Kinsler Interview with The Athletic...with interesting snippet about Angels not being done

[KevinStockerIsGod]

Not sure how many are subscribers to the Athletic, but I subscribed to it recently and saw an interesting interview Kinsler gave them over the weekend: https://theathletic.com/211166/2018/01/14/ian-kinsler-q-a-on-the-angels-trade-his-time-in-detroit-and-in-n-out-burger/

I won't copy and paste the article since it's behind a paywall, but here were a few interesting snippets:

- Kinsler confirmed that Upton spoke to the FO about him and definitely recommended coming to play for the Angels if given the opportunity. 

- Kinsler's no trade clause included California and New York teams due to the tax implications.  Nothing against the Angels or the other clubs. 

- Kinsler would only waive his NTC for the Angels b/c of a variety of reasons, including Upton's push, the Ohtani signing, playing with Trout, pitching staff is healthy, and a chance to match up against the Astros.  "The World Series champs are in our division, so you have a constant barometer to see where you're at, and [you're] trying to beat the best. If you wanna be the best, you've got to beat the best. I think playing for the Angels was something really intriguing to me. I want to be a part of the [team]."

- Kinsler was honest about not really caring about the boost the farm system got this year with adding Maitan and others.  "You could talk about prospects all you want, but for a player in the big leagues, it really doesn't matter too much for us. We're trying to win now."

- Kinsler said he more cared about what they were doing to win now.  He said Eppler told him they were trying to get better and dropped an interest snippet at the end.  "Ohtani and Justin were huge parts of the equation, and then through conversations with [GM Billy Eppler], they said they're gonna try to get better after they acquired me. They did. They went out and [got] shortstop Zack Cozart, and I don't know if they're done yet." 

Anyway, interesting interview, Kinsler definitely is honest. Despite how you felt about him on the Rangers, I think he's a great addition to the team. 

[wopphil]

It is truly remarkable the amount of talent that has been added this off-season. If you include Upton in the count, the team added four guys who all have played at all-star levels at some point in the last two years (Upton, Kinsler and Cozart), or have the potential to be superstars (Ohtani).

But it sure would look nice to add another starter to the mix.

[jordan]

Kinsler played with Darvish for a couple of years before heading to Detroit. Perhaps, Kinsler is in his ear like Upton was with Kinsler. Maybe that’s why Darvish hasn’t accepted Yankees offer. Would sure feel nice to spurn the Yanks twice in a season (Ohtani and Darvish).  

[floplag]

Im betting he was told something as part of the discussions, it simply makes too much sense to assume they arent done.  

[Glen]

I like him a lot more after reading that. He wants to play against the best. That gives me a competition boner.

[ettin]

15 minutes ago, Glen said:

I like him a lot more after reading that. He wants to play against the best. That gives me a competition boner.

Let's be real Glen, you've always had Morning (Brandon) Wood.

[bloodbrother]

I don't think his quote really hints at something more to come but rather he legitimately doesn't know

 

 

[nando714]

Put me in the minority but I loved this love (and still love) this move when it went down 

[bloodbrother]

58 minutes ago, floplag said:

Im betting he was told something as part of the discussions, it simply makes too much sense to assume they arent done.  

They probably told him about Cozart, who they were planning on signing for 2B until Detroit came along offering them Kinsler

[floplag]

This quote was after that wasnt it?  the interview was just this last weekend unless i misread something 

[krAbs]

"They went out and [got] shortstop Zack Cozart, and I don't know if they're done yet"

 

It seems unlikely that the above hint is about them possibly acquiring Cozart some time in the future...

Edit- the full quote sounds like they were for sure indicating to him that they would get Cozart, but may have implied that there is more to follow (hence: I don't know if they are done yet).

[Glen]

1 hour ago, nando714 said:

Put me in the minority but I loved this love (and still love) this move when it went down 

I don't think too many people here were against it.

[krAbs]

15 minutes ago, Glen said:

I don't think too many people here were against it.

