DEAL DONE: Los angeles has finally won the battle of signing a star player…

It made sense for the Angels to add depth by signing veteran outfielder Aaron Hicks to a one-year contract on

Monday, especially since the pact is only the league minimum because he is owed nearly $19 million by the Yankees

over the following two seasons.

Hicks, 33, provides them a switch-hitter who can play all three outfield positions and performed well for the Orioles

down the stretch after being released by New York in May. He gets the opportunity to play near Long Beach, Calif.,

where he grew up, and he wants to play for new manager Ron Washington.

But it does make things much more intriguing in the outfield for the Angels, especially Jo Adell. Superstar Mike

Trout, Taylor Ward, and Mickey Moniak are expected to get much of playing time, with Adell serving as the wild

card, especially because he has run out of Minor League options. If Adell does not make the Opening Day roster, he

will be subject to waivers and almost definitely lost to another team via trade or waiver claim.

So, while Monday’s signing was about Hicks and what he can add to the team, the true interest is in what the Angels

plan to do with Adell.

Adell, 24, was a first-round pick in the 2017 MLB Draft and a previous top prospect, but he has hit.214/.259/.366

with 18 home runs and 66 RBIs in 178 games over the last four seasons. He’s had far more success in the minors,

most notably hitting 24 home runs in 74 games with Triple-A Salt Lake last season.

General manager Perry Minasian downplayed the impact of the Hicks signing on Adell, stating that they could fit all

five outfielders on their roster. Minasian observed that injuries can occur during Spring Training, which is why depth

is necessary, and the club signed several veterans to Minor League contracts, including Jake Marisnick and Willie

Calhoun. Nonetheless, it’s difficult to observe the move without thinking about Adell’s future.

“He’s on the 40-man roster and will be coming into camp,” Minasian added. “Jo had a good year in Triple-A last

season. He would have had the opportunity to play a big amount of time last year, but he suffered an unlucky injury.

It occurs, but it’s someone we believe has a lot of potential and can really help us.”

Adell appeared to be on track for more playing time in early July, especially when Trout suffered a hamate fracture

that terminated his season. However, Adell suffered a left oblique strain in only his fourth game after being called up,

was placed on the injured list on July 14, and was out of play until September 19.