Angels acquisition that you were 'meh' on that turned out pretty good?

[Chuck]

I'll start...

David Eckstein, Dylan Bundy, Max Stassi and......

[Second Base]

1 minute ago, Chuckster70 said:

I'll start...

David Eckstein, Dylan Bundy, Max Stassi and......

Mike Trout. Honestly, when the Angels drafted him, I thought his swing was weird. I liked Grichuk better, until I saw Trout in Cedar Rapids. Then I knew he was headed for stardom.

David Fletcher too. I had no idea he would make a developmental leap like this from AAA to the majors. 

[Erstad Grit]

Juan Rivera, D Oliver, La Stella, and Bundy are the first ones to come to mind

[Justin]

Simba. I was so excited to see Newcomb pitch for the Angels and I loved Aybar in all his bizarre glory. 

I had no idea how many defensive gems we were in for. 

[fanfromday1]

I guess my 'meh' trade would be the 1971 trade that sent Jim Fregosi (my favorite player at the time) to the Mets for Leroy Stanton, Don Rose, Francisco Estrada, and a struggling pitcher named Nolan Ryan.

[T.G.]

Adam Kennedy...

 

[Pancake Bear]

More recently, Tommy La Stella turned out a lot better than I expected. Martin Maldonado. Thought he was a waste of Jett Bandy.

Going back a bit farther it's tougher because I always kinda expected Angels players to do better than they ended up doing.

[Angels_Make_Me_Drink]

Tommy La Stella, Simba, Bundy

[Docwaukee]

1 hour ago, Justin said:

Simba. I was so excited to see Newcomb pitch for the Angels and I loved Aybar in all his bizarre glory. 

I had no idea how many defensive gems we were in for. 

This for sure.  

[ten ocho recon scout]

1 hour ago, Erstad Grit said:

Juan Rivera, D Oliver, La Stella, and Bundy are the first ones to come to mind

Rivera is a good one.

Simmons.... aybar and newcomb seemed like way too much for an all glove SS... turned into my fave

[ten ocho recon scout]

1 hour ago, T.G. said:

Adam Kennedy...

 

Good one

[IEAngelsfan]

I didn't expect much when the Angels traded Bobby Bonds and Thad Bosley for Dave Frost and this player named Brian Downing.  I was wrong.

[ten ocho recon scout]

Maldonado for bandy...

[Lou]

I remember most everyone here losing their minds when we traded for Simmons. 

 

 

Dumbasses 

[happybat4]

Chone Figgins

[m0nkey]

Mike Trout, Jered Weaver, Vlad Guerrero 

[Angel Oracle]

Many of the answers on here were mine too, although I knew that Bundy had a solid post-ASB in 2019 on cutting back a lot on the HRs allowed and not throwing the heat so much.

The Figgins and Fregosi trades were definitely the most in favor of the Halos in franchise history.

Edited January 9, 2021 by Angel Oracle

[wopphil]

I’ll go Torri Hunter. I was happy we got him, but didn’t expect him to be worth his contract. But he actually became a better hitter once he got here, stayed healthy, and was a great clubhouse guy. He earned every penny of his deal. Along with Vlad, he was probably the best free agent signing the Angels have ever had. 

[Lhalo]

2 hours ago, happybat4 said:

Chone Figgins

Same

[Lazorko Saves]

4 hours ago, T.G. said:

Adam Kennedy...

Yep, especially because of who went the other way (Jim Edmonds).  Kent Bottenfield also went this way in the deal, but pfft....

I was fairly bitter about that whole trade until about the bottom of the 7th of Game 5 of the 2002 ALCS.  I was over it after that point.

[Dtwncbad]

5 hours ago, T.G. said:

Adam Kennedy...

 

3 dongs in a playoff game is awesome, yes, but overall an absolute douche. 

[Angelsjunky]

Hunter, Simmons, Bundy come to mind.

[Inside Pitch]

7 hours ago, Chuckster70 said:

I'll start...

David Eckstein, Dylan Bundy, Max Stassi and......

Torii Hunter.  I thought he was fine but was expecting him to decline, instead he improved. 

[Duren, Duren]

Fregosi was a leader and an all star. Ryan was inconsistent and a number 3/4 starter for the Mets. Not as good as Seaver or Koosman at the time. You hate giving up proven quality for potential, but the timing was right and the gamble paid off. Too bad Nolan had to head back to Texas. He was missed. 

[Jay]

That was a great trade for the Angels, Ryan for Fregosi.

A little before my time though so I won't say I was 'meh' on it then.