What if Kole has a MONSTER season

[Troll Daddy]

 

Do the Angels pick up his $14M option?

[Docwaukee]

not a chance.  

[Stradling]

Well he isn’t due a qualifying offer, they have an option on him for next year they could pick up for $14 million.  That probably won’t happen either.  It does make him tradeable.  

[Troll Daddy]

1 minute ago, Stradling said:

Well he isn’t due a qualifying offer, they have an option on him for next year they could pick up for $14 million.  That probably won’t happen either.  It does make him tradeable.  

Didn’t know that ... I suspect they pick up that option if he does have a monster season (4-6 WAR). 

[Second Base]

I don't think there's much of chance Kole is still the RF in 2020, unless he absolutely goes off and hits. 280+ with 30+ HR and an obp north of .350 AND Jo Adell, Brandon Marsh and Michael Hermosillo all struggle or aren't healthy.

[Angelsjunky]

If Kole has a “monster” season and both Adell and Marsh struggle, then sure. But it depends upon what you mean by “monster.” 

Understand that the median qualifying player has about a 2.7 WAR, and the median 600+ PA player is 3.3 WAR, so in reality even Kole at his best is about average for a full-time player. That makes him somewhat valuable but ultimately replaceable, especially when you have two league minimum replacements on the cusp with higher upside. 

The point being, if Kole stays either something seriously went wrong with Adell and Marsh and/or Kole played at a level that is probably not sustainable. 

[beatlesrule]

[Docwaukee]

I think Kole will have a good year.  Good enough for people to like him again.  Good enough to where he'll either be important to the team making the playoffs or where he'll have ok trade value.  

But he won't be back with the Halos next year.  

[Pancake Bear]

If Kole has a good season (3 WAR or better, with at least 100wRC+ or better), one of several things will happen, somewhat depending on other factors (such as Adell readiness, etc.):

1) He’ll get traded (either during or after the season)

2) He or Upton moves to 1B and function as 4th OF

3) His option is declined and he walks

[BackUpTheTruck]

If Kole has a monster season (35 HR .290 BA?), I say pick up the option. No guarantee Adell can produce those numbers yet. However, if it's clear the Angels aren't making the playoffs, then Kole should be traded at the deadline for pitching prospects.

[Dtwncbad]

If Kole has a huge season, count your blessings and be happy and let him walk.

The Angels have depth in the system in the OF.

Spend the money on a different position of greater need or on pitching.

[angelsnationtalk]

If Calhoun has a monster season then he's going get get good prospects back when we trade him at the deadline. That's the only option there is.

[Bronson]

29 minutes ago, angelsnationtalk said:

If Calhoun has a monster season then he's going get get good prospects back when we trade him at the deadline. That's the only option there is.

But what if we are in contention for s playoff spot? Surely you don’t trade him then if he really is having a monster season.

[Blarg]

No, you don't do something stupid like the A's did moving Cespedes and destroying the balance of the offense.

The course of action then is take the team option and trade him off season or after the first month so that his replacement, Marsh or Adell, have another year of club control. 

[hangin n wangin]

I would ship his ass out while he has good value and get some assets in return. Kole is not part of the future of this ball club.

[Blarg]

So would Billy Beane, then miss the playoffs. 

[eaterfan]

I think the more interesting question is what to do if he has an average season.

What if he hits .270/.345/.425 with 19 HRs and above average, but not have changing defense? That's pretty good but is it worth picking up the option on? Would a team trade for that (with the contract) if the team wants to move on?

[Dtwncbad]

23 minutes ago, eaterfan said:

I think the more interesting question is what to do if he has an average season.

What if he hits .270/.345/.425 with 19 HRs and above average, but not have changing defense? That's pretty good but is it worth picking up the option on? Would a team trade for that (with the contract) if the team wants to move on?

Pass.

Nick Markakis signed for 1 year $6m.

Marwin Gonzales signed 2 years $21m.

[Blarg]

Last night Calhoun gunned down Pederson at second base trying to stretch a hit into a double. I'm going to miss that arm out there if his replacement isn't as good. 

[JAHV76]

If the Angels are not making the playoffs by the trade deadline and they can get something of value in return they should trade him. This assumes the monster season happens.

[Torridd]

15 hours ago, Troll Daddy said:

 

Do the Angels pick up his $14M option?

Sorry, but if he has a "monster" season then you have to wonder about peds and I think management will too. And that means he definitely won't be picked up.

[Bronson]

11 minutes ago, Torridd said:

Sorry, but if he a "monster" season then you have to wonder about peds and I think management will too. And that means he definitely won't be picked up.

That’s not true. He’s shown glimpses that he could have a monster year just hasn’t put it together through a whole season.

[Jeremiah]

I doubt they’d pick up his option even then, or if they did, they’d look to trade him. One of the things Arte said at the Trout presser is that they want flexibility. Part of that is utilizing the younger (cheaper) home-grown talent as much as possible. Kole may not be good enough at that price point with the OF depth the Angels have coming up.

[Torridd]

3 minutes ago, Bronson said:

That’s not true. He’s shown glimpses that he could have a monster year just hasn’t put it together through a whole season.

After that horrific season? That would be awfully questionable.

[Bronson]

19 minutes ago, Torridd said:

After that horrific season? That would be awfully questionable.

Seasons past. And he had about a 2 month period where he tore it up last season. It wouldn’t be questionable for him to have one big fluke season in him.