power to the Angel’s catching position. Now, he is not going to make as large of an impact as Rendon, but he will definitely improve their lineup.

As well as those two signings, Justin Upton is going to be fully healthy after only playing in 63 games last season. The four-time All-Star is a three-time Silver Slugger and will bring more power to their lineup.

More. Angels expect Shohei Ohtani back in May. light

This is a possible lineup for the Angels during the 2020 MLB season.

  1. 2B – Tommy La Stella
  2. CF – Mike Trout
  3. 3B – Anthony Rendon
  4. DH – Shohei Ohtani
  5. LF – Justin Upton
  6. 1B – Albert Pujols
  7. RF – Brian Goodwin
  8. C – Jason Castro
  9. SS – Andrelton Simmons

Trout, who has led the NL in on-base percentage for the last four seasons, is going to score a lot more runs with the RBI machine of Rendon batting behind him. This is going to spark Los Angeles’ offense.

In addition to improving their offense, the Angels signed 29-year-old Julio Teheran to a one-year, $9 million contract to improve their rotation. This has potential to be a very strong signing. Teheran is a two-time All-Star and has a career 77-73 record with a 3.67 ERA.

He has the ability to reach the 200-inning milestone. In addition to his durability, Teheran brings postseason experience to a staff that lacks that.

Finally, the Angels will have Shohei Ohtani for a full season in their lineup and he will be returning to the mound. His stuff is nasty, and he is a threat when pitching.

The team won 72 games in 2019 and MLB.com predicts them to win 91 in 2020.

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