Who will be the starting 2B in 2017

[DMVol]

12 minutes ago, Richard said:

Here we go again

 

 

Like I said, similar to Maybin...I'd take him....

[JAHV76]

I have a feeling it will be Pennington with Petit getting some playing time as well. The Angels will wait one more year for Hamiltons contract to finished befor making a big splash. I hope I'm wrong.

[Angel Oracle]

Arte will be partying heartily the day Hackilton's contract is finally over.

I'd say worst ever MLB contract, except for Fielder's and if he keeps it up, Heyward's.

[Second Base]

I'd be interested in reacquiring Kendrick.  I think part of the reason his offense and defense slipped was because the Dodgers moved him all around the field and he played less frequently.  If the Angels reacquired Kendrick, he'd play 2B everyday and bat 5th.  He'd probably settle right back into his normal production too.  .290/.330 30 DB 10 HR 10 SB and average defense.  This team is suddenly a lot better if Howie's our starting 2B.  Better offensively and defensively, and from a clubhouse perspective. 

As far as what it would take, not as much as you'd think. As long as the Angels offered the Dodgers a player that could legitimately help them in the future, like Nate Smith, they might do it. 

[totdprods]

10 minutes ago, Scotty@AW said:

I'd be interested in reacquiring Kendrick.  I think part of the reason his offense and defense slipped was because the Dodgers moved him all around the field and he played less frequently.  If the Angels reacquired Kendrick, he'd play 2B everyday and bat 5th.  He'd probably settle right back into his normal production too.  .290/.330 30 DB 10 HR 10 SB and average defense.  This team is suddenly a lot better if Howie's our starting 2B.  Better offensively and defensively, and from a clubhouse perspective. 

As far as what it would take, not as much as you'd think. As long as the Angels offered the Dodgers a player that could legitimately help them in the future, like Nate Smith, they might do it. 

I'd make that trade. Anything that enables us to cheaply boost secondbase to a .330 OBP or mid .700s OPS with an improvement in defense would be a massive gain. I like Nate, but if Eppler keeps hoarding lotto ticket AAA SPs, Smith's spot on the depth chart is only going to get lower.

[Second Base]

3 minutes ago, totdprods said:

I'd make that trade. Anything that enables us to cheaply boost secondbase to a .330 OBP or mid .700s OPS with an improvement in defense would be a massive gain. I like Nate, but if Eppler keeps hoarding lotto ticket AAA SPs, Smith's spot on the depth chart is only going to get lower.

I wonder if the Dodgers would.  I mean, yeah, they could use some pitching depth, but next year and beyond, I think you can count on Urias and De Leon.  Maybe Hermosillo.  The tough part I have with this, is that I don't think the Dodgers will just give Kendrick away.  He's their insurance in case Turner walks.  But if Turner re-ups, then I could envision a Kendrick trade.

[Troll Daddy]

Eppler please get Howie back  ... a big fan favorite!

[nando714]

Utley? This is why the angels are a dumpster fire. Trotting out 38 year old 2B who can't hit but is a good clubhouse vet. This has sosh witten all over iT

[Stradling]

He was a 2 win player last year, or about 3 wins better than what we have. 

[totdprods]

29 minutes ago, nando714 said:

Utley? This is why the angels are a dumpster fire. Trotting out 38 year old 2B who can't hit but is a good clubhouse vet. This has sosh witten all over iT

Utley 2016: .252/.319/.396/.716
LAA 2B '16: .235/.275/.345/.620
LAA 2B '15: .250/.295/.352/.646

He'd be an improvement.

[Ohtaniland]

Someone really cheap.

signed,

Arte

[Stradling]

7 minutes ago, CALZONE said:

Someone really cheap.

signed,

Claude

 

[Jeff Fletcher]

I've been talking to a lot of people this week about 2B and this what I believe...

Internal options are not options. Forget it. No one who is in the organization now will be the everyday 2B. Including Escobar. Not happening.

They really want a LH or SH. Not a deal breaker but that's the strong preference. 

They really want a guy who can play good defense.

Kendrick seems to not fit at all. He's old and his defense is really shaky now. He's also a RH hitter who didn't hit all that well. 

