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Angels considering moving Mike Trout out of center field

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TEMPE, Ariz. — Mike Trout could be moving to left field.

When Manager Joe Maddon addressed reporters on Sunday, the day before the Angels’ first official workout of the lockout-shortened spring training, he said the team has been toying with the idea of moving the superstar from center field.

It’s all very preliminary, and Maddon said they haven’t even discussed the idea with Trout yet, but it’s out there.

“There’s a lot to discuss and we haven’t had a chance to discuss it,” Maddon said. “We will. No conclusions have been made. None. But I would be disingenuous if I didn’t tell you this has been part of the conversation. It has.”

Trout was not available to the media on Sunday, but he’s expected to speak to reporters on Monday. Trout traditionally holds a press conference at the start of spring training.

If the Angels do move Trout, 30, to left, it would be to have Brandon Marsh play center field, Maddon said. Marsh, 24, is likely a better pure defensive center fielder than Trout at this point, but the gap may not be wide enough for the Angels to put Trout in an uncomfortable spot. Also, Marsh struggled at times offensively last season.

Maddon conceded that another part of the equation is that Trout missed almost all of last season with a strained calf. Although Trout is believed to be back at 100 percent now, the Angels are cautious about taking care of him physically.

“To play center field everyday in the big leagues, coming off a severe injury, it’s not going to be easy,” Maddon said. “Then again playing the corner is not that easy. Playing left field in our ballpark, it actually gets big.”

Although Trout’s status in center field was expected to be an issue for the Angels at some point, by bringing it up now Maddon has added another item to the lengthy list of questions the Angels will face in his shortened spring training.

He shed a little light on some of the others on Sunday, including the Angels’ quest for pitching.

Before the lockout, the Angels signed Noah Syndergaard and Michael Lorenzen for the rotation and they signed Aaron Loup and resigned Raisel Igleasias for the bullpen.

In the first days after the lockout, while other available pitchers were going off the board to other teams, the Angels had not yet added anyone.

“We’re definitely trending in the right direction, but I think we still have to get a bit thicker, if we can,” Maddon said, adding that he believes general manager Perry Minasian is still trying to add pieces.

The Angels also have a shortstop question, and he said the choices are Andrew Velazquez, Tyler Wade and Luis Rengifo. They could also move David Fletcher from second to short.

Maddon seems to be especially intrigued by Velazquez, who was a waiver claim from the New York Yankees.

“When I saw him in Yankee Stadium, I liked what I saw,” Maddon said. “I know he’s got that reputation too. It really is a competition. I’m not I’m not giving the edge to anyone.”

One question the Angels don’t have this year is how to handle Shohei Ohtani.

After changing the way he was used last year, which resulted in Ohtani having an MVP season, Maddon said there’s no reason to try anything new.

“I’m not anticipating a lot of change,” Maddon said.

NO DEAL FOR MADDON YET

Maddon, who is in the last year of his three-year contract, said there have been no talks yet about an extension.

“Of course I’d like to remain here, but we’ll see how it plays out,” Maddon said.

Maddon, 68, said he still has the desire and energy to keep managing.

“I would like to do this for several more years,” he said. “I don’t really see a cap on it. I really enjoy it.”

NEW MEDICAL STAFF

The Angels’ roster was ravaged by injuries in recent years, and now they will have several new faces on their training and strength and conditioning staffs.

Mike Frosted, who had been with the Atlanta Braves training staff, is the Angels new head trainer. They also hired Matt Biancuzza as an assistant trainer. Assistant trainer Eric Munson is going to be back.

The Angels also have a new strength and conditioning coach, Matt Tenney. Assistant strength coach Adam Auer is back.

Physical therapists Marc Oceguera and Robbie Williams are also new to the staff.

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NOTES

The Angels officially designated some of their new coaches, naming Phil Nevin as the third base coach, Benji Gil as the quality assurance coach and Bill Haselman as the catching coach. Mike Gallego, who had been the bench coach, will move to major league field coordinator. Ray Montgomery, who had worked in the Angels front office, replaces Gallego as the bench coach. Maddon said they wanted to free up Gallego from the bench coach’s administrative duties. The Angels still have not hired a first base coach. …

Ippei Mizuhara, Ohtani’s interpreter, had to officially resign from his position during the lockout, or he would not have been allowed to talk to Ohtani. The Angels rehired Mizuhara after the lockout ended. …

Maddon said he watched Ty Buttrey throw a bullpen session on Saturday and he was impressed. Buttrey was one of the Angels’ most used relievers in 2019-20, but then he abruptly retired before last season. “He looks the same,” Maddon said. “He looked very much the same. That’ll be interesting to watch. This guy could be a real bonus for us. If everything gets back together with him, he can again be a dominant kind of relief pitcher.”

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