Freese

[happybat4]

Freese going on the DL has shown how valuable he is. Not because he is great, but because there are just not many average 3rd baseman out there. Looks at his WAR, he is well above average. Not easy to find 3rd basemen right now.

Edited September 2, 2015 by happybat4

[Angel Oracle]

Now, about the .120s hitting Featherston having to take Giovatella's spot? 

[seenoevil]

Freese looks like George Brett compared to the clowns we have

[VariousCrap]

Honestly, I think the Angels need to resign him.  He is solid at what he does.

[DMVol]

Honestly, I think the Angels need to resign him.  He is solid at what he does.

To me, the key is how sold the new GM and organization are on Cowart and Kubitza....I'm not (at least not yet) so signing Freese to a 2 year deal would be fine with me.  3 years, not so much.  If Freese thinks he can get 3 from somebody, not sure I want him bad enough to go that far.  2 years seems about right....

[Homebrewer]

I really think that, had Freese been unable to come back this year, Cowart would have made resigning Freese unnecessary.

Until about mid-season of last year, Freese blew chunks here. I'm not convinced he wont return to that blowing-chunk form long before a new contract ends. 10 hrs, 50-60 RBI, and batting around 240-250 is what he has done here, and he's approaching his mid-30's.

To me, that is not much more than warm-body status.

 Plus he is now, apparently injury prone.

I'd rather have Cowart forced into a full time role, than give Freese another contract.  

[totdprods]

I really think that, had Freese been unable to come back this year, Cowart would have made resigning Freese unnecessary.

Until about mid-season of last year, Freese blew chunks here. I'm not convinced he wont return to that blowing-chunk form long before a new contract ends. 10 hrs, 50-60 RBI, and batting around 240-250 is what he has done here, and he's approaching his mid-30's.

To me, that is not much more than warm-body status.

 Plus he is now, apparently injury prone.

I'd rather have Cowart forced into a full time role, than give Freese another contract.  

 

To be fair, weren't both his injuries the result of HBP? Broken fingers? 

I think the Angels could chance it with Cowart next year if they upgraded other positions, and brought in a capable vet utility player who could step in at 3B if Cowart is blowing it after a couple months.

[laagamer]

Honestly, I think the Angels need to resign him. He is solid at what he does.

There are definitely better 3B to be had but we have more pressing concerns that we need to spend the money on.

Rr-sign him and get another pitcher or a big bat.

Edited September 3, 2015 by laagamer

[Second Base]

Freese is 33, plays average defense with above average power. But his BA and OBP have trended downward to their current point where they're absolutely in the toilet.

Cowart will give us a defensive boost and cost the league minimum. I think he'd likely hit for about the same average as Freese but with a worse OBP. The overall result would be a slight downgrade while saving millions.

Kubitza would be a slight upgrade defensively over Freese and give us more pop with the bat as evidenced by his league leading doubles in AAA. His batting average and OBP could be expected to remain near Freese's.

From my set of shoes, I think Kubitza would be the best overall option at this point and would also cost the least. But he needs an opportunity. So he flopped in his first exposure to major league pitching. So did pretty much every other major leaguer.

We shouldn't use a knee-jerk reaction and pay tens of millions for Freese and thereby block both Kubitza and Cowart.

[Angel Oracle]

Have Kubitza continue to learn LF, along with some 3B still, with an eye towards being a true utility player/pinch-hitter.

 

Freese's salary needs to be freed up, along with IaNADA's.

[DMVol]

....From my set of shoes, I think Kubitza would be the best overall option at this point and would also cost the least. But he needs an opportunity. So he flopped in his first exposure to major league pitching. So did pretty much every other major leaguer....

I'm not sold on a .270 hitter at SLC, even if he did lead the league in doubles....It's a hitters league....heck, Marte hit .313 and Navarro hit .329.....  .270 doesn't give me confidence he can hit in the bigs....to the contrary, with little HR power at a corner INF position, .270 in the PCL isn't very impressive....

[AngelsFanSince86]

Just an interesting note about Cowart:  After his first 5 games in which he had no hits, he has batted .296/.406/.888 including getting hits in each of the last 4 games he started.  Thats only a small sample size of about 10 games, but he was starting to get things going.  I like having Freese back in the lineup, but I think Cowart needs more of a shot as well.  There is just really no way to fit them both in the lineup unless Pujols or Cron are having a rest day.

[Don]

Just an interesting note about Cowart: After his first 5 games in which he had no hits, he has batted .296/.406/.888 including getting hits in each of the last 4 games he started. Thats only a small sample size of about 10 games, but he was starting to get things going. I like having Freese back in the lineup, but I think Cowart needs more of a shot as well. There is just really no way to fit them both in the lineup unless Pujols or Cron are having a rest day.

Perhaps Freese at 2B?

[halomatt]

I believe he's worth the qualifying offer.  It's a high dollar, yes.  However, I'm not sure Coward or Kubitza are ready.  Freese provides an insurance policy.  If he declines, we'd get a draft pick, so there's no real downside.  

[DMVol]

I believe he's worth the qualifying offer.  It's a high dollar, yes.  However, I'm not sure Coward or Kubitza are ready.  Freese provides an insurance policy.  If he declines, we'd get a draft pick, so there's no real downside.  

The qualifying offer will be something more than 14 million....Since Freese made 6 million this year, no way in hell he gets a qualifying offer....he either signs with the Angels before he hits the FA market or he's gone....

Edited September 3, 2015 by DMVol

[Angel Oracle]

And we need to continue to get a little bit younger.   Freese is approaching his mid 30s.

[Tank]

at this point, i'd rather have the luxury of freese over the unknown of cowart. maybe a one year deal with an option, and i'm not sure i'd give him much of a raise. he's making $6m now? don't really see him being worth much more than that. 2 yrs 15 mil take it or leave it. 

[gotbeer]

No on Freese.  We can use the money elsewhere.  And until Moreno says that he will regularly go over the luxury tax.  I'd rather spend the money on a very good OF, of which there is a good FA market this offseason.  

[AngelsFanSince86]

Perhaps Freese at 2B?

 

Well actually Freese could just DH since Pujols says he could play SS so I'm sure 2B will be no problem.  

[ksangel]

Freese is the top and youngest 3B free agent.  He will substantial offers from teams needing a 3B.  Hopefully it's not the Angels!

 

Let Cowart play 3B...great defense and he just needs to play.

[Homebrewer]

Well, the majority here says that Freese should be allowed to walk, because with what he would be making, and what he might contribute, he isn't worth that much more than the youngsters who would be replacing him...

So, I'm going to be the first to congratulate him on his new contract.

Welcome back Dave! 

[AngelsFanSince86]

I just wish we could have seen Cowart play for a bit longer.  He seemed to be hitting his stride and it would have been nice to know what we have with him before making the decision as to whether or not Freese should be resigned.

[Angelfaninidaho]

I just wish we could have seen Cowart play for a bit longer.  He seemed to be hitting his stride and it would have been nice to know what we have with him before making the decision as to whether or not Freese should be resigned.

I thought we wanted to hoard young talent in the minors in the hopes we can turn it into this mythical dynasty some time in the distant future.  He fits that bill perfectly, no? 

[Vegas Halo Fan]

Well actually Freese could just DH since Pujols says he could play SS so I'm sure 2B will be no problem.  

 

Freese at DH, Pujols at short, Aybar moves from SS to 3B and Cron plays first. Problem solved.

[Blarg]

I'd rather see the Angels go with Cowart with Kubitza as the utility guy. This is a way to keep the payrol in check and Cowart's upside is greater than Freese's league average play which had peaked already.