Los Angeles Angels: Which Current Halos Will Be Playing Somewhere Else by 2013?

The Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim will enter the 2013 season as reigning world champs. Or baseball's biggest disappointment. Or something in between.

Regardless, several impact players presently on the roster will be elsewhere. That's just reality.

The important question is who will move?

Let's comb through the uncertainty by beginning with the obvious returnees.

Albert Pujols, Jered Weaver, C.J. Wilson and—as of very recently—Howie Kendrick have been locked up for years to come. It's important to note, though, that all are signed to back-loaded contracts that will earn them raises over their 2012 salaries.

Promising pre-arbitration eligible players like Peter Bourjos, Hank Conger, Mike Trout and Jordan Walden are certain to be retained in 2013 at a negligible expense.

Left-handed specialist Scott Downs will stay in the Angels' bullpen to serve the final season of his three-year deal signed in December 2010.

To keep the starting rotation intact, Los Angeles is likely to exercise team options on Dan Haren and Ervin Santana, worth $15.5 million and $13 million, respectively.

The right side of the infield won't be changing much, either. A contract extension is on the way for shortstop Erick Aybar. Third baseman Alberto Callapso won't hit free agency until 2014.

Filling out the roster from this point will be tricky.

Which of the team's three designated hitters will be Angels in 2013?

I'm referring to Bobby Abreu, Kendrys Morales and Mark Trumbo—one of whom could easily be moved before the start of the 2012 regular season.

Abreu is a once-powerful left-handed bat whose skills are eroding. The possibility that decline will reduce him to a replacement-level player needs to be weighed against his terrific plate discipline and occasional and efficient base-stealing. 

Morales is overly-aggressive at the plate, but he can do more with a pitcher's mistakes than Abreu...that is, if he returns to 2009 form. Since that infamous walk-off grand slam in 2010, he hasn't played in the majors. Although he is entering his prime years, there is no guarantee that this switch-hitter will ever be the slugger he once was.

Trumbo has the greatest trade value of the three. The 2011 runner-up for AL Rookie of the Year has tremendous power and some defensive ability. He struggles with impatience like Morales, but he doesn't reach free agency until 2017, making him affordable for any club.

It is my opinion that the front office should eat a portion of Abreu's $9 million 2012 salary and find a trade partner willing to send over one legitimate prospect. The resulting lineup would be laden with right-handed hitters, but improved.

Also, the outfield situation is a long way from being settled.

Veteran outfielder Torii Hunter will hit free agency in the winter. Reasons for keeping him include his positive clubhouse presence and potential value as a mentor to rising stars like Bourjos and Trout.

Hunter was selfless enough to move to right field, and he won't be demanding a contract comparable to his expiring $90 million deal. How much he's willing to drop his price will be the determinant here.

The Los Angeles Angels can only afford to offer Hunter competitive pay if they resolve the Vernon Wells situation. He is several years younger than Hunter and arguably more fluid in the field, yet he is plagued by inexplicable offensive inconsistency. Worse, Wells is due $21 million in 2013 and 2014! How he mustered 529 plate appearances in 2011 is inconceivable, because nothing good came of them.

Despite his age advantage over Hunter, I don't think Wells is in the Angels' plans. His 2012 performance will simply serve as an audition for other clubs.

Better play means a smaller percentage of the $42 million total that Los Angeles will be on the hook for. Luckily, Wells is typically more impressive in even-numbered seasons.