28-year old switch-hitting Erick Aybar had his best season in 2011 and the Angels are hoping for more out of him in 2012. Aybar played in 143 games for the Angels last year and he was 155 of 556 (.279 avg, .743 OPS) with 71 runs scored, 10 homers, 59 RBIs and 30 stolen bases. He has now played in 629 games in his first six years with the Angels and he is 599 for 2,174 (.276 avg, .699 OPS) with 286 runs scored, 24 homers, 206 RBIs and 78 stolen bases. Aybar had 13 errors in 142 games at SS for the Angels last year and he showed off pretty darn good range. Aybar is a player on the rise for the Angels as he keeps getting better.

31-year old switch-hitting Maicer Izturis is Aybar’s top backup. He played in 16 games at SS for the Angels last year and he had 1 error while showing pretty good range.

PROJECTED GRADE FOR THE SS IN 2012: B

28-year old righty swinging 2B Howie Kendrick is the starter at 2B for the Angels. He played in 140 games for the Angels last year and he was 153 of 537 (.285 avg, .802 OPS) with 86 runs scored, 18 homers, 63 RBIs and 14 stolen bases. Kendrick has now played in 655 games in his first six years in the majors and he is 723 of 2,472 (.292 avg, .763 OPS) with 337 runs scored, 50 homers, 305 RBIs and 61 stolen bases. Kendrick played in 108 games at 2B for the Angels last year and he had only 4 errors but showed pretty awful range there. Kendrick’s bat more than makes up for his defensive range at 2B.

31-year old switch-hitting Maicer Izturis is the Angels’ top utility man on the infield and his best defensive position is 2B. Izturis played in 122 games for the Angels last year and he was 124 of 449 (.276 avg, .722 OPS) with 51 runs scored, 5 homers, 38 RBIs and 9 stolen bases. He has played in 659 games in his first seven years with the Angels and he is 618 of 2,217 (.279 avg, .734 OPS) with 325 runs scored, 31 homers, 277 RBIs and 70 stolen bases. Izturis has now played in 691 games in his first 8 years in the majors and he is 640 of 2,324 (.275 avg, .728 OPS) with 335 runs scored, 32 homers, 281 RBIs and 74 stolen bases. Izturis had 4 errors in 49 games at 2B for the Angels last year while showing out of this world range.

22-year old lefty swinging Alexi Amarista comes into this season as the Angels’ #19 prospect according to Baseball America. He played in 23 games in his first taste of the majors for the Angels last year and he was 8 for 52 (.154 avg, .432 OPS) with 2 runs scored, 0 homers and 5 RBIs. He also played in 86 games in AAA-ball last year for the Angels and he was 106 of 363 (.292 avg, .755 OPS) with 49 runs scored, 4 homers, 50 RBIs and 15 stolen bases. Amarista played in 14 games at 2B for the Angels last year and he made 2 errors while showing out of this world range. He will likely start the 2012 season in AAA-ball.

PROJECTED GRADE FOR THE 2B IN 2012: B

32-year old righty swinging 1B Albert Pujols signed with the Angels over the winter and he is going to give the lineup a huge boost starting in 2012. Pujols played in 147 games for the Cardinals last year and he was 173 for 579 (.299 avg, .906 OPS) with 105 runs scored, 37 homers, 99 RBIs and 9 stolen bases. He has now played in 1,705 games in his first 11 years in the majors and he is 2,073 of 6,312 (.328 avg, 1.037 OPS) with 1,291 runs scored, 445 homers, 1,329 RBIs and 84 stolen bases. Pujols had 11 errors in 146 games at 1B for the Cardinals last year, no he’s not the best defensive 1B around…..he’s about average. That is nitpicking because he’s going to make the whole Angels’ lineup better in 2012 and beyond.

26-year old Mark Trumbo and 29-year old Kendry Morales are able replacements should something happen to Albert Pujols. Trumbo will likely be tried out at 3B in spring training. He had 10 errors in 149 games at 1B last year for the Angels, but he wasn’t too had there. Morales might not be ready when the 2012 season begins.

30-year old righty swinging Jorge Cantu is a longshot to make the Angels this spring. He played in 57 games for the Padres last year and he was 28 for 144 (.194 avg, .517 OPS) with 8 runs scored, 3 homers and 16 RBIs. He has now played in 847 games in his first 8 years in the majors and he is 847 for 3,128 (.271 avg, .755 OPS) with 367 runs scored, 104 homers, 476 RBIs and 11 stolen bases. Cantu had 2 errors in 26 games at 1B for the Padres last year as he’s a below average defensive 1B.

