Angels GM Billy Eppler says a rebuild is 'not in the DNA here'

[Docwaukee]

ANAHEIM – Although his team is languishing far out of contention, Angels general manager Billy Eppler is saying all the right things.

Or, depending on your perspective, all the wrong things.

Eppler held court with reporters before Tuesday night’s game against the Houston Astros and said he doesn’t see a scenario in which the team would go into an all-out rebuilding phase.

“With the position of this organization and the financial strengths of this organization, it’s not in the DNA here to rebuild,” Eppler said. “We’ll continue to invest. We’ll continue to invest throughout this season, with a mind for this season, with a mind for the future and this winter with a mind towards competing and contending year in and year out.”

http://www.ocregister.com/articles/contention-720869-right-depending.html

[Troll Daddy]

SHOCKER

[Stradling]

I am going to hate this thread.  So allow me to say this, he really can't say anything else.  He really can't talk shit on Mike with this collection of players.  He can't tell his players they are being traded.  He can't tell the fans they are rebuilding.  

[Docwaukee]

 

[kevinb]

Nothing else he can say. If he says he's trading everyone offers aren't going to be as good. I'm surprised he didn't say we are going to win the WS this year. 

[ScottT]

He also can't go against Arte's wishes.

[Docwaukee]

3 minutes ago, Kevinb said:

Nothing else he can say. If he says he's trading everyone offers aren't going to be as good. I'm surprised he didn't say we are going to win the WS this year. 

he's optimistic.  not retarded.  

[bloodbrother]

14 minutes ago, Dochalo said:

 

I'm sure that'll change once we get towards Mid-July....at least it better. No sense holding onto guys like Escobar and Smith past the deadline. Would like them to find a suitor for Street as well if possible

[Docwaukee]

He was brought here to do exactly what he said he's going to do in the article.  

It's the standard marching order for GM's in this org.  It's etched on a decorative plate hanging in his office.  'THOU SHALL NOT REBUILD' 

[Quinlanforthewin]

Christ on a freaking cracker.  I disagree with those of you that say he can't say anything different. Teams rebuild all the freaking time and don't lie about it.  This is the same song and dance from the destitute franchise that's quickly becoming one of the worst in all of professional sports. 

[Docwaukee]

1 minute ago, bloodbrother said:

I'm sure that'll change once we get towards Mid-July....at least it better. No sense holding onto guys like Escobar and Smith past the deadline. Would like them to find a suitor for Street as well if possible

we'll see how serious he is about creating a contending team for 2017 by seeing if he trades Street, Escobar and Santiago.  And for what.  

[Chimi]

If rebuilding isn't in the DNA and spending money in free agency isn't in the DNA and having a good farm system with proper scouting and drafting isn't in the DNA ... then what the F**K is in the DNA?

[Troll Daddy]

Spending money is in their DNA ... jumping the cap isn't 

[Docwaukee]

BTW, a full rebuild would mean trading Simmons and Calhoun.  Anyone else they trade (not named Trout) wouldn't be considered a rebuilding move anyway.   So he can say exactly what he said, move as many players as possible and not be 'rebuilding'.  I would never trade Simmons right now and you've got time to move Calhoun.  

 

Again, the tell tale sign of his thought process will be what he gets in return.  If we get a near major league ready reliever or blocked position player with limited upside as opposed to the best AA or high A prospect he can, then we'll know.  

 

[bloodbrother]

7 minutes ago, Dochalo said:

we'll see how serious he is about creating a contending team for 2017 by seeing if he trades Street, Escobar and Santiago.  And for what.  

Arte's got tickets to sell so we can expect some more band-aids this offseason. All that money coming off the books so Arte can have his GM overpay for bad FA's in one of the weakest classes in years.

This is a team that hasn't made the playoffs in 6 of the past 7 years(including this season). If they aren't rebuilding, then I guess we can conclude they're just being stagnant

[Quinlanforthewin]

“With the position of this organization and the financial strengths of this organization, it’s not in the DNA here to rebuild,” Eppler said. “We’ll continue to invest. We’ll continue to invest throughout this season, with a mind for this season, with a mind for the future and this winter with a mind towards competing and contending year in and year out.”

I truly have no idea what this means. Position of this organization? You mean having the worst farm system in baseball? Financial strengths? You mean having garbage attendance and TV ratings and being so hamstrung by bad contracts that you can't afford any free agents in your first year as GM? Does continue to invest mean continue to dumpster dive and sign other organization's castoffs like we did throughout the 90s? 

[bloodbrother]

1 minute ago, Quinlanforthewin said:

“With the position of this organization and the financial strengths of this organization, it’s not in the DNA here to rebuild,” Eppler said. “We’ll continue to invest. We’ll continue to invest throughout this season, with a mind for this season, with a mind for the future and this winter with a mind towards competing and contending year in and year out.”

I truly have no idea what this means. Position of this organization? You mean having the worst farm system in baseball? Financial strengths? You mean having garbage attendance and TV ratings and being so hamstrung by bad contracts that you can't afford any free agents in your first year as GM? Does continue to invest mean continue to dumpster dive and sign other organization's castoffs like we did throughout the 90s? 

