Winter Meetings Prediction Polls

[Second Base]

The first question you can choose more than one answer. If you do think they will swing a trade, comment below with you prediction.

[Docwaukee]

I think a minor league FA and a C.  

Thinking Austin Romine.  

I don't think Cole or Stras will sign during the winter meetings.  

not feeling a trade right now.  

[Second Base]

I'm thinking Martin Maldonado, simply because they have a meeting scheduled with him, because that makes it more likely. This has kind of been that off-season where the Angels are getting or bringing everything back. Maddon, Trout, Upton, Simmons, Ohtani. I just think bringing back Maldonado fits the theme, that's all.

As for the pitchers, I dare only dream, but it would make my winter if Wednesday the Angels signed both Strasburg and Cole. Dual press conferences, generates a ton of excitement coming into next year, ticket sales go up, etc...

I also think they may sign a Travis Shaw or Eric Thames type to start playing a lot of 1B and provide depth.

Edited December 8, 2019 by Second Base

[Angelsjunky]

I don't see an option for "no fucking idea."

[Stradling]

I think we are looking at Maldonado and will sign him during the winter meetings.  Why not sign Maldonado if for no other reason he is respected by Cole.  Then if you lose out on Cole you have a solid catcher that didn’t break the bank and if an opportunity to upgrade the position even more presents itself, pull the trigger.  I also could see us picking up one other piece that will be on the major league team, maybe it is Lindholm or someone similar.  One name I haven’t heard a single thing about is Calhoun.  Not a single rumor of a team being interested.  The longer that is the case the better the chances are he will be back here in some capacity on a discounted deal.  

[Docwaukee]

2 minutes ago, Stradling said:

I think we are looking at Maldonado and will sign him during the winter meetings.  Why not sign Maldonado if for no other reason he is respected by Cole.  Then if you lose out on Cole you have a solid catcher that didn’t break the bank and if an opportunity to upgrade the position even more presents itself, pull the trigger.  I also could see us picking up one other piece that will be on the major league team, maybe it is Lindholm or someone similar.  One name I haven’t heard a single thing about is Calhoun.  Not a single rumor of a team being interested.  The longer that is the case the better the chances are he will be back here in some capacity on a discounted deal.  

Calhoun seems like he's gonna be plan b, c or d for someone once the dust starts to settle.  I'm gonna go with the indians.  Would be great to have him back at the right price.  We need a veteran OFer to platoon or back up RF.  

[Stradling]

1 minute ago, Dochalo said:

Calhoun seems like he's gonna be plan b, c or d for someone once the dust starts to settle.  I'm gonna go with the indians.  Would be great to have him back at the right price.  We need a veteran OFer to platoon or back up RF.  

Yea that is a good call on the Indians, I have thought about them as well.  There are going to be some bargains on the offensive side this year.  I haven’t heard anything about Puig either, but he has the ability to put up a solid OPS and I just have a feeling he is going to be had for $10-15 million a year on a short contract.  You have to deal with the headaches, but some team will get production at a good price.  This isn’t to say it should be the Angels, but another team and it will just lengthen the line up.

[AngelsLakersFan]

The team should be looking for someone who can platoon at first base, outfield, DH and preferably bat left handed.

[Stax]

This is the year the Angels should go all in. They should sign Gerrit Cole, Stephen Strasburg, Anthony Rendon and Martin Maldonado. It has been mentioned that coming off the books in the next few years is the contracts of Zack Cozart, Albert Pujols, Andrelton A. Simmons and Justin Upton. This would make the Angels a World Series contender and likely winner of a World Series. Bite the bullet financially the next few years and reap the benefits of being a World Series contender in doing so.

[Second Base]

10 minutes ago, Stax said:

This is the year the Angels should go all in. They should sign Gerrit Cole, Stephen Strasburg, Anthony Rendon and Martin Maldonado. It has been mentioned that coming off the books in the next few years is the contracts of Zack Cozart, Albert Pujols, Andrelton A. Simmons and Justin Upton. This would make the Angels a World Series contender and likely winner of a World Series. Bite the bullet financially the next few years and reap the benefits of being a World Series contender in doing so.

That would add 100 million in payroll and make the Angels the single most expensive team in baseball with no hope of doing back under the luxury tax for at least 3-4 years.

[Taylor]

[Second Base]

Surprised I haven't seen one of these yet.

[Tank]

I think all of the threads on this page have turned into the same topic.

[Pancake Bear]

I said they’d get Cole, Maldonado, and make a small trade during the meetings. I’m probably massively optimistic, but wth. 

[kevinb]

Neither Stras or Cole will sign at winter meetings and no major moves will be made by Eppler and the Angels. Maybe they'll sign a random catcher or make a ding dong trade but I don't think the big guys will sign till after the New Year. 

[Second Base]

Ok just looking at the votes, then general consensus is that the Angels will sign either 2 or 3 players, and two of those will be Gerrit Cole and Martin Maldonado. 

Now I can relay this to Billy so that he can know our expectations by the time he leaves the Winter Meetings.

Don't disappoint us, Billy. This fanbase can turn ugly, real fast. I saw it happen to Stoneman, Reagins and Dipoto. 

[Angelsjunky]

8 hours ago, Stax said:

This is the year the Angels should go all in. They should sign Gerrit Cole, Stephen Strasburg, Anthony Rendon and Martin Maldonado. 

 

[floplag]

I voted what i want for no reason other than not jinxing it all

[angelsnationtalk]

I think a selling point to Cole was the fact they made public that they were meeting with Maldonado. He caught Cole in 2019 and they both had great success. 
My prediction is they sign Cole and Maldonado. My pipe dream is they get Strasburg as well but that would put them in the $205M range of actual payroll (although it's still less AAV money so they can afford it without being taxed). The second option would be to sign Cole, Maldonado and then trade for a solid number 2 pitcher. 

The Angels better have been saving the money they have made from marketing Ohtani to push way past their typical $180M end of season budget. Arte now owns the entire lot the stadium sits in so he knows big money is coming in his pockets.

He has the chance to really make the Angels the Yankees of the West and this is the year to stomp his foot on the ground. 

[Ace-Of-Diamonds]

20 hours ago, Dochalo said:

Calhoun seems like he's gonna be plan b, c or d for someone once the dust starts to settle.  I'm gonna go with the indians.  Would be great to have him back at the right price.  We need a veteran OFer to platoon or back up RF.  

C J Cron?

[Stradling]

1 minute ago, Ace-Of-Diamonds said:

C J Cron?

What about him?

[Angelsjunky]

I predict that Scotty will say some variation of "I told you so" at some point.

[Second Base]

6 minutes ago, Angelsjunky said:

I predict that Scotty will say some variation of "I told you so" at some point.

Not my style.

[HaloNArizona]

Whatever happens...I know this....we will be disappointed and people will be bitching about the pick ups by February.

[Second Base]

Well this sucks.....