PROJECTED GRADE FOR THE 1B IN 2012: A+

The only real addition to the Angels’ bullpen over the winter was veteran righty Latroy Hawkins, but that doesn’t matter as it was a pretty good bunch in 2011. Here is a look at the Angels’ bullpen as it stands right now:

Closer: Jordan Walden: 24-year old righty Jordan Walden will be the closer once again in 2012 for the Angels. He pitched in 62 games (0 starts) for the Angels last year and he was 5-5 with 32 saves, a 2.98 ERA and a 1.24 WHIP. Walden has now pitched in 78 games (0 starts) in his first two years with the Angels and he is 5-6 with 33 saves, a 2.85 ERA and a 1.26 WHIP. He reminds me of a young Troy Percival.

Set-Up Man: Scott Downs: 35-year old lefty Scott Downs had the best year of his career for the Angels in 2011. He pitched in 60 games (0 starts) for the Angels last year and he was 6-3 with 1 save, a 1.34 ERA and a 1.01 WHIP. Downs has now pitched in 439 games (50 starts) in his first 10 years in the majors and he is 33-31 with 17 saves, a 3.58 ERA and a 1.33 WHIP. I look for him to have another big year for the Angels in 2012.

Righties: Latroy Hawkins: 39-year old Latroy Hawkins pitched in 52 games (0 starts) for the Brewers last year and he was 3-1 with a 2.42 ERA and a 1.24 WHIP. He has now pitched in 823 games (98 starts) in his first 17 years in the majors and he is 63-85 with 87 saves, a 4.48 ERA and a 1.43 WHIP. Hawkins should be a nice improvement over Fernando Rodney, who signed with the Rays.

Rich Thompson: 27-year old Rich Thompson had a breakout season for the Angels in 2011. He pitched in 44 games (0 starts) for the Angels last year and he was 1-3 with a 3.00 ERA and a 1.22 WHIP. Thompson has now pitched in 79 games (0 starts) in his first five years in the majors and he is 3-3 with a 3.98 ERA and a 1.33 WHIP.

Bobby Cassevah: 26-year old Bobby Cassevah also pitched really well for the Angels in 2011. He pitched in 30 games (0 starts) for the Angels last year and he was 1-1 with a 2.72 ERA and a 1.19 WHIP. Cassevah has now pitched in 46 games (0 starts) in his first two years with the Angels and he is 2-3 with a 2.87 ERA and a 1.31 WHIP. Look for Cassevah to win a job in the pen in 2012.

Trevor Bell: 25-year old Trevor Bell focused on relief last year with the Angels and he didn’t pitch that badly in his new role. Bell pitched in 19 games (0 starts) for the Angels last year and he was 1-1 with a 3.41 ERA and a 1.43 WHIP. He has now pitched in 52 games (11 starts) in his first three years with the Angels and he is 4-8 with a 5.21 ERA and a 1.71 WHIP.

Francisco Rodriguez: 28-year old Francisco Rodriguez pitched in 10 games (0 starts) for the Angels last year and he was 0-0 with a 4.61 ERA and a 1.32 WHIP. He has now pitched in 53 games (0 starts) in his first two years with the Angels and he is 1-3 with a 4.43 ERA and a 1.48 WHIP. Rodriguez will need a good spring to make the pitching staff out of spring training.

Kevin Jepsen: 27-year old Kevin Jepsen had surgery on his right knee last year which wiped out a lot of his season. He pitched in 16 games (0 starts) for the Angels last year and he was 1-2 with a 7.62 ERA and a 2.31 WHIP. Jepsen has now pitched in 147 games (0 starts) in his first four years with the Angels and he is 9-11 with 1 save, a 4.73 ERA and a 1.53 WHIP.

Michael Kohn: 25-year old Michael Kohn pitched in 14 games (0 starts) for the Angels last year and he was 0-1 with 1 save, a 7.30 ERA and a 1.87 WHIP. He has now played in 38 games (0 starts) in his first two years with the Angels and he is 2-1 with 2 saves, a 4.01 ERA and a 1.66 WHIP. Kohn has a nice upside if the Angels can get him throwing more strikes.

Lefties: 36-year old Hisanori Takahashi will team with Scott Downs to give the Angels a very impressive pair of lefties in the pen in 2012. He pitched in 61 games (0 starts) for the Angels last year and he was 4-3 with 2 saves, a 3.44 ERA and a 1.22 WHIP. Takahashi has now pitched in 114 games (12 starts) in his first two years with the Angels and he is 14-9 with 10 saves, a 3.55 ERA and a 1.27 WHIP. Look for Takahashi to have another solid year for the Angels in 2012.

