Commentary: What might have been if the Angels had signed Vladimir Guerrero Jr. a decade ago

"This is a brutal October for the Angels, and not just because they are defendants before a jury that must determine whether the team is guilty of negligence or ignorance that contributed to the death of one of its players. On the field, baseball's longest postseason drought extended to 11 years. They just hired their fourth manager in five years and gave him a one-year contract, which makes him a lame duck before he ever manages a game."

"The Dodgers' best hitter, Shohei Ohtani, offered the Angels and other teams the same $700-million, heavily-deferred deal he ultimately signed with the Dodgers. The Angels, who had employed him for the previous six years, passed on that offer. The Blue Jays' best hitter, Vladimir Guerrero Jr., is the son of the only player who wears an Angels cap in the Hall of Fame. As the Jays advanced through the playoffs, his father was helping coach the Angels' prospects in the instructional league."

The Angels face legal scrutiny over a player's death while enduring an 11-year postseason drought and managerial instability, hiring their fourth manager in five years on a one-year deal. Clubhouse facilities lag behind competitors, which hampers recruiting. The organization has repeatedly missed key talent: they passed on Shohei Ohtani's $700-million offer, declined Vladimir Guerrero Jr. during international signings (the 2015 bonus went to Roberto Baldoquin), and bypassed rookie Trey Yesavage. The team's strategy of drafting polished college pitchers and rushing prospects to the majors has failed to develop pitching depth and sustain competitiveness.

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