OC Register: Source: Stephen Strasburg, Angels had face-to-face meeting

[AngelsWin.com]

Although the Angels have been widely assumed be in the thick of the race to sign Gerrit Cole, they have also had a face-to-face meeting with Stephen Strasburg, according to a source.

Angels general manager Billy Eppler has refused to detail which free agent pitchers they were pursuing, other than saying on Wednesday that they have “talked to a large portion” of the free agents.

News that the Angels have met with Strasburg face-to-face, rather than simply talking to agent Scott Boras about him, would seem to indicate a serious level of interest.

While Cole is considered the top pitcher on the market, Strasburg is a close second. Strasburg, 31, is two years older than Cole, so he won’t command the same type of contract.

Strasburg grew up in the San Diego area and attended San Diego State, although he is not believed to have a preference to sign with a West Coast team.

In fact, the industry perception is that the Washington Nationals are the front-runners to re-sign Strasburg, who helped pitch them to a World Series title this year.

The New York Yankees also reportedly had face-to-face meetings with Strasburg and Cole this week.

In 2019, Strasburg posted a 3.32 ERA in 209 innings, finishing fifth in the National League Cy Young voting. He has a career 3.17 ERA.

The Angels are looking for more starting pitching, even after making a trade to get Dylan Bundy from the Baltimore Orioles on Wednesday. As of now, they have Andrew Heaney, Griffin Canning and Bundy as apparent locks for the rotation, with Shohei Ohtani likely to be added once he completes his rehab from Tommy John surgery later this month.

Jaime Barría, José Suarez, Patrick Sandoval, Dillon Peters and Félix Peña also will compete for opportunities, either in the rotation or as spot starters.

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[totdprods]

I know it’s beyond the pale but nothing would make a bigger statement than Arte somehow nabbing both. Backload the deals as much as they’ll accept. Let Simmons walk, wait for Pujols and Upton come off the books. Keep all the kids to balance payroll out over the next 5 years, and worry about ugly years 6-8 when time comes. 

[jordan]

Imagine Cole, Strasburg, and Ohtani!!  And then you have the best player in baseball on top of that. I do think it’s in the realm of reality that this could happen, but I know it’s not likely. 

[kevinb]

I don’t want Strasburg at any price. I don’t trust he will hold up much longer. 

[ettin]

3 minutes ago, jordan said:

Imagine Cole, Strasburg, and Ohtani!!  And then you have the best player in baseball on top of that. I do think it’s in the realm of reality that this could happen, but I know it’s not likely. 

It would only put us over the Luxury Tax for two years, so I don't think it is totally crazy but it is very difficult to pull off and requires Moreno to do something he has never done before.

[Justin]

I have thought all along that Strasburg would re-sign with Washington. He has said many times that he loves it there. Last offseason, he and his family stayed there for the first time instead of heading back to San Diego. And, of course, he just won a championship with that group. 

He's a Boras client so I was expecting him to opt out and take meetings, but I would be surprised if he signs elsewhere. 

 

[bloodbrother]

14 minutes ago, Kevinb said:

I don’t want Strasburg at any price. I don’t trust he will hold up much longer. 

Agreed. This past year was the first time he pitched over 200 innings since 2014. TJS under his belt and routinely been on the DL with shoulder/elbow issues over the years. Rather let someone else pay for his 30+ age years

[totdprods]

19 minutes ago, ettin said:

It would only put us over the Luxury Tax for two years, so I don't think it is totally crazy but it is very difficult to pull off and requires Moreno to do something he has never done before.

Like sign the top bat and top arm (Colon, Vladimir), or lure Albert away from St. Louis, or offer an absurd overpay for a recovering drug addict, or sign a homegrown star pitcher to a team-friendly deal, or pay the largest contract ever, or buy a stadium from a city?

Arte kinda has a flair for the dramatic. 

[Second Base]

If our rotation started with Cole, Strasburg and Ohtani and was rounded out by Heaney, Bundy and Canning, then the Angels would win the AL West.

[Docwaukee]

good grief.  we're not getting Cole and Strasburg.  

[floplag]

At some point hes going to make sense over Cole... what that point is will be determined by the money.  

[Chuck]

1 hour ago, jordan said:

Imagine Cole, Strasburg, and Ohtani!!  And then you have the best player in baseball on top of that. I do think it’s in the realm of reality that this could happen, but I know it’s not likely. 

I keep thinking that somehow with this cheap ass stadium deal, the tv deal already in place and having Trout locked up already, Pujols, Upton, Cozart coming off the books soon, that Arte just may say F it and sign both Cole and Strasburg just to boast the best rotation in baseball, hands down. That's three legit #1's with Canning/Bundy/Heaney holding down the back end of the rotation, with way less pressure on them and with the help of Mickey Callaway.

