25 Man Roster for 2017

[Angelsjunky]

I'm expanding upon Hamilton Noji's thread and looking at the Opening Day roster as a whole. Right now here is what seems the likely roster if no further changes occur.

 

25-Man Roster

C: Maldonado, Perez

1B/DH: Cron, Pujols

MI: Simmons, Espinosa, Pennington

3B: Escobar, Marte

OF: Trout, Calhoun, Maybin, Revere

Rotation: Richards, Shoemaker, Skaggs, Nolasco, Meyer

Bullpen: Bedrosian, Street, Bailey, Chavez, Guerra, Morin, Alvarez

 

Minor League Players We'll Likely see in 2017:

Hitters: LaMarre, Johnson, Cowart, Fontana, etc

Pitchers: Smith, Banuelos, Campos, Ramirez, Pounders, Mahle, Yates, Wright, Middleton, etc

 

So what still remains to be done? I think the hitters are set, as is the rotation. The bullpen might be tweaked, but I wouldn't be surprised to see Eppler being finished. Is that our 25-man Opening Day roster?

[ettin]

I agree except that the team usually carries 8 relievers to start the year because the starters aren't completely stretched out so Marte might not start the season. I would expect to see Blake Parker or Kirby Yates temporarily taking Marte's spot. I also don't think Meyer will start because it will start his service clock too soon, I still believe the Angels will trade or sign for one more veteran starter to lengthen out the rotation. If the Angels don't sign another starter then I think Chavez or Smith would be the preferred choices over Meyer (and yes Smith's clock would also start but he is a lefty and has a lot of 2016 innings under his belt whereas Meyer doesn't). Other than those two I concur.

[Docwaukee]

We really need upgrades to displace Morin, Guerra and Alvarez.  I think one of our depth pieces could fill that role so we need 2 arms.  I would be fine with a solid situational lefty and then one legit mid range guy.  Adding Cahill would allow for Chavez, Skaggs, Meyer, Cahill, and some depth pieces to man the 4th and 5th rotation spots as well as two pen spots.  I do think Chavez starts the season in the rotation.  

[tdawg87]

1 hour ago, ettin said:

I agree except that the team usually carries 8 relievers to start the year because the starters aren't completely stretched out so Marte might not start the season. I would expect to see Blake Parker or Kirby Yates temporarily taking Marte's spot. I also don't think Meyer will start because it will start his service clock too soon, I still believe the Angels will trade or sign for one more veteran starter to lengthen out the rotation. If the Angels don't sign another starter then I think Chavez or Smith would be the preferred choices over Meyer (and yes Smith's clock would also start but he is a lefty and has a lot of 2016 innings under his belt whereas Meyer doesn't). Other than those two I concur.

Are we really worried about starting a 27 year old's clock?

[Second Base]

I agree with Ettin that we'll likely open the season with extra RP and probably a 4-man rotation for at least the first three weeks until a fifth starter is needed. 

*One important note: JC Ramirez doesn't have options. He'll be on the major league roster, especially considering his performance last year.

Once the time comes for a fifth starter, Chavez will get the first crack at the rotation because he's earning the most and is the veteran and that's just kind of the way it goes in Anaheim for some reason. 

The AAA rotation will be set at Meyer, Smith, Banuelos, Pounders and O'Grady. Campos is still rehabbing as his Jake Lamb. Once Campos is ready to roll, I think we'll see O'Grady shift into a swing man role. 

Once the Angels inevitably realize that Jesse Chavez isn't the best option, they'll move him to the bullpen and promote whoever is doing the best in AAA. And that really could be anyone. Meyer clearly has the highest upside and is probably the best pitcher there, but if Smith throws strikes and keeps it low, he can be effective. Banuelos has been there before and is just one healthy stint away from being back in the majors. Pounders too. Campos is filthy but he has to stay healthy.

[ettin]

4 minutes ago, tdawg87 said:

Are we really worried about starting a 27 year old's clock?

Alex Meyer yes I think the Angels would greatly prefer to get the extra year of control if possible. I'm not saying it is a deal breaker because they will want to field the best 25-man team possible but if they have a choice between two fairly equal performances in Spring Training they'll go with the guy whose clock is already started.

