Justin Bour has agreed to a deal with the Angels

[Pancake Bear]

3 minutes ago, jessecrall said:

The Angels gave so many at bats last year to sub-replacement-level hitters that these kinds of depth moves (Bour, LaStella) could pay surprising dividends if they're even mediocre in 2019.

Bour is an upgrade over everyone we had at first last season. Which by itself could be worth a couple of wins. 

[VariousCrap]

4 minutes ago, Sean-Regan said:

Cost is low enough to lose him if Thaiss breaks out or Pujols miraculously plays 150 games at first (key word is miraculously). 

 

True, but I honestly think we will see Bour starting against righties, Pujols starting against lefties and Ohtani at DH.  

[YouthofToday]

2 hours ago, jordan said:

 

Ausmus for the win!

[YouthofToday]

7 minutes ago, VariousCrap said:

 

True, but I honestly think we will see Bour starting against righties, Pujols starting against lefties and Ohtani at DH.  

TheAlbertross would be an incredible waste of a roster spot in that case.

Looks like he’s going to be DFA’ed when Ohtani comes back if he doesn’t produce. Hallelujah!!!

[Halokingfish]

I like the move. Cheap deal and he brings decent power and an above average obp to the table

[Angelsjunky]

What is not to like about this, especially at $2.5M? If he sucks, no big loss. If he's decent, he's better than Pujols. Either way Albert has been served notice.

[gurn67]

I hope that means that if Albert doesn't go back to his pre-2017 numbers against lefties, he'll be riding a lot of pine. However, I highly doubt it.

2017-2018 Pujols against LHP

.217 BA

.353 SLG

[wopphil]

1 hour ago, Lou said:

we didn't have a second 1B 

I understand that, but Bour isnt capable of playing any other position. So who backs up third base? 

[wopphil]

As I see it, Cozart is the third baseman and can back up short and second. Fletcher is the second baseman. Do they carry 7 infielders/DHs and only 4 outfielders then? Do they get s fourth outfielder who can back up Cozart at third?

If the team couldn't keep Cron on the roster, I dont see how they have room for Bour.

[kevinb]

Hopefully he reverts back to 2015-2017 guy. I don't know much about him or why he would have struggled so much last year. But I will take it, higher than anticipated upside guy. Hopefully he does well this year for the Halos. Could it be that Pujols days are numbered starting for this team?

[T.G.]

I predict Cozart at 2B and Ward at 3B with Fletcher in a utility role 

[Dtwncbad]

I think this means the Angels will clearly be actively using the DL for Pujols when he isn't 100% in order to manage the roster.

[Pancake Bear]

4 minutes ago, True Grich said:

I predict Cozart at 2B and Ward at 3B with Fletcher in a utility role 

Don’t forget La Stella. 

[Lou]

13 minutes ago, wopphil said:

I understand that, but Bour isnt capable of playing any other position. So who backs up third base? 

Manny Machado 

[AngelStew43]

We were short a lefty power bat with the decline of Calhoun.  For 2.5 mil, this deal doesn't hurt at all.  

Also, if he doesn't hit, we can always bring Calhoun in to play 1B, and call up Adell to play one of the outfield corners.

[Hubs]

Ward, La Stella, Fletcher and Cozart can all play 3rd.

3 of those guys will be up if everyone is healthy. One will start at third and the other two will be the starting 2B and the backup infielder for the day.

2nd is a bit dicier as there will only be 3 guys who can play 2nd and maybe only two up, at any one time, (though it could be three) but if they are both playing and Ward is the bench guy, then he plays 3rd and whomever was playing third switches. 

The problem with carrying Cron last year actually didn’t really materialize as Ohtani was basically the 13 position player and the 13th pitcher so on days he pitched or was resting, he could only pinch hit. So when he pitched and Pujols was the DH, you needed two potential 1B, Marte and Valbuena could both play 1b and 3B.

[bloodbrother]

Just what the Angels needed, more white players

[Lou]

5 minutes ago, bloodbrother said:

Just what the Angels needed, more white players

[yk9001]

3 hours ago, jordan said:

 

I love Ausmus already

[Docwaukee]

1 hour ago, wopphil said:

As I see it, Cozart is the third baseman and can back up short and second. Fletcher is the second baseman. Do they carry 7 infielders/DHs and only 4 outfielders then? Do they get s fourth outfielder who can back up Cozart at third?

If the team couldn't keep Cron on the roster, I dont see how they have room for Bour.

Bour + Rengifo > Cron  

As I've said before, new manager.   

Fletcher is actually a better 3bman than Cozart.  La Stella can also play 3b.  Ward could get a call if all goes wrong.  

Bringing in Bour not only tells me what hey think about Pujols playing even close to a full season but what they think of Thaiss being ready next year if ever.  

[BackUpTheTruck]

This signing has the BackUpTheTruck seal of approval.

1 year, 2.5 million!

[eligrba4ever]

Justin Bour is THE PIECE!!! 

Postseason, here we come!!!

(Signs of mild dementia caused by waiting for Godot.)

[BackUpTheTruck]

8 minutes ago, BackUpTheTruck said:

This signing has the BackUpTheTruck seal of approval.

1 year, 2.5 million!

 

[Docwaukee]

even in a down year, Bour had an ops of .819 vs. RHers with a .356 obp and a .274 BABIP (20 points below his career avg.)

He's and ideal platoon bat that can PH when he doesn't start.  21st highest wRC+ of the 106 qualified LHH vs RHP  platoon split over the last 4 years with 1000 ab or more.  

It's not sexy, but highly functional at 2.5m.  

[eligrba4ever]

4 hours ago, Hubs said:

When Cowart was claimed by the Mariners, we just didn't have a lefty platoon option at 1st. Also Fernandez was cut right? This is his replacement.

We didn't have a lefty "hitting" platoon option BEFORE Kaleb was claimed by Jerry.