Angels News: Ron Washington Has Lofty Goals for 2024 Season

Following his introduction press conference today, Angels manager Ron Washington has already set the bar on what the goal will be in 2024.

After an introduction press conference Wednesday afternoon, newly acquired Angels manager Ron Washington has fans ready to run through a brick wall for them.

The message that Washington left to the media was plain and simple: Win the American League West.

Ron Washington:

“Our whole focus will be to run the West down. You can take that to the bank and deposit it.”

— Sam Blum (@SamBlum3) November 15, 2023

After a quote like this, Washington has Halos fans ready for a new era of baseball in Los Angeles.

Washington later carried the momentum of his press conference to the Angels social media team as he was recorded saying they plan to become the top dawgs in the AL West.

"The main thing that we want to do is make sure that we can bring the passion back and bring the joy," aaid Washington. "I remember the days when you guys was the target and now we're going to put us back on top and become the target again."

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With hefty goals in the future, comes reality

The Angels have not made the postseason since 2014 and have not won a playoff game since 2009. The reality is, the team is in a drought from the playoffs and this drought could result in them losing Shohei Ohtani in free agency this offseason. 

The other reality for them is, the AL West might be the best division in baseball.

I'm not saying it's impossible for the Angels to win the division next year, but it will be a tough task considering how stacked the AL West is with teams.

Unfortunately, for the Angels, the division just had two different teams win the World Series the last two years in the Houston Astros and the Texas Rangers. They also have a young Seattle Mariners team that is slated to become another team that will contend for a World Series in the near future.

It's not impossible to say the Angels can turn it around quickly as they still have one of the greatest baseball players to ever play the game in Mike Trout. But they also have a good young core that features Zach Neto, Noah Schanuel, Logan O'Hoppe, Mickey Moniak and Jo Adell.

The Angels could very well be in it to win it, but it will be a tall task in 2024.

Even if the Angels miss out on re-signing Ohtani this offseason, it appears that the team will take an aggressive approach this offseason and they will be looking to lean on Trout and third baseman Anthony Rendon to lead this team.

Associated Press reporter Greg Beacham reported that Washington plans to call both Trout and Rendon and inform them both that they will need to become leaders in the clubhouse next year.

Ron Washington says Mike Trout and Anthony Rendon will be among his first calls today, because he knows they both need to be the leaders in the Angels’ clubhouse next season. pic.twitter.com/yIF8xd5lG0

— Greg Beacham (@gregbeacham) November 15, 2023