[Chuck]

If we lose out on Gerrit Cole that means we'll probably overpay for Strasburg. 

That, or the Angels go for Ryu and Bumgarner. Or sign one of the two and trade for Contreras and Darvish. 

[Docwaukee]

2 minutes ago, Chuckster70 said:

I keep thinking that somehow with this cheap ass stadium deal, the tv deal already in place and having Trout locked up already, Pujols, Upton, Cozart coming off the books soon, that Arte just may say F it and sign both Cole and Strasburg just to boast the best rotation in baseball, hands down. That's three legit #1's with Canning/Bundy/Heaney holding the back end of the rotation, with way less pressure on them and with the help of Mickey Callaway.

Arte has always had limits and will continue to have limits.  

[angelsnationtalk]

Arte does have the flair for the dramatic. If he could go balls out and get BOTH Cole and Strasburg then I’ll go nuts. Although extremely unlikely he will do that. My one major fear is he doesn’t get either and we’re still stuck without a true ace. 
sometimes I feel like he could go for it with Trout in his prime and top prospects getting ready to make their way. 
 

keep in mind the Angels will have $85.67M coming off the books between 2021-2023. All of those are positions that too prospects will fill. DO IT ARTE 

[Blarg]

Strasburg would offer the Angels more future payroll flexibility than Cole while still provide Ace services for at least three seasons. That would allow the Angels the ability to trade for a higher value pitcher in the future or afford keeping players that extend their value that are home grown. Plain and simple, you have to keep the payroll in check enough to keep those players you are grooming to play alongside Trout for the next ten years. 

[floplag]

8 minutes ago, Dochalo said:

Arte has always had limits and will continue to have limits.  

While true, he should not say things like being the Yankees of the west coast under those conditions.
This is his chance to do exactly that, right here, right now.
If he doesnt, we know its always been just talk. 

[Stradling]

When was the last time he said West Coast Yankees?  Could he have been referring to success and not financially?

[Troll Daddy]

Strasburg is nothing more than a backup plan. 

The Yankees have already met this offseason with the top free agent available, Cy Young-caliber right-hander Gerrit Cole. It sounds as if their powwow went well, as the Yankees have a Cole signing atop their list of offseason priorities, Jeff Passan of ESPN reports. While the luxury tax has frequently been an issue for the Yankees since Hal Steinbrenner assumed ownership several years ago, it doesn’t look as if it’ll impede a potential Cole signing. The Yankees “have ownership-level approval to offer him a record-setting deal,” Passan writes.

traderumors.com

[Second Base]

Can you imagine it? 

Update 1: Angels sign Stephen Strasburg. This presumably opens up the Yankees to sign Gerrit Cole.

Update 2: The Angels won't say they're done yet.

Update 3: Angels may sign Gerrit Cole too, insane as that sounds. The Yankees are still viewed as the favorites.

Update 4: Gerrit Cole nearing decision....

Update 5: Reports indicate the Yankees are moving on from Gerrit Cole.

Update 6: Angels sign Gerrit Cole.

[Docwaukee]

If a team isn't prepared to give Cole a record setting deal then they shouldn't bother.  

[Troll Daddy]

I think trading for Dylan Bundy says we’re not signing the top 2 FA pitchers. 

[Stradling]

6 minutes ago, Troll Daddy said:

I think trading for Dylan Bundy says we’re not signing the top 2 FA pitchers. 

while I agree, we are not signing the top 2 FA pitchers, signing Bundy has nothing to do with that.  If anything it helps because he fills a spot and he is cheap.  Not very many free agent starters available will give you that many innings at his salary.  

[ettin]

1 hour ago, totdprods said:

Like sign the top bat and top arm (Colon, Vladimir), or lure Albert away from St. Louis, or offer an absurd overpay for a recovering drug addict, or sign a homegrown star pitcher to a team-friendly deal, or pay the largest contract ever, or buy a stadium from a city?

Arte kinda has a flair for the dramatic. 

He has never significantly gone over the Luxury Tax which is what will have to happen if he signs Cole and Rendon, which was what i was responding to. You know I know the other tots.

EDIT: Meant Strasburg not Rendon but the same applies.

[Second Base]

43 minutes ago, Dochalo said:

Arte has always had limits and will continue to have limits.  

I wouldn't be so sure. I'm not sure any owner wants to win as much as he does. This team has pulled off "amazing" before. GMJ, then they doubled down with Torii Hunter. Pujols and Wilson, The doubling down on Hamilton, Ohtani and Maitan.

You never know.