[tdawg87]

10 minutes ago, ettin said:

Alex Meyer yes I think the Angels would greatly prefer to get the extra year of control if possible. I'm not saying it is a deal breaker because they will want to field the best 25-man team possible but if they have a choice between two fairly equal performances in Spring Training they'll go with the guy whose clock is already started.

I don't think it will play a factor, but that's me. If he earns the spot he'll get it. If he doesn't it's because the team feels someone else is a better option.

Most likely he'll start the year in AAA regardless. But I think he'll be the main swingman.

[Second Base]

1 hour ago, tdawg87 said:

I don't think it will play a factor, but that's me. If he earns the spot he'll get it. If he doesn't it's because the team feels someone else is a better option.

Most likely he'll start the year in AAA regardless. But I think he'll be the main swingman.

The Angels believe he will develop into an effective starting pitcher, and that he doesn't need more time in AAA as much as he needs exposure to major league caliber hitters. From what I understand, the intent is that Meyer will be in the majors next season, and they're set on him being a starting pitcher. But if that means spending a few months as a swing starter, or piggy-backing with Chavez, I'm guessing they're fine with that.

I think that's the main reason the Angels haven't loaded up on bullpen depth. They want to have the roster flexibility to move Meyer, Chavez and Ramirez around to fit the team's needs.

[Jeff Fletcher]

The Angels need a 5th starter in their 5th game. No off days. 

[JAHV76]

12 minutes ago, Jeff Fletcher said:

The Angels need a 5th starter in their 5th game. No off days. 

Do you think the Angels sign another starter this offseason or do they sign another bullpen pitcher instead?

[greginpsca]

On 12/24/2016 at 9:42 PM, JAHV76 said:

Do you think the Angels sign another starter this offseason or do they sign another bullpen pitcher instead?

I think they sign one of each. Both off the  scrap heap.

[Second Base]

On 12/24/2016 at 9:27 PM, Jeff Fletcher said:

The Angels need a 5th starter in their 5th game. No off days. 

Thanks. An abrupt change from years past.

[arch stanton]

Looking at the schedule, the Angels have only one off day in the month of April. Plenty of innings to go around.

[Erstad Grit]

Nova would have been nice. Hopefully one more established arm for the pen. I know I'm a homer but I like this roster. 

[totdprods]

So if I'm seeing this right, Eppler has checked off everything needed on the shopping list:
a reliever - Bailey
a 'starter' - Chavez
two OFs - Maybin and Revere
a 2B - Espinosa
a vet catcher - Maldonado

for the cost of $11m, Jett Bandy, and basically fringe prospects when you consider the state of our farm. 

Pretty efficient.

And that's not counting Lamb, Banuelos, Campos, Pounders, De Los Santos, Fontana, Sanchez, Yates, and Parker as depth for basically nothing. 

[Second Base]

11 hours ago, totdprods said:

So if I'm seeing this right, Eppler has checked off everything needed on the shopping list:
a reliever - Bailey
a 'starter' - Chavez
two OFs - Maybin and Revere
a 2B - Espinosa
a vet catcher - Maldonado

for the cost of $11m, Jett Bandy, and basically fringe prospects when you consider the state of our farm. 

Pretty efficient.

And that's not counting Lamb, Banuelos, Campos, Pounders, De Los Santos, Fontana, Sanchez, Yates, and Parker as depth for basically nothing. 

Operation clean peanut. Don't spend money, wager on bounce back candidates. If you sign enough of them up, you're bound the get lucky once or twice.

[GrittyVeterans]

The bullpen is going to be a disaster. The starting rotation isn't very good either but I've actually got Alex Meyer pencilled in for 150 innings of sub 4 ERA pitcing next year. I saw some serious potential there. He was throwing mid to upper 90s with a deceptive delivery. If he can command his offspeed at all he should be a lock to be in the rotation

[GrittyVeterans]

17 hours ago, totdprods said:

So if I'm seeing this right, Eppler has checked off everything needed on the shopping list:
a reliever - Bailey
a 'starter' - Chavez
two OFs - Maybin and Revere
a 2B - Espinosa
a vet catcher - Maldonado

for the cost of $11m, Jett Bandy, and basically fringe prospects when you consider the state of our farm. 