Other guys Iike Scooter Gennett and Derrick Dietrick, who are definitely acquirable, are really bad defensively. 

Sean Rodriguez worries them because you're buying him at the top of his value ever. And his defense is also not great. And he hits RH.

I think they're gonna pretty hard after Neil Walker and Cesar Hernandez and if they can't do either of those I think Zack Cozart is a much more likely short term than Kendrick. Or even Chase Utley, who is a better fit than Kendrick and is a FA.

[Blarg]

Rather go Walker than Utley.

[ten ocho recon scout]

Interesting. Thanks for the scoop, fletch.

[JAHV76]

3 hours ago, Jeff Fletcher said:

I've been talking to a lot of people this week about 2B and this what I believe...

Internal options are not options. Forget it. No one who is in the organization now will be the everyday 2B. Including Escobar. Not happening.

They really want a LH or SH. Not a deal breaker but that's the strong preference. 

They really want a guy who can play good defense.

Kendrick seems to not fit at all. He's old and his defense is really shaky now. He's also a RH hitter who didn't hit all that well. 

Other guys Iike Scooter Gennett and Derrick Dietrick, who are definitely acquirable, are really bad defensively. 

Sean Rodriguez worries them because you're buying him at the top of his value ever. And his defense is also not great. And he hits RH.

I think they're gonna pretty hard after Neil Walker and Cesar Hernandez and if they can't do either of those I think Zack Cozart is a much more likely short term than Kendrick. Or even Chase Utley, who is a better fit than Kendrick and is a FA.

So now is the time to chase Chase?

[totdprods]

3 hours ago, Jeff Fletcher said:

I think they're gonna pretty hard after Neil Walker and Cesar Hernandez and if they can't do either of those I think Zack Cozart is a much more likely short term than Kendrick. Or even Chase Utley, who is a better fit than Kendrick and is a FA.

Hope you're right on Cesar - you sparked that idea and he's my ideal choice!

[Stradling]

5 hours ago, Blarg said:

Rather go Walker than Utley.

But one can be had for one year at around $7-8 million, the other had a bad back or neck this past season and will cost a second round pick and will get around 4 years and what $40-50 million?

[totdprods]

3 minutes ago, Stradling said:

But one can be had for one year at around $7-8 million, the other had a bad back or neck this past season and will cost a second round pick and will get around 4 years and what $40-50 million?

Yeah I can't see them being that interested in Walker. I think they'd have to be whiffing pretty bad on other needs, particularly pitching, for them to shift gears and focus on a long-term contract for an aging second baseman. 

As high as they seem to be on Fletcher, it makes more sense to nab someone on a one-year deal and see if he can push for the job in '18. Personally I think they're going to find someone via trade who has some club control. 

[Troll Daddy]

Will the FO try to trade Cliff Pennington who is owed $2.25M? ... if they spend money on a free agent. 

[Stradling]

I don't believe so.  Cliff is fine as a utility infielder.  

[Troll Daddy]

5 minutes ago, Stradling said:

I don't believe so.  Cliff is fine as a utility infielder.  

I agree ... Cliff replaces Simmons if necessary and is a solid backup at 2nd base. 

[totdprods]

Yeah Cliff has been good in his role as UT IF/back-up SS, and an improvement over previous two years.

Cliff '16: .209/.265/.308/.573, 59 OPS+ and 0.4 WAR
Featherston '15: .162/.212/.247/.459, 30 OPS+ and -0.2 WAR
McDonald '14: .171/.256/.197/.453, 34 OPS+ and -0.3 WAR

We have so many spots on the 25 that contribute negative WAR, that I give virtually anyone a pass right now if they're in the positive. Worry about improving other areas first. Cliff is the kind of guy that could get dealt in July to a playoff contender needing some depth or UT IF insurance too. Role players like that get dealt in their contract years fairly often.

[AngelStew43]

I would like it very much if we could bring Howie back, especially if we could get the Dodgers to take back a couple mil of what he is owed.

[Angel Oracle]

14 hours ago, Stradling said:

He was a 2 win player last year, or about 3 wins better than what we have. 

True, but being in his late 30s, how sure are we that Utley would produce close to his 2016 numbers?   Not to mention a new league?