PROJECTED GRADE FOR THE BULLPEN IN 2012: B+

The Angels have one of the best rotations in all of baseball from #1 to #4. They will have competition for the #5 job between three capable pitchers. Here is a look at the Angels’ starting rotation as of today:

#1: Jered Weaver: 29-year old righty Jered Weaver finished #2 in the voting for the A.L. Cy Young Award last year as he was awesome. Weaver pitched in 33 games (all starts) for the Angels last year and he was 18-8 with a 2.41 ERA and a 1.01 WHIP. He has now pitched in 177 games (all starts) in his first six years with the Angels and he is 82-47 with a 3.31 ERA and a 1.17 WHIP. Weaver is a workhorse at the top of the rotation and I expect him to be one of the top pitchers in all of baseball once again in 2012.

#2: Dan Haren: 31-year old righty Dan Haren pitched really well in the long shadow of Jered Weaver last year. Haren pitched in 35 games (34 starts) for the Angels last year and he was 16-10 with a 3.17 ERA and a 1.02 WHIP. In his first two years with the Angels, Haren has pitched in 49 games (48 starts) in which he is 21-14 with a 3.09 ERA and a 1.06 WHIP. Haren, like Weaver, is a horse at the top of the rotation. He likes to pitch late into games and give the bullpen a break. Haren has now pitched in 266 games (256 starts) in his first 9 years in the majors and he is 107-84 with a 3.59 ERA and a 1.17 WHIP.

#3: C.J. Wilson: The Angels stole 31-year old lefty C.J. Wilson away from the A.L. West rival Texas Rangers. Wilson pitched in 34 games (all starts) for the Rangers last year and he was 16-7 with a 2.94 ERA and a 1.19 WHIP. He has now pitched in 325 games (73 starts) in his first 7 years in the majors and he is 43-35 with 52 saves, a 3.60 ERA and a 1.29 WHIP. Wilson started his career as a reliever, but he has been outstanding the last two years as a starting pitcher. The Angels hope he keeps up the good work for them, and I think he will.

#4: Ervin Santana: 29-year old righty Ervin Santana will be one of the best #4 starters on the planet in 2012. He pitched in 33 games (all starts) for the Angels last year and he was 11-12 with a 3.38 ERA and a 1.22 WHIP. Santana has now pitched in 206 games (203 starts) in his first 7 years with the Angels and he is 87-67 with a 4.22 ERA and a 1.31 WHIP. Santana is in line for a good year for the Angels in 2012, as he always seems to pitch well in even numbered years for some reason.

#5: Jerome Williams: 30-year old righty Jerome Williams will battle Garrett Richards and lefty Brad Mills for the #5 spot in the starting rotation this spring. Williams pitched in 10 games (6 starts) for the Angels last year and he was 4-0 with a 3.68 ERA and a 1.36 WHIP. He has now pitched in 86 games (77 starts) in his first six years in the majors and he is 27-29 with a 4.20 ERA and a 1.36 WHIP. Williams will have the edge when spring training opens as he pitched good for the Angels last year and he has more experience than the guys challenging him.

Garrett Richards: 23-year old righty Garrett Richards got his first taste of the majors last year and it didn’t go too well. Richards pitched in 7 games (3 starts) for the Angels last year and he was 0-2 with a 5.79 ERA and a 1.64 WHIP. He also pitched in 22 games (21 starts) in AA-ball last year and he was 12-2 with a 3.15 ERA and a 1.14 WHIP. I have a feeling that Richards will start 2012 in AAA, but you never know.

Brad Mills: 26-year old lefty Brad Mills will be a longshot for the job. He came to the Angels over the winter in the deal that sent catcher Jeff Mathis to the Blue Jays. Mills pitched in 5 games (4 starts) for the Blue Jays last year and he was 1-2 with a 9.82 ERA and a 1.91 WHIP. Mills also pitched in 24 games (all starts) in AAA-ball last year and he was 11-9 with a 4.00 ERA and a 1.27 WHIP. Mills has had issues in the majors so far in his career. He has pitched in 14 games (9 starts) in his first three years in the majors and he is 2-3 with a 8.57 ERA and a 1.82 WHIP. Maybe a change of scenery will do him some good.

PROJECTED GRADE FOR THE STARTING ROTATION IN 2012: A+++