The Angels certainly have the bullpen to cover any shortage of innings from the starters. Brian Fuentes was signed to replace Francisco Rodriguez at closer, allowing Scot Shields and Jose Arredondo to remain in their setup roles. Darren Oliver, Justin Speier and rookie Kevin Jepsen add depth.
Meanwhile, the offense will to try make up for the departures of Teixeira and Anderson with depth.
Young players such as Kendry Morales, Howie Kendrick, Erick Aybar and the catching combination of Jeff Mathis and Mike Napoli will be asked to step and become significant contributors around veterans Vladimir Guerrero, Torii Hunter and Bobby Abreu.
Kendrick's development has been hindered by injuries each of the last two seasons. But he has batted .306 in the big leagues between injuries and is being asked to step into a top-of-the-lineup role, batting second ahead of Abreu and Guerrero.
Morales will have the largest shoes to fill. The Angels have handed him the starting first base job in Teixeira's wake. A significant downgrade defensively as well as offensively, the switch-hitting Cuban has shown a "big-league ready" bat in the minors, in the estimation of Angels management.
However, Guerrero once again will have to carry the offensive load.
THE ANGELS WILL CONTEND IF ...: Their pitching staff -- particularly starters John Lackey, Ervin Santana and Kelvim Escobar -- is healthy enough to carry them. Young players such as Howie Kendrick, Kendry Morales and Erick Aybar need to continue their development, adding depth to an offense lacking departed free agents Mark Teixeira and Garret Anderson. Offseason knee surgery must allow Vladimir Guerrero to turn back the clock and once again carry the offense.
PRIMED FOR A BIG SEASON: SS Erick Aybar shared the position with Maicer Izturis last season but could take it over entirely this season if he stays healthy. The switch-hitting Aybar was the goat in the Angels' latest playoff loss to the Boston Red Sox, failing to get down a crucial squeeze bunt in the deciding game. But he tore it up during winter ball in his native Dominican Republic and has begun to fulfill the potential the Angels have seen in him.
ON THE DECLINE: RF Vladimir Guerrero got off to the worst two-month start of his career last season and needed a strong finishing kick to reach a .300 batting average and 25 home runs for the 11th consecutive season. Guerrero had arthroscopic surgery on his right knee during the offseason, and the Angels hope that the motivation of being in the final year of his contract helps him turn back the odometer a little. But Guerrero has started to look his age, which he revealed is 34 (a year older than previously reported).
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--RHP John Lackey was given a cortisone shot in his inflamed right elbow on March 28. Lackey will open the season on the disabled list for the second consecutive year (triceps tendinitis in 2008) after experiencing discomfort in his elbow during his start against the Royals on March 22.
--Even before he was shut down because of inflammation in his right elbow, negotiations on a contract extension for RHP John Lackey had been making little progress. Lackey can become a free agent next winter and is believed to be seeking a contract in the neighborhood of five years and $80 million. His agent, Steve Hilliard, has met with Angels general manager Tony Reagins this spring, with the two sides exchanging preliminary proposals but advancing little beyond that. Lackey has said he does not want the negotiations to drag into the regular season.
