Angels-Nats discussing deal for Yunel Escobar.

[wpghalo]

I'm happy!!!! Welcome Escobar

[Guest]

Should I tell everyone else that finds this to be a positive mood not to be happy about it as well? It was a young pitcher with ONE pitch. We got a starting 2nd baseman or 3rd baseman. It means we probably aren't going after Freese. It also means we added some money so to me it makes sense they will be adding more money. As far as being too stingy to spend money, that makes zero sense in this instance. We added money.

I hate trading pitchers and my initial reaction was vitriolic because I hate trading pitchers––and this makes the team older.

 

Relief pitchers are going for a premium these days, and the Angels just traded a cost controlled, young pitcher for a 1 year rental. It's stingy because they could have signed a FA 2B. Now the team will need to find a decent BP arm just to replace Gott. 

[greginpsca]

Just read that Escobar hasn't played 2nd base since 2007

He played ss most of the time. 

[Richard]

Assuming it's for 3rd base

 

Escobar

Calhoun

Trout

Pujols

LF

Cron

Simmons

Perez

Johnny G?

[marcosantinia12]

 

"Writing in the Howard trade got me thinking about a couple of sexy and releastic, yet challenging to manifacture lineups.

But just as a concensus, which of the two would everyone pick?


1. Holt 2B (.349 OBP)
2. Escobar 3B (.375 OBP)
3. Trout CF (.992 OPS)
4. Upton LF (.454 SLG... .491 a year ago)
5. Pujols 1B (40 Hr)
6. Calhoun RF (23db, 26hr)
7. Cron DH (.739 OPS)
8. Perez C (.250 BA)
9. Simmons SS (.321 OBP)

Or
...

I think both of these two lineups are drastically better than last year's. Not necessarily in terms of talent, but because we have role players. Escobar/Holt/Prado are not all star hitters but they might as well be because of the difference their added OBP and contact rates would make in front of Trout and the rest of the middle of the lineup."

-From a post I made on Nov. 25

_________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

Holt and Upton incoming!

Honestly though, I like this trade. I've proposed a trade for Escobar here and there (along with Prado, Walker, etc.). Sucks that we gave up Gott but if we can sign a BP arm like Sipp or Bastardo I'd say its a great deal considering we kept Santiago as a trade piece. 

Edited December 10, 2015 by marcosantinia12

[laagamer]

So as nate said we around 10m until the luxury tax

Is arte going over? Still need a 3b, bp help?, LFer?

 

**** I hope so. It'd be pretty damn depressing if we went into next year with the current stock plus a few filler pieces. 

[Chuck]

"Escobar led NL 3Bs in batting average, OBP, struck out only 70 times. Also had just 7 Es in 134 3B games."

[totdprods]

More than likely, I think Escobar slots in at 3rd right now. Gives them BIG time Freese leverage, 

With Freese's market pretty dry so far, this presses Freese's camp a bit and puts the Angels at an advantage. They can argue they have $7m 3B and that they don't have a need any longer. Escobar arguably will bring the same production as Freese for less money on a two-year deal (second year is an option) but the benefit here is Escobar could also play second or short AND can hit #1-2.

 

Escobar is pretty much a more versatile Freese that can leadoff. Good move. 

[Stradling]

I hate trading pitchers and my initial reaction was vitriolic because I hate trading pitchers––and this makes the team older.

Relief pitchers are going for a premium these days, and the Angels just traded a cost controlled, young pitcher for a 1 year rental. It's stingy because they could have signed a FA 2B. Now the team will need to find a decent BP arm just to replace Gott.

I get what you are saying I really do, but Gott isn't some guy that has an arsenal that made him great. I have this feeling he is going to come back down to earth a bit. Yunel has an option year next year, so it is probably a two year deal. Lastly the going price for a nice pen arm to replace Gott is $5-8 million, the cost for Howie or Freese or Murphy is much more.

[Adam]

David Murphy is a better second baseman that Giavotella 

[Richard]

"Escobar led NL 3Bs in batting average, OBP, struck out only 70 times. Also had just 7 Es in 134 3B games."

 

 

and you got the games best playing to the left of him.

[beatlesrule]

The Nationals are also receiving an additional minor leaguer in the trade, tweets Heyman.

 

 

[Blarg]

Escobar is probably being slotted into the 3rd base role. That would clear payroll space that Freese would have sucked up leaving room to spend on left field. That said it means they didn't long term commit to the position which means Cowart and Kubitza fight for playing time. 

 

In the short time I've been writing this 17 new replies have been added. You guys are pretty excited for any news.

[aznhockeyguy]

Angels have an option for 2017 for 7 million with 1 million buy out per baseball reference.

[HaloCory22]

He'll be at 3rd. No doubt about it. Love this deal.

[Stradling]

Escobar led the league in DP last year so everyone will hate him.

[bloodbrother]

More than likely, I think Escobar slots in at 3rd right now. Gives them BIG time Freese leverage, 

With Freese's market pretty dry so far, this presses Freese's camp a bit and puts the Angels at an advantage. They can argue they have $7m 3B and that they don't have a need any longer. Escobar arguably will bring the same production as Freese for less money on a two-year deal (second year is an option) but the benefit here is Escobar could also play second or short AND can hit #1-2.

 

Escobar is pretty much a more versatile Freese that can leadoff. Good move. 

 

If Escobar is playing 3B, I don't think the Angels will have any interest in Freese

[Inside Pitch]

Was this supposed to be positive?  He was shit last year.

 

And his peripherals were better than Gott.

K/9 - Morin 10.44, Gott - 5.10

BB/9 - Morin 2.29, Gott - 3.10

FIP - Morin 2.85, Gott - 3.74

ERA as a predictive tool is bad.   As a measuring stick for RP it's a joke.   

[Blarg]

Assuming it's for 3rd base

 

Escobar

Calhoun

Trout

Pujols

LF

Cron

Simmons

Perez

Johnny G?

 

That looks like what is going to happen. My choice would be Upton in that scenario.

[Docwaukee]

This is a fair trade.  Escobar isn't going to hit .314 again, but I think both sides know that, and it's why he only cost a young reliever.  If he were a .314/.375 middle infielder consistently, he'd have cost a hell of a lot more.  

 

I like the idea of him becoming a 2bman.  He was a natural SS so I would think that's a better fit and will mean Griffin has something to work with.  If he puts up a .340obp, it would be the 2nd best on the team of the starters by 30 points.  

[totdprods]

Hey hey, we still have all of our starters too. 

[AngelsLakersFan]

I don't really care about losing Gott, I'm just pretty disappointed in our 'solution' at second base. Escobar is better than Giavotella, but I'm not sure he'll put as many wins on the board as Johnny did in 2015.

[Stradling]

I don't really care about losing Gott, I'm just pretty disappointed in our 'solution' at second base. Escobar is better than Giavotella, but I'm not sure he'll put as many wins on the board as Johnny did in 2015.

I highly doubt Johnny puts as many wins on the board in 2016 as he did in 2015.

[AngelsLakersFan]

Freese is gone, IMO. Gio might be as well. I wouldn't be surprised if we roll with Escobar at 2b, Kubitza/Cowart at 3b and hit the FA market for LH and RP.

 

I think this would be a disaster. We need to bring Freese back at this point. I was all for giving the kids a shot if we added a sure bet plus infielder, but we have not done that.

[KevinJ14]