Angels must weigh pitching options

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TEMPE, Ariz. -- The Angels don’t have much organizational pitching depth, players who can be plugged into the rotation or bullpen in case of injury to a front-line major leaguer. And what little depth they do have could be thinned out even more in early April.

Dustin Moseley and Shane Loux, who are competing with prospect Nick Adenhart for the fifth rotation spot, and reliever Jason Bulger are all out of options.

If they don’t make the opening-day roster, the three pitchers would have to clear waivers before being sent to triple-A Salt Lake, leaving them vulnerable to other teams that can claim them.

Although none of the three are expected to be huge difference-makers for the Angels, they do provide insurance in case of injury. And all three are probably good enough to play for teams with weaker pitching staffs, increasing the chances they’d be claimed if they hit the waiver wire.

“We’re going to have to make some decisions as to what the staff will look like,” Manager Mike Scioscia said. “It’s obvious that the pitching depth we’re trying to establish in the organization is going to be hampered a bit because of a lack of flexibility to keep guys on our depth chart in triple-A.”

Some teams will keep a player who is out of options on their major league roster so the team won’t lose him to a waiver claim, but Scioscia said that won’t give Moseley and Loux an advantage over Adenhart, who has options remaining.

“Guys still have to win a position,” Scioscia said. “Nobody is going to win a position because they’re out of options. They’re going to have to earn it.”

-- Mike DiGiovanna

Photo: Angels pitcher Nick Adenhart. Credit: Stephen Dunn / Getty Images