Does Arte Moreno push aside Eppler and make a big splash?

[Chuck]

You know, for the likes of JD Martinez, Otani or Stanton?

The attendance this season was pretty pathetic, despite what the Angels will tell you and Arte being a marketing guy and wanting to put butts in the seats, I can see him going after an Otani/Stanton type if he thinks it will help the Angels brand. 

Question is, does he learn from the Hamilton/Pujols signings and let his GM do his work or does he play the role of the GM again and make a big splash for a premier player in addition to Justin Upton and Mike Trout?

[Dtwncbad]

What would he learn from Hamilton and Pujols?

Don't sign old guys to 10 year deals and stay away from drug addicts?

Are you suggesting those lessons apply to players like Stanton and Otani?

Are they 32 or drug addicts?

[JustATroutFan]

Martinez isn't "young" despite not being 32 years old yet. But he is still 30 and he might start to decline starting next year. Some guys decline earlier than others.

[VariousCrap]

What more of a big splash can a team have than the best player in baseball?  Arte doesn't need to make a big splash, he needs to make several good moves to surround Trout with the right kind of talent.

Signing Upton was a great start.  Now they need to address 3B, 2B and maybe 1B.  Add bullpen arms too.

WINNING PUTS BUTTS IN THE SEATS!!!!

[Chuck]

9 minutes ago, VariousCrap said:

What more of a big splash can a team have than the best player in baseball?  Arte doesn't need to make a big splash, he needs to make several good moves to surround Trout with the right kind of talent.

Signing Upton was a great start.  Now they need to address 3B, 2B and maybe 1B.  Add bullpen arms too.

WINNING PUTS BUTTS IN THE SEATS!!!!

Agreed.

[Ohtaniland]

The problem with Arte is that he continues to count the same three million fans at the end of the season. Any additional revenue from new butts in the seats may not offset the cost for a Stanton plus a few more pieces. He’s already making bank.

Additionally Arte’s been down that path before and he probably doesn’t fully trust investing big in players anymore. Did he really turn down Trout on a more lucrative long term deal? 

If Arte has that kind of money and commitment to win then he can afford to send Pujols packing now.

[Stradling]

1 hour ago, Calzone said:

The problem with Arte is that he continues to count the same three million fans at the end of the season. Any additional revenue from new butts in the seats may not offset the cost for a Stanton plus a few more pieces. He’s already making bank.

Additionally Arte’s been down that path before and he probably doesn’t fully trust investing big in players anymore. Did he really turn down Trout on a more lucrative long term deal? 

If Arte has that kind of money and commitment to win then he can afford to send Pujols packing now.

Stop with the incessant Albert crap.  I’m certain Arte understands the additional revenue of actual people in the seats that are sold.  Research shows People spend more money at the stadium than they do to get into the stadium.  

[Blarg]

I can't speak for Moreno or Eppler (unlike one blowhard Canadian) but everything points to the Angels staying the course and building the team with the established long term plan. That would negate an oversized contracts. 

[Ace-Of-Diamonds]

Does Arte Moreno push aside Eppler and make a big splash?

****************************************************************

No way, he lets Eppler do his thing.

[Ohtaniland]

25 minutes ago, Stradling said:

Stop with the incessant Albert crap.  I’m certain Arte understands the additional revenue of actual people in the seats that are sold.  Research shows People spend more money at the stadium than they do to get into the stadium.  

No Strad, you’re in total denial that Albert’s salary absolutely reduces the possibility of acquiring a player like Stanton. You can’t just pretend Pujols’ salary isn’t there. It’s real and it getting worse.

If Albert would’ve delivered a championship or two then things would be completely different. Arte would be more open to doing things like signing additional mega deals to “KEEP WINNING”

Yes I’m very vocal about Albert but I’ve read many post here trying to suggest different ways to conceal him into the lineup. Hit him between this guy and that guy so we can get the squeeze the most production out of him as possible. That’s pretty pathetic IMO. You shouldn’t have to hide a $27M player anywhere. 

[Stradling]

17 minutes ago, Calzone said:

No Strad, you’re in total denial that Albert’s salary absolutely reduces the possibility of acquiring a player like Stanton. You can’t just pretend Pujols’ salary isn’t there. It’s real and it getting worse.

If Albert would’ve delivered a championship or two then things would be completely different. Arte would be more open to doing things like signing additional mega deals to “KEEP WINNING”

Yes I’m very vocal about Albert but I’ve read many post here trying to suggest different ways to conceal him into the lineup. Hit him between this guy and that guy so we can get the squeeze the most production out of him as possible. That’s pretty pathetic IMO. You shouldn’t have to hide a $27M player anywhere. 

How can I be in denial you litter every thread with it.   It’s also silly you think the salary just goes away if he’s released.  Oh and bull crap that it would be different if we won a title, you’d still bring him up in every thread the moment he stops producing.  

[Ohtaniland]

2 minutes ago, Stradling said:

How can I be in denial you litter every thread with it.   It’s also silly you think the salary just goes away if he’s released.  Oh and bull crap that it would be different if we won a title, you’d still bring him up in every thread the moment he stops producing.  

I’m referring to Arte. He would probably be more receptive to a Stanton type acquisition today if he’d already enjoyed the success of a championship with his most recent big splash contracts. 

[Second Base]

Arte definitely learned that lesson already. He went over Dipoto for Pujols (CJ Wilson was Jerry's target). He doubled down on Hamilton. 

But since then his biggest free agent acquisition before Upton was who....Joe Smith? He learned to stay distanced from controlling the future of his team and leaving it to the men he hired.

So if Eppler thinks it's a good idea and fits for the short term and long term plans, then yeah, big splash. But I think for now, Upton was our primary target and we landed him. I don't think Eppler spends top dollar for a .310 OBP, so Mous is out. 

