Official MLB Hot Stove Thread (no Angels rumors or news here)

[totdprods]

3 minutes ago, SlappyUtilityMIF said:

You don't buy them into the upper minors! Rule V guys have to stay on the Major League roster the entire season. If not then they must be sent back to their original club or a trade can then be made at which point the former RULE V guy can then be sent down if he has options left otherwise he must go through the WAIVER process.

I know how Rule 5 works...
We don't have any OF prospects in the upper minors. You can 'buy' them into our system by Rule 5'ing them, utilizing them as a 4th OF, and then bumping them to AAA the next year, like the Rangers did with Delino DeShields this season. If we spend all of our money elsewhere, we can go super cheap on 4th OF, snag someone's OF prospect in the Rule 5, keep them as our back-up all season, and then possibly have an in-house replacement next year when Maybin is a FA.

And there are also ways to keep Rule 5 guys still even if you remove them from your 25-man. We drafted two Rule 5 guys last year and both of them are still in our system, one of whom was an effective reliever and the other at least provided major AAA production. 

[SlappyUtilityMIF]

7 minutes ago, totdprods said:

I know how Rule 5 works...
We don't have any OF prospects in the upper minors. You can 'buy' them into our system by Rule 5'ing them, utilizing them as a 4th OF, and then bumping them to AAA the next year, like the Rangers did with Delino DeShields this season. If we spend all of our money elsewhere, we can go super cheap on 4th OF, snag someone's OF prospect in the Rule 5, keep them as our back-up all season, and then possibly have an in-house replacement next year when Maybin is a FA.

And there are also ways to keep Rule 5 guys still even if you remove them from your 25-man. We drafted two Rule 5 guys last year and both of them are still in our system, one of whom was an effective reliever and the other at least provided major AAA production. 

Most of the Rule V guys are lower level AA and older AAA players that haven't produced or have spent a long time in A ball due to injury and not advancing. 

Our last over the last few years. Featherweight was a wasted roster spot who then was dumped at the end of the season instead of putting him in AAA (like your suggestion). Choi was horrid in Anaheim last year a butcher in the OF. I don't really care if we win AAA Championships or playoffs cause as you would remember we did when JeDi was here with his AAAA player schematic. Guerra did great! And was the best pitcher we've gotten in Rule V since Freddie Martinez in 1980.

[totdprods]

Just now, SlappyUtilityMIF said:

Most of the Rule V guys are lower level AA and older AAA players that haven't produced or have spent a long time in A ball due to injury and not advancing. 

Our last over the last few years. Featherweight was a wasted roster spot who then was dumped at the end of the season instead of putting him in AAA (like your suggestion). Choi was horrid in Anaheim last year a butcher in the OF. I don't really care if we win AAA Championships cause as you would remember we did when JeDi was here with his AAAA player schematic. Guerra did great! And was the best pitcher we've gotten in Rule V since Freddie Martinez in 1980.

Featherston filled a role. We didn't have a back-up SS at the time. He did that part and then he was gone. Dipoto rolled the dice. If Featherston had turned into something, we wouldn't be worrying about 2B right now. But we also probably wouldn't have acquired Simmons. Featherston didn't pan out, but he still handled the role that year. Could we have done better? Sure, but it's a back-up SS. Not worth worrying about anymore, and certainly not reason to avoid the Rule 5 draft. 

Odubel Herrera was picked in the Rule 5, and he's gone on to be a 4 WAR player in his first two seasons, averaging .291/.353./.420 with 22 steals and 12 HRs a season, and he was intended to be a 4th OF when the Phils drafted him. DeShields was awesome in '15, but pretty awful in '16. Either way, it was worth the gamble. 

Since the Angels are even higher in the Rule 5 order this season, I expect them to take someone again this December. It's basically a free prospect. 
I'd rather them look to fill 4th OF via Rule 5 than risk Featherston 2.0 at 2B or waste a pen spot all year when we have so many other internal options to audition there already. We ain't got shit in AA/AAA in the OF.

[SlappyUtilityMIF]

5 minutes ago, totdprods said:

Featherston filled a role. We didn't have a back-up SS at the time. He did that part and then he was gone. Dipoto rolled the dice. If Featherston had turned into something, we wouldn't be worrying about 2B right now. But we also probably wouldn't have acquired Simmons. Featherston didn't pan out, but he still handled the role that year. Could we have done better? Sure, but it's a back-up SS. Not worth worrying about anymore, and certainly not reason to avoid the Rule 5 draft. 