It means get ready for them to sign one or 2 of these guys to help "fix" the rotation this offseason to help them "contend"

Brett Anderson (29)
Bronson Arroyo (40)
Brandon Beachy (30)
Clay Buchholz (32)
Andrew Cashner (30)
Jhoulys Chacin (29)
Jesse Chavez (33)
Josh Collmenter (31) — $2.25MM mutual option with a $150K buyout
Bartolo Colon (43)
John Danks (32)
Jorge De La Rosa (36)
R.A. Dickey (42)
Scott Feldman (34)
Doug Fister (33)
Jaime Garcia (30) — $12MM club option with a $500K buyout
Gio Gonzalez (31) — $12MM club option with a $500K buyout
Jeremy Guthrie (38)
Jason Hammel (34) — $10MM club option with a $2MM buyout
Jeremy Hellickson (30)
Rich Hill (37)
Derek Holland (30) — $11MM club option with a $1MM buyout
Edwin Jackson (33)
Scott Kazmir (33) — can opt out of remaining two years, $32MM on current contract
Mat Latos (29)
Colby Lewis (37)
Cory Luebke (32)
Kris Medlen (31) — $10MM mutual option with a $1MM buyout
Matt Moore (28) — $7MM club option with a $2.5MM buyout
Charlie Morton (33) — $9.5MM mutual option with a $1MM buyout
Jon Niese (30) — $10MM club option with a $500K buyout
Ivan Nova (30)
Jake Peavy (36)
Yusmeiro Petit (32) — $3MM club/vesting option with a $500K buyout (vests with 80 IP)
CC Sabathia (36) — $25MM vesting option with a $5MM buyout
James Shields (35) — Can opt out of remaining two years, $44MM on current contract
Alfredo Simon (36)
Ryan Vogelsong (39)
Edinson Volquez (33) — $10MM mutual option with a $3MM buyout
Jered Weaver (34)
C.J. Wilson (36)
Travis Wood (30)

The UFA are brutal. Most of the intriguing names have club options attached to their name that will most likely be picked up

[Blarg]

21 minutes ago, hangin n wangin said:

Since when does it matter what any of the Angels front office says? 

 

 

[Docwaukee]

5 minutes ago, bloodbrother said:

It means get ready for them to sign one or 2 of these guys to help "fix" the rotation this offseason to help them "contend"

Brett Anderson (29)
Bronson Arroyo (40)
Brandon Beachy (30)
Clay Buchholz (32)
Andrew Cashner (30)
Jhoulys Chacin (29)
Jesse Chavez (33)
Josh Collmenter (31) — $2.25MM mutual option with a $150K buyout
Bartolo Colon (43)
John Danks (32)
Jorge De La Rosa (36)
R.A. Dickey (42)
Scott Feldman (34)
Doug Fister (33)
Jaime Garcia (30) — $12MM club option with a $500K buyout
Gio Gonzalez (31) — $12MM club option with a $500K buyout
Jeremy Guthrie (38)
Jason Hammel (34) — $10MM club option with a $2MM buyout
Jeremy Hellickson (30)
Rich Hill (37)
Derek Holland (30) — $11MM club option with a $1MM buyout
Edwin Jackson (33)
Scott Kazmir (33) — can opt out of remaining two years, $32MM on current contract
Mat Latos (29)
Colby Lewis (37)
Cory Luebke (32)
Kris Medlen (31) — $10MM mutual option with a $1MM buyout
Matt Moore (28) — $7MM club option with a $2.5MM buyout
Charlie Morton (33) — $9.5MM mutual option with a $1MM buyout
Jon Niese (30) — $10MM club option with a $500K buyout
Ivan Nova (30)
Jake Peavy (36)
Yusmeiro Petit (32) — $3MM club/vesting option with a $500K buyout (vests with 80 IP)
CC Sabathia (36) — $25MM vesting option with a $5MM buyout
James Shields (35) — Can opt out of remaining two years, $44MM on current contract
Alfredo Simon (36)
Ryan Vogelsong (39)
Edinson Volquez (33) — $10MM mutual option with a $3MM buyout
Jered Weaver (34)
C.J. Wilson (36)
Travis Wood (30)

The UFA are brutal. Most of the intriguing names have club options attached to their name that will most likely be picked up

I'd be fine with them adding a couple of 1yr deal guys to bring some trade value.  If they give a multi year deal to any one of those guys I just don't know what I'll say.  

[ScottT]

They gave Cliff Pennington a multi year deal. 

CLIFF PENNINGTON!

[bloodbrother]

Think these guys can still play?

[Quinlanforthewin]

According to Fletcher's article guys like Pennington and Nava being out are some of the reasons Scioscia can't be blamed.  I mean how can we blame injuries when the majority of those injured are just as bad as their replacements.  Yes Richards and Heaney were big blows but beyond that I would argue the other injuries are barely better than their replacements. Street and Smith are the Weaver and Lincecum of our bullpen, Pennington, Nava, Gentry? C'mon now. 

[ScottT]

These pitchers are available...

[ScottT]

Scioscia got a crapload of credit when they were winning.  Why can't he be blamed?

I don't credit or blame him for any of it... except for getting Arte to give him a ridiculous contract extension.

[Ohtaniland]

Meanwhile on Arte's yacht Eppler is not taking calls.