Pretty efficient.

And that's not counting Lamb, Banuelos, Campos, Pounders, De Los Santos, Fontana, Sanchez, Yates, and Parker as depth for basically nothing. 

Eppler has done a very good job making the team more competitive while not overpaying fringe players and trading meaningful prospects. I don't think anyone can disagree with that right now. He needs to stay the course and keep rebuilding the minor league system and only spend big money on a players that are going to put the team over the top. IMO the next big FA signing needs to be an ace starting pitcher. 

 

[Stradling]

9 hours ago, Scotty@AW said:

Operation clean peanut. Don't spend money, wager on bounce back candidates. If you sign enough of them up, you're bound the get lucky once or twice.

Especially if they try harder. 

[totdprods]

9 hours ago, Scotty@AW said:

Operation clean peanut. Don't spend money, wager on bounce back candidates. If you sign enough of them up, you're bound the get lucky once or twice.

Most of our MLB additions deserve better than peanut status...

[totdprods]

3 hours ago, GrittyVeterans said:

Eppler has done a very good job making the team more competitive while not overpaying fringe players and trading meaningful prospects. I don't think anyone can disagree with that right now. He needs to stay the course and keep rebuilding the minor league system and only spend big money on a players that are going to put the team over the top. IMO the next big FA signing needs to be an ace starting pitcher. 

Personally, I'm just really impressed with how much he's been able to add during his tenure for so little. Obviously a lot of these acquisitions aren't high impact guys, but the amount of additions he's made compared to subtractions - from both the MLB club and the farm - is extremely disproportionate. And I don't think it's entirely a result of Arte, the budget, or the luxury tax. Stretching into his second offseason now, it seems to be a main tenet of his vision, at least for the first two years.

[Second Base]

2 hours ago, totdprods said:

Most of our MLB additions deserve better than peanut status...

Ok, clean cashew? I mean many are former top prospects.

[totdprods]

5 minutes ago, Scotty@AW said:

Ok, clean cashew? I mean many are former top prospects.

Hahah much better. Just think that our MLB guys have at least enough success in the bigs they should be held a bit higher than the Lamb, Meyer, Sanchez, Banuelos crop. 

Just blows my mind that Yankees are going to pay Aroldis Chapman more to play roughly 60 innings than we will spend all year to cover LF/2B/4th OF. Of course there's a major difference in the talent levels there, just really impressed with what he's brought in for so, so little.

It's almost comical. Real curious to see if this is just a big part of Eppler's philosophy or just a temporary plan until he has more flexibility, or if it's completely a result of Moreno. I imagine it's a little of all three, but it'll be curious to see how he operates in a couple years.

 

[Angelsjunky]

6 hours ago, totdprods said:

It's almost comical. Real curious to see if this is just a big part of Eppler's philosophy or just a temporary plan until he has more flexibility, or if it's completely a result of Moreno. I imagine it's a little of all three, but it'll be curious to see how he operates in a couple years.
 

It is a good question and I agree that it is likely a combination of all three. My guess is that Eppler looked at the org and thought, "Wow, what a bloated mess. Time to slim down while gradually building up a younger and stronger core around Trout."

I don't see how Arte can't be spending shy after the disasters that he, Reagins, and Dipoto wrought, but I'm also thinking that Eppler isn't the type to spend big unless it is really worth it: like a Trout extension.

So maybe what we're seeing is a cousin to Moneyball: Epplerball.

[Ohtaniland]

On December 28, 2016 at 4:36 PM, Angelsjunky said:

It is a good question and I agree that it is likely a combination of all three. My guess is that Eppler looked at the org and thought, "Wow, what a bloated mess. Time to slim down while gradually building up a younger and stronger core around Trout."

I don't see how Arte can't be spending shy after the disasters that he, Reagins, and Dipoto wrought, but I'm also thinking that Eppler isn't the type to spend big unless it is really worth it: like a Trout extension.

So maybe what we're seeing is a cousin to Moneyball: Epplerball.