Odubel Herrera was picked in the Rule 5, and he's gone on to be a 4 WAR player in his first two seasons, averaging .291/.353./.420 with 22 steals and 12 HRs a season, and he was intended to be a 4th OF when the Phils drafted him. DeShields was awesome in '15, but pretty awful in '16. Either way, it was worth the gamble. 

Since the Angels are even higher in the Rule 5 order this season, I expect them to take someone again this December. It's basically a free prospect. 
I'd rather them look to fill 4th OF via Rule 5 than risk Featherston 2.0 at 2B or waste a pen spot all year when we have so many other internal options to audition there already. We ain't got shit in AA/AAA in the OF.

And there are only a handful including Herrera and DeShields that were good to decent.... Historically here is a link through 2012. http://www.baseballamerica.com/majors/how-to-make-the-rule-5-draft-matter-again/#yi4dsv6s9pSMUvQl.97

[totdprods]

5 minutes ago, SlappyUtilityMIF said:

And there are only a handful including Herrera and DeShields that were good to decent.... Historically here is a link through 2012. http://www.baseballamerica.com/majors/how-to-make-the-rule-5-draft-matter-again/#yi4dsv6s9pSMUvQl.97

So if they suck we give them back. No big deal.

We have too many holes, too thin a farm, and not enough money to not try mining the Rule V for an Odubel Herrera.

The question is, which position of need do you look to fill via the Rule V? 2B, 4th OF, SP, RP, or C?

[SlappyUtilityMIF]

5 hours ago, totdprods said:

So if they suck we give them back. No big deal.

We have too many holes, too thin a farm, and not enough money to not try mining the Rule V for an Odubel Herrera.

The question is, which position of need do you look to fill via the Rule V? 2B, 4th OF, SP, RP, or C?

You don't look at RULE V to fill a need...... What you are looking for is a Lottery Ticket!

[totdprods]

3 minutes ago, SlappyUtilityMIF said:

You don't look at RULE V to fill a need...... What you are looking for is a Lottery Ticket!

So which position do you try to find a winning lotto ticket? 2B, 4th OF, SP, RP, or C? 

We don't have the money to fill all of those with FAs.

[totdprods]

List of minor leaguers electing free agency from Baseball America...
Knowing Eppler, I'm sure they're scouring over names of other MILB free agents as he mentioned that frequently last season. 

Here's who the Angels lost.Los Angeles Angels (22)
RHP: Geoff Broussard (AAA), Jose Feliz (DSL), Nate Fury (AA), D.J. Johnson (AA), Kyle Kendrick (AAA), Yunesky Maya (AAA), Zach Nuding (AA), Jhonny Polanco (Lo A), Josh Roenicke (AAA), Eury Sanchez (Lo A), David Trexler (R)
LHP: Chris Jones (AAA), Jose Molina (AA), Brett Oberholtzer (AAA), Edward Paredes (AA)
C: Webster Rivas (Hi A), Ryan Scott (Lo A)
2B: Angelo Amendolare (Hi A), Sean Coyle (AA)
SS: Anthony Phillips (AA)
OF: Austin Cousino (AAA), Jabari Henry (AA)

[Stradling]

Just now, totdprods said:

List of minor leaguers electing free agency from Baseball America...

Los Angeles Angels (22)
RHP: Geoff Broussard (AAA), Jose Feliz (DSL), Nate Fury (AA), D.J. Johnson (AA), Kyle Kendrick (AAA), Yunesky Maya (AAA), Zach Nuding (AA), Jhonny Polanco (Lo A), Josh Roenicke (AAA), Eury Sanchez (Lo A), David Trexler (R)
LHP: Chris Jones (AAA), Jose Molina (AA), Brett Oberholtzer (AAA), Edward Paredes (AA)
C: Webster Rivas (Hi A), Ryan Scott (Lo A)
2B: Angelo Amendolare (Hi A), Sean Coyle (AA)
SS: Anthony Phillips (AA)
OF: Austin Cousino (AAA), Jabari Henry (AA)

 

 

Uh bye

[totdprods]

15 minutes ago, Stradling said:

Uh bye

Edward Paredes had a nice season in AA. He was old for the league at 29, but left-handed. 2.27 ERA, 1.05 WHIP, 5.2 H/9, 10.9 K/9. Walks were high at 4.3 BB/9. But yeah, the rest are no loss. 

Mostly curious to see who the Angels sign out of the minor league FA's from other orgs. Danny Hultzen fits the mold of the Meyer and Banuelos type pick-ups.

