2018 Hot Stove League

[Second Base]

1 hour ago, totdprods said:

Was going to point out that we haven't seen much of anything happen on FA IF market yet this year, and there are numerous guys who would be of interest, one of which being Lowrie. 

Depending on the context of the rest of the offseason, Lowrie, Moustakas, Dozier, Harrison, Davidson, Forsythe, LeMahieu, Tulo, and Solarte all come with varying degrees of intrigue.

Plenty of relievers still available - Billy's best bullpen yet was ST invites, waiver claims, and a minor-league trade - and there's considerable depth when it comes to vet, one-year SP #4-#5 types, many of whom have had #3-level production in the last year or two.

Harper and Machado are still FAs, and the Angels still have a ~Top 10 farm to deal from. There's a lot of offseason left to improve.

Flat out, Billy Eppler is too good of a GM to let the market get the better of him in such a dramatic fashion.  When this happened to Tony Reagins, it was largely due to ineptitude.  Dipoto's attempt to control the market itself never worked because it led to the Angels spending too much money.  

Regardless of  what Eppler's plans are, this year, he's waiting out the market.  Most of the guys that signed at the Winter Meetings or shortly beforehand, signed for above market deals.  Clearly Billy Eppler isn't playing that game. 

We KNOW a few things.  First, he's going to acquire another catcher, and there's only one major catcher left in free agency, and he costs a draft pick.  So more than likely Eppler will trade for a catcher, but he said he's unwilling to trade any of his top prospects, so chances are, it will be a lower end catcher.  Second, we know the Angels need two starting pitchers, and most of the expected free agent targets are off the board.  However, Eppler already explained that the trade market was proving to be fruitless and he isn't willing to trade top prospects.  So Eppler is likely going to sign two free agent starters.  Those that fit within the aforementioned constructs are likely Trevor Cahill, Gio Gonzalez, Matt Harvey, Wade Miley, Drew Pomeranz, Anibal Sanchez, and Yusei Kikuchi. 

Because of the need of top end pitching, chances are the Angels will be strongly in on Yusei Kikuchi.  But because signing another lefty would leave the rotation too left-handed, the next starter signed would likely be a right-handed starter.  So Harvey, Miley, Anibal Sanchez......

Finally, Eppler said the young guys will get more PT in the offense, so I wouldn't expect a big splash on an infielder, or signing a major OF that would block Adell.

Overall, I'd expect the Angels to make a small trade or two, trading guys that are fringe top 30, and signing a couple pitchers.  

The Angels can be expected to spend probably 25-30 million to fill their needs.  But had they spent the needed money at the WM or before, we probably wouldn't have been able to afford to fill those needs. 

[UndertheHalo]

[UndertheHalo]

 

[Tyler]

Give me Cody Allen, Brad Brach, and Zach Britton and call it an offseason. 

[Angelsfan1984]

Cody Allen and Britton would be excellent adds if the price was right. 

[beatlesrule]

With Happ, Patrick Corbin, Nathan Eovaldi, Charlie Morton and Lance Lynn all off the board, the Halos have begun to see some of their free-agent options dwindle. Dallas Keuchel and Yusei Kikuchi are the top two starters from MLBTR’s Top 50 free agent list remaining, though as can be seen in our Free Agent Tracker, there are plenty of available options beyond that pairing. And, of course, the trade market will offer various options for the Angels, whose rejuvenated farm system should appeal to many clubs with pitching to spare.

[nando714]

If we’re after Grandal with the pick attached we might as well go after others with picks attached. F it 

[nando714]

1 hour ago, Angelsfan1984 said:

Cody Allen and Britton would be excellent adds if the price was right. 

It’s time to pay for bullpen help

eppler sat on his hands last off season and that didn’t turn out well

[Second Base]

Eppler will trade Leo Rivas and Luis Pena for Alex Avila (4 million salary) to play catcher.  Then he'll sign Yusei Kikuchi for 5/60.  Then he'll sign Anibal Sanchez to a 1/8 with a 170 inning vesting option to become 2/20.  Bascially spending 24 million, plus the 3 million on Bour to make it 27 million.  A little less money than he has available to spend (40 million-ish), but opens up the possibility to acquire a piece at the deadline if the Angels are in it, or to save money for a Trout/Simmons/Heaney/Skaggs extension.  The rotation to begin the season will be Kikuchi, Skaggs, Heaney, Sanchez and Barria.  The 2020 rotation will be Ohtani, Kikuchi, Skaggs, Heaney and Canning and the Angels will dominate. 