Hosmer will require outspending the evil empires, so that's out of the question.

So ultimately, I think Eppler will weigh the cost-effectiveness of signing someone like Kendrick or Walker or even Yonder Alonso versus spending prospect capital on someone like Dee Gordon, Cesar Hernandez, Jason Kipnis or Yangervis Solarte.

Personally, Eppler's public seal of approval regarding Valbuena tells me he's either going to be our option at 3B or 1B. Because of the plethora of inexpensive 1B options, we'll see the Angels package Cron for a 2B and sign a 1B that will get us through this season and next until Matt Thaiss takes over. 

Carlos Santana's contract would run too long, Dipoto wants Alonso back, and that leaves Logan Morrison. 

[Ace-Of-Diamonds]

34 minutes ago, Stradling said:

It’s also silly you think the salary just goes away if he’s released.

I think the best we can hope for is after Albert gets his 3000 hits and 2000 RBIs next year and his career BA drops to .304, he will retire before his BA drops below .300. I hope he doesn't have any delusions about reaching 700 HRs or he will never retire "early".

Mickey Mantle said his biggest regret was letting his BA drop below .300.

[arch stanton]

I think Albert knows he’ll get the 3000/2000 this year but if he’s holding any delusion it’s that he’s winning a ring with the Angels. That’s what will keep bringing him back 

[ukyah]

personally, i couldn't give less of a shit about albert's career milestones. i'm sure it's because he's an anchor on my team, but still...just retire already. he lost me, early on, when he acted like a bitch when asked about trout. i know trout loves him, but that was weaksauce ego bs.

[Ace-Of-Diamonds]

2 hours ago, Scotty@AW said:

Because of the plethora of inexpensive 1B options, we'll see the Angels package Cron for a 2B and sign a 1B that will get us through this season and next until Matt Thaiss takes over. 

If we trade Cron just watch him get regular playing time for his next team and have a career year and be an Angel killer in the same way Napoli is/was.

[arch stanton]

Fatalistic poppycock 

[Puget Sound Angel]

Push aside Eppler?

Riiiiiiight.

How long have we had Sosh?

[Second Base]

2 hours ago, Ace-Of-Diamonds said:

If we trade Cron just watch him get regular playing time for his next team and have a career year and be an Angel killer in the same way Napoli is/was.

Yeah Cron has perpetually been on the cusp of having a big season only to have his inconsistency rob him of it.

[Blarg]

Or his hand broken.

[Inside Pitch]

9 hours ago, Scotty@AW said:

Because of the plethora of inexpensive 1B options, we'll see the Angels package Cron for a 2B and sign a 1B that will get us through this season and next until Matt Thaiss takes over. 

BC of that plethora of inexpensive 1B options, Cron's trade value is likely at an all time low...   Young controllable players are MLBs currency of choice right now, so unless there is a team looking to move the 2B version of Cron I can't really see why teams would trade a young player for a player they can get for just money on the FA market.

[Inside Pitch]

15 hours ago, Chuckster70 said:

You know, for the likes of JD Martinez, Otani or Stanton?

The attendance this season was pretty pathetic, despite what the Angels will tell you and Arte being a marketing guy and wanting to put butts in the seats, I can see him going after an Otani/Stanton type if he thinks it will help the Angels brand. 

Question is, does he learn from the Hamilton/Pujols signings and let his GM do his work or does he play the role of the GM again and make a big splash for a premier player in addition to Justin Upton and Mike Trout?

My personal belief is that the Angels will not pursue anyone that will cost them a pick.... not because they care about the pick itself but rather because they don't want to lose the pool money that will come with that pick.   Eppler has done a really good job spreading money around in the draft and while it's still got a ways to go it does once again have some depth and tradeable assets.... it's the only reason Justin Upton is an Angel.    

I think any move for a name will likely come via trade but more likely I see him going after value guys..... Nunez, Walker, etc etc..   The lone area he may spend some name brand money on is possibly at the closer spot and that likely depends on if his analytics department is a bigger devotee of the "relievers are volatile" school of sabermetrics .vs the "don't spend money on the pen" school.   Again this is all my opinion.

I don't believe Eppler is prone to rash judgements....  I do believe Arte trusts him.   Arte may be all about filling the stadium (Aw.com fact), but the team is no longer a FA superstar away from being the talk of the town... so, winning is the team's best chance as sustaining 3 mil in attendance in the long run....   More importantly if this board is any indication.... the casual fan will look at any signing as either ''the next big mistake'' or ''oh look he went cheap again"....   People are hard core jaded right now .... winning is the only thing that will change that.... IMO.

if Stonemans voice is being heard, I think he's telling Arte to let Billy do his thing.  It's hard to argue with the job he's done...   Simmons and Upton are likely the two best additions dollar for dollar we have seen since Vladdy and while they did have to pony up another 18 mil to keep Upton neither guy was a splashy FA signing..  So, let him do what he does.

Lastly...... If Arte decides he wants to throw his schlong around and yell hey look at me.... wait a year.... next winter will lend itself to much bigger schlong waving potential....   Give Eppler another draft and the farm another year to show it's value...  I think the team would be much better off.

[floplag]

I cant see him overriding Eppler, hes still too new to undermine him like that.  That having been said if he wants to make that splash he could do so easily by working with him. 

[fan_since79]

12 hours ago, Stradling said:

Stop with the incessant Albert crap.  I’m certain Arte understands the additional revenue of actual people in the seats that are sold.  Research shows People spend more money at the stadium than they do to get into the stadium.  

Albert and his .286 OBP and double plays galore agree. Fans simply can't wait to get to the stadium to see him.