[Dick B Back]

On 11/7/2016 at 2:50 PM, Biergott said:

Dick.

Careful, the Repugs are in power (kinda sorta).

[Angel Oracle]

5 hours ago, totdprods said:

Edward Paredes had a nice season in AA. He was old for the league at 29, but left-handed. 2.27 ERA, 1.05 WHIP, 5.2 H/9, 10.9 K/9. Walks were high at 4.3 BB/9. But yeah, the rest are no loss. 

Mostly curious to see who the Angels sign out of the minor league FA's from other orgs. Danny Hultzen fits the mold of the Meyer and Banuelos type pick-ups.

And Hultzen was a top 5 overall pick a few years back (M's #2 overall pick in 2011 out of UVa).

He has only pitched 45.2 innings across all minor league levels over the past 4 years, and still hasn't made his MLB debut yet.

He turns 27 this month.  What kind of stuff does he still have, and what is his current health status?

[totdprods]

7 minutes ago, Angel Oracle said:

And Hultzen was a top 5 overall pick a few years back (M's #2 overall pick in 2011 out of UVa).

He has only pitched 45.2 innings across all minor league levels over the past 4 years, and still hasn't made his MLB debut yet.

He turns 27 this month.  What kind of stuff does he still have, and what is his current health status?

I'm not aware enough on his status to know those, just noticed how he fit Eppler's mold of a former top prospect who has been oft-injured and is still young enough to find himself. Kinda Meyer-esque. 

Still combing through the names, but relievers Maikel Cleto, Pedro Beato, Edgar Olmos, Roman Mendez are intriguing, as are SP/RP types like Andy Oliver and Brian Matusz. Corban Joseph is a former Yankee 2B prospect who has some very solid minor-league numbers, including low K's and high OBP.

[Angel Oracle]

Matusz was of course a former Halos draftee who never signed.   He was solid in the O's pen from 2012-15.

He would supply much needed lefty power relief pitching, if healthy and able. He only turns 30 in 2017.

[oater]

28 minutes ago, Angel Oracle said:

And Hultzen was a top 5 overall pick a few years back (M's #2 overall pick in 2011 out of UVa).

He has only pitched 45.2 innings across all minor league levels over the past 4 years, and still hasn't made his MLB debut yet.

He turns 27 this month.  What kind of stuff does he still have, and what is his current health status?

Hultzen is a sad case.  He was really good in college, but has suffered through major shoulder issues.  At this stage, the Angels have far better in-house options.

[totdprods]

I'm only seeing those guys as AAA dudes and ST invites.

[Troll Daddy]

Astros will pursue Miggy ... Tigers will listen. You can add Carlos Beltran to the list.

[nando714]

27 minutes ago, Troll Daddy said:

Astros will pursue Miggy ... Tigers will listen. You can add Carlos Beltran to the list.

They have the pieces 

[totdprods]

34 minutes ago, nando714 said:

They have the pieces 

Draining their farm and adding massive salary? Let 'em. Miggy is good but at that age anyone can crater.

[Stradling]

Where did you read or hear about the Astros and Miggy?

[totdprods]

4 minutes ago, Stradling said:

Where did you read or hear about the Astros and Miggy?

One of the big writers was reporting it. Think it's just rumor-mill fodder though.

[Richard]

53 minutes ago, totdprods said:

One of the big writers was reporting it. Think it's just rumor-mill fodder though.

" (insert big name player) to (team in need) makes sense" is one the most common sayings around this time.

[Troll Daddy]

1 hour ago, Stradling said:

Where did you read or hear about the Astros and Miggy?

Same place I heard about a possible McCann trade to the Astros.

Instagram/beat writers

[Troll Daddy]

Jon Morosi of MLB Network reported the Houston Astros will pursue Cabrera, noting that a "payroll increase is coming" with only two players signed after 2017. Morosi also pointed out Cabrera has a full no-trade clause and that Jose Altuve would be a key part of the sales pitch, as the two are friends and from the same hometown.

[Stradling]

1 hour ago, Troll Daddy said:

Jon Morosi of MLB Network reported the Houston Astros will pursue Cabrera, noting that a "payroll increase is coming" with only two players signed after 2017. Morosi also pointed out Cabrera has a full no-trade clause and that Jose Altuve would be a key part of the sales pitch, as the two are friends and from the same hometown.

Awesome, thank you.  As an Angel fan I want to see the Astros make this trade.