Angels acquire Randal Grichuk and CJ Cron for Jake Madden and Mason Albright (option Cabbage, DFA Padlo, place Ward on 60-day IL)

[Farmbuildingfan]

I was pissed when we traded them years ago, now they are back.

Better get Ohtani to sign since Arte is selling the farm

[totdprods]

3 minutes ago, ScottSted said:

Man, they really are going all in for a 10% playoff chance… obviously both are upgrades over Padlo and Cabbage but the farm is gone. As with the Giolito trade: Bottom line is that we must make the playoffs. 

I'm hoping this winter goes one of two ways...

1) the Angels made the playoffs and re-sign Ohtani. The young core delivered, but we are immediately back in the cycle of needing to support the team without a farm like the last decade. Maybe Perry's quick-to-majors drafting solves that. 
2) the Angels miss the playoffs, Ohtani walks, maybe Arte sells, and the Angels can finally pull the plug and allow a 1-2 year rebuild. Keep Neto, Detmers, O'Hoppe, Moniak, see who you can get for Sandoval, Ward, Rengifo, Thaiss, Canning, Estevez, Drury. Go the full rebuild mode, sign a bunch of cheap rebound FAs to plug the gaps, let the kids churn for a year or two, and hope it all coalesces around 2025/2026.|

That's giving me a little bit of peace in these trades. 

[daygloman]

I'm proud of the organization for making this move!

Go Halos!

[totdprods]

2 minutes ago, HeavenlyHalos said:

Regardless of what happens, it won't be for lack of trying this year. Perry actually did a good job before the season building depth in the lineup. Sadly, injuries to damn near half the 40 man blew up said depth, along with not having much in the minors. It is absolutely critical that they nail the next few drafts or this is going to be quite the slow rebuild if Ohtani leaves.

Wild to think how much talent could be back on this team the second-half of September. 

[Farmbuildingfan]

I assume these two were top 10 prospects per Angel tradition

[Second Base]

At least it wasn't Caden Dana. 

Ok so Cron starts at 1B, Moustakas at 3B, Grichuk in LF.

[case]

Disgusting moves.  Going to destroy the weak farm we already have for a tiny percentage chance of making the playoffs.

[HeavenlyHalos]

C - Thaiss/Wallach
1B - Cron/Drury/Moose (hopefully Drury is back in ~ a week)
2B - Rengifo/Drury
SS - Neto (assuming he returns soon)/Rengifo
3B - Moose/Escobar/Rengifo
LF - Grichuk/Moniak
CF - Moniak/Grichuk
RF - Renfroe/Grichuk

Lots of dude that play multiple positions. Lots of dudes on expiring contracts.

 

[bloodbrother]

Just now, totdprods said:

I'm hoping this winter goes one of two ways...

1) the Angels made the playoffs and re-sign Ohtani. The young core delivered, but we are immediately back in the cycle of needing to support the team without a farm like the last decade. Maybe Perry's quick-to-majors drafting solves that. 
2) the Angels miss the playoffs, Ohtani walks, maybe Arte sells, and the Angels can finally pull the plug and allow a 1-2 year rebuild. Keep Neto, Detmers, O'Hoppe, Moniak, see who you can get for Sandoval, Ward, Rengifo, Thaiss, Canning, Estevez, Drury. Go the full rebuild mode, sign a bunch of cheap rebound FAs to plug the gaps, let the kids churn for a year or two, and hope it all coalesces around 2025/2026.|

That's giving me a little bit of peace in these trades. 

That's likely their scenarios tbh

[AvsBroncosAngels05]

13 minutes ago, Angels 1961 said:

Cron was hurt is he healthy?

Cron played today for the Rockies so he's good right now. 

[Stradling]

4 minutes ago, Farmbuildingfan said:

I assume these two were top 10 prospects per Angel tradition

They weren’t. 

[AvsBroncosAngels05]

Cron and Grichuk going back to where it all started for the Halos. This should help the offense. This offense should be solid when Trout and Drury and O'Hoppe come back.. Only question is will it be too late? 

[Erstad Grit]

Cron last 30 days

 

[Farmbuildingfan]

Just now, Stradling said:

They weren’t. 

Good! Where were they ranked in the system?

[ScottT]

Wtf.

lol

really?

This must please those amongst us that are always clamoring for ex Angels. 

Sucks to lose Ward.  Really sucks.