I think that baseball is an emotional game, and its hard to do a 180 on a player who has a bad history with your team. I think most people would say they liked it if they were being objective about it, but that doesn't mean it won't leave a bad flavor in your mouth.

[jordan]

11 minutes ago, krAbs said:

I think that baseball is an emotional game, and its hard to do a 180 on a player who has a bad history with your team. I think most people would say they liked it if they were being objective about it, but that doesn't mean it won't leave a bad flavor in your mouth.

Agreed.  I've always thought Kinsler was a punk.  But part of that was because he was a heckuva ball player that routinely hurt the Angels with his bat and glove.  But he's on the good side now, so all is a forgiven.

[mrwicked]

5 hours ago, wopphil said:

It is truly remarkable the amount of talent that has been added this off-season. If you include Upton in the count, the team added four guys who all have played at all-star levels at some point in the last two years (Upton, Kinsler and Cozart), or have the potential to be superstars (Ohtani).

But it sure would look nice to add another starter to the mix.

yeah, which will make it even more frustrating when they all end up on the IR.

feels like this org needs to upgrade it's training and medical staff as well.

[Angel Oracle]

This will be indeed an important season, from a health standpoint.   How will the starting pitching fare, after collectively missing a ton of games the past 2+ seasons?

[Hubs]

I can't stand Kinsler. That said, he makes this team better. He is a legit second baseman, something we haven't had for three seasons since trading Kendrick prior to 2015.

Still, this team's position player group will produce a heck of a lot more WAR than the 2017 team's 18.2 TOTAL. By Contrast, the Astros had 39.8 from the offensive side, the Indians had 27.6 and the Yankees had 29.5. This doesn't include pitchers.

 

The Angels 2018 top position players figure to be: (BEST Single Season WAR in Career, from BBREF).

Trout (10.8)

Simmons (7.1)

Upton (6.1)

Kinsler (7.1)

Calhoun (4.1)

Cozart (4.9)

Pujols (9.7 or 4.8 with Angels).

Ohtani (TBD)

Valbuena (2.6)

Maldonado (1.7)

Rivera (3.2)

Cron (2.1)

EY JR. (1.9)

Cowart (0.3)

[Ohtaniland]

1 hour ago, calscuf said:

Kinsler choosing the teams on his NTC based upon the tax implications is the most awesomest thing I've ever heard.

He’s kind of an angelswin celebrity.

http://www.angelswin-forum.com/forums/topic/20476-all-douche-team/

[Erstad Grit]

 In a cozart interview I heard angels actually signed cozart first to play 2b. While getting the physical eppler called cozart and said we have a deal in place for kinsler and asked him if he'd move to third.  Cozart okd the deal and agreed to play 3b. 

[Vegas Halo Fan]

I didn't read anything into it, apart from him really not knowing whether they are done yet. I doubt that the FO contacts every player and tells him about potential deals, or the lack thereof.

[Ohtaniland]

2 hours ago, Vegas Halo Fan said:

I didn't read anything into it, apart from him really not knowing whether they are done yet. I doubt that the FO contacts every player and tells him about potential deals, or the lack thereof.

The Kinsler deal is still a stop gap situation while Cozart gets the biggest monetary offer of his life so it’s not like he was going to walk away from 38M because he has to move from 2B to 3B. The way the market has been who knows if these guys even had better offers to consider. 

[tdawg87]

He should be a lawyer.

[Ace-Of-Diamonds]

On 1/15/2018 at 11:13 AM, krAbs said:

Edit- the full quote sounds like they were for sure indicating to him that they would get Cozart, but may have implied that there is more to follow (hence: I don't know if they are done yet).

they said they're gonna try to get better after they acquired me. They did. They went out and [got] shortstop Zack Cozart, and I don't know if they're done yet." 

Sounds to me that Cozart was the player Eppler was talking about when he said were gonna try to get better after they signed Kinsler. The I don't know if they're done yet sounds like, he doesn't know if their done yet or not. I wouldn't read too much into that. IMO...