The Angels now expect Richards (knee) to be active sometime in April, the Orange County Register reports.

The Angels now expect Richards (knee) to be active sometime in April, the Orange County Register reports.

Analysis:

In fact, the team isn't yet willing to close the door on Richards being ready to start the season, though that seems optimistic even with his considerable progress from August knee surgery. Regardless, it does sound like Richards will be ready to return closer to the front end of his initial six-to-nine-month recovery timetable. The right-hander is currently throwing five times a week at a distance of 125-to-150 feet and running on 75 percent of his body weight, but he's expected to begin running on 100 percent of his body weight and progress to throwing off a mound in the near future.