[Inside Pitch]

1 hour ago, nando714 said:

It’s time to pay for bullpen

Or he can not be stupid...   https://www.fangraphs.com/blogs/offseason-spending-on-relievers-isnt-working-out/

[Stradling]

Brantley on the verge of signing with Houston. 

[Hubs]

5 hours ago, Angel Oracle said:

No thank you to Keuchel, the hits allowed machine

Grandal is fine at $12-14 million/per season, as long as they don't offer more than two guaranteed seasons and a team option 3rd season.

He has a mid 3’s ERA and 200 IP. He didn’t allow a lot of HR, so the vast majority of hits allowed didn’t score. That doesn’t seem like a good pitcher to you? 

211 hits allowed and 58 BB and just 91 runs scored. 

You may think he’s going to be too expensive or he’s too old to give a 4-5 year deal too, but he’s a good pitcher and it would be a big loss for the Astros rotation.

[popo85]

3 minutes ago, Stradling said:

Brantley on the verge of signing with Houston. 

yup

 

 

Quote

 

Ken Rosenthal‏Verified account @Ken_Rosenthal 7m7 minutes ago

More

#Astros closing in on free-agent outfielder Michael Brantley, sources tell The Athletic. Rival executives expect deal to be in two-year, $32M range.

 

 

[UndertheHalo]

Perfect.  The rich get richer.  If Brantley is healthy he’s basically an elite hitter. 

[Chuck]

Where does their prized OF prospect Kyle Tucker play now? Or is he viewed as a CF?

[popo85]

Just now, Chuckster70 said:

Where does their prized OF prospect Kyle Tucker play now? Or is he viewed as a CF?

And when does Eppler make a move

[kevinb]

Great deal. 2 years for a 31 year old. If he’s healthy he’s a solid addition to that line up. Doesn’t look like to much of an overpay. Wonder what the Angels could get for Upton and Kole if they chose to trade two above average to good outfielders. Could help shed payroll and get some nice prospects back. Upton to Philly? 

[m0nkey]

Wonder if they end up using tucker as a trade piece 

[Inside Pitch]

19 minutes ago, Chuckster70 said:

Where does their prized OF prospect Kyle Tucker play now? Or is he viewed as a CF?

They are replacing Marwin Gonzalez and their CFer wasn't anything special....  Dropping Jake Marisnick to 4th OFer opens it up for Tucker... Plus Tucker is still only 22....  This likely hurts Derek Fisher and Tony Kemp more than Tucker.

[totdprods]

They could flip Tucker for Realmuto now too. And interested in Cruz for DH.

Watch them land Realmuto and the Dodgers pivot back to Grandal...

[kevinb]

Astros landing Realmuto would be a great addition to that line up as well. It could be right up there with the Angels with the right pieces. 

[Docwaukee]

1 minute ago, Inside Pitch said:

They are replacing Marwin Gonzalez and their CFer wasn't anything special....  Dropping Jake Marisnick to 4th OFer opens it up for Tucker... Plus Tucker is still only 22....  This likely hurts Derek Fisher and Tony Kemp more than Tucker.

plus, if Tucker can play CF, he can replace Springer but it seems he'll end up on a corner.  They've also got Yordan Alvarez.  

[floplag]

36 minutes ago, Stradling said:

Brantley on the verge of signing with Houston. 

Well, theres part of our answer from earlier i suppose. 

[Docwaukee]

39 minutes ago, Stradling said:

Brantley on the verge of signing with Houston. 

you jinxed it.  

[totdprods]

2 minutes ago, Dochalo said:

plus, if Tucker can play CF, he can replace Springer but it seems he'll end up on a corner.  They've also got Yordan Alvarez.  

Traded for Aledmys Diaz to fill Marwin’s role too.