What if Cron kills it in ST?

[Hubs]

We all assume he's getting traded, because Valbuena is a lefty bat and more situated to play both infield corners. But with Kinsler and Cowart both able to play 1st, and Cowart and Cozart both able to play 3rd, is Valbuena necessary? Can Cron beat him for the platoon first base gig? 

[red321]

What happens if Cron kills it in ST?

we’ll be subjected to regular posts outlining how great he’s doing for (insert team here) and why didn’t the angels keep him

Edited December 16, 2017 by red321

[JustATroutFan]

Cron hits better against righties than against lefties in his career, though.

[eligrba]

If Cron kills it in spring training, sell high.  He is a streaky hitter....sell high.

[Angelsjunky]

That's assuming he's an Angel in Spring Training, which is far from a foregone conclusion.

If he kills it in ST it means the Angels plan on platooning him with Albert and Ohtani at 1B/DH.

[arch stanton]

What if he learns to play 3b? That would make him useful

.

[Troll Daddy]

3 minutes ago, arch stanton said:

What if he learns to play 3b? That would make him useful

.

Remember when we wanted Trumbo to play 3B

[Second Base]

If Cron kills it in ST, then his new team will be excited and AW will openly ponder if we should have traded Valbuena instead.

[tomsred]

We can only keep 3 utility players.  Given that either Perez/Graterol are one, a backup outfielder is two,  the third one can only be one of Cron, Valbuena, Cowart.  There is still a pressing need to have a backup to Pujols at first base, a backup to 2B/SS/3B, a reliable hitter, some speed so they could be used as a pinch runner, and that means the 3rd spot has to be a very versatile guy.  Then there is the problem of Valbuena's contract being not easy to move.  It's a bit of a dilemma.

[HaloPower]

What a great problem to have!  He either improves our bench, or he increases his trade value.

[SlappyUtilityMIF]

He does well in SPT and goes on an extended Vacay until July!

 

Just rip the band aid off and deal him!

[MongoMuller]

If Cron kills it in ST Pujols better be getting in contact with David Ortiz' personal trainer aka PED supplier...

Money aside are we better off with Cron or Pujols?

[nando714]

If he kills it in ST

hell go MIA till August/sept and give angel fans false hope YET AGAIN

he plays video games too much 

[greginpsca]

I think Cron has a lot of ability and potential. His biggest weakness seems to be pitch recognition. He is easily tempted to chase breaking balls out of the strike zone. I think this is why he is so inconsistent. When he learns to spit on those breaking ball out of the zone, you will see him .280 and 30 hr's over a full season. He appears to be a hard worker, as his defense at first base has shown. I hope he can improve his hitting similarly.

[floplag]

This board will explode over what a bad trade it was, since he wont be here 

[Ace-Of-Diamonds]

49 minutes ago, tomsred said:

We can only keep 3 utility players.  Given that either Perez/Graterol are one, a backup outfielder is two,  the third one can only be one of Cron, Valbuena, Cowart.  There is still a pressing need to have a backup to Pujols at first base, a backup to 2B/SS/3B, a reliable hitter, some speed so they could be used as a pinch runner, and that means the 3rd spot has to be a very versatile guy.  Then there is the problem of Valbuena's contract being not easy to move.  It's a bit of a dilemma.

Cozart can play SS, if Simmons is down for what ever reason. Cowart can then take his spot a 3B. Cowart can cover the rest of the IF when needed, he has played in the OF a little in AAA as well. He can pinch run and steal a base or two. I would trade Valbuena he has the most salary to dump.

[Angelsjunky]

1 hour ago, arch stanton said:

What if he learns to play 3b? That would make him useful

.

 

1 hour ago, Troll Daddy said:

Remember when we wanted Trumbo to play 3B

Troll Daddy, you're like the kid who explains the joke after everyone already got it.

[Dtwncbad]

Cron is only a 1B and that's the end of the story.  It is what it is.  There is no place for him on the roster. Valbuena can play both 1B and 3B and the team needs somebody to cal up third.

So it doesn't matter if he hits .565 with 15 homers in the spring.  The reality is the only guy he is competing with at this point is Pujols.  And we have the answer on who gets the roster spot on that one.

Cron will be traded.

 

[WeatherWonk]

19 minutes ago, Ace-Of-Diamonds said:

Cozart can play SS, if Simmons is down for what ever reason. Cowart can then take his spot a 3B. Cowart can cover the rest of the IF when needed, he has played in the OF a little in AAA as well. He can pinch run and steal a base or two. I would trade Valbuena he has the most salary to dump.

Yeah, for the cost of their respective contracts, I'd rather keep Cron. But I actually think that Cron will get more interest on the trade wire that Valbuena's 7 mil contract.

Could we convince the Yankees to take him for their 3rd base opening and/or a lefty off the bench. Lefties with some power do well in Yankee Stadium.

[Ochocinco!]

Trade Trade Trade Trade Trade Trade 

[IEAngelsfan]

Did anyone else initially read the thread title as "What if Cron gets killed in ST" and then thought whoa?

Yeah, I'll let myself out.

[Warfarin]

1 hour ago, Ace-Of-Diamonds said:

Cozart can play SS, if Simmons is down for what ever reason. Cowart can then take his spot a 3B. Cowart can cover the rest of the IF when needed, he has played in the OF a little in AAA as well. He can pinch run and steal a base or two. I would trade Valbuena he has the most salary to dump.

I'd hang onto Valbuena for this season, no need to trade him.  He's entering a potential free agency year, I'm betting on him rebounding a bit and putting up a WAR of around 1.5-2.  

I think Cowart opens the year in AAA, and perhaps gets reps all around the diamond (2B/3B/SS/OF), with the hopes of developing him into an uber utility player.  If he can prove himself to be a competent fielder in all of those positions, then he'll definitely have utility for us moving forward.  For now, we have Cozart serving as both our 3B AND our utility infielder.  

[Docwaukee]

9 minutes ago, ANAHEIMBOB said:

I remember when a lot of people wined when the Angels traded Grichuk and Peter . The trade gave the Angels a chance at a deep postseason run.  Cron is not going to get much better.

uh what? 

[Ace-Of-Diamonds]

35 minutes ago, Warfarin said:

I'd hang onto Valbuena for this season, no need to trade him.  He's entering a potential free agency year, I'm betting on him rebounding a bit and putting up a WAR of around 1.5-2.

But he can't hit LHP. last season vs LHP .105/.213/.211/.423 with 1 HR.

[Rico]

I would cut Pujols, let Cron split DH time with Ohtani, and still bring in an upgrade for first base.  I think Cron is already better than Pujols, and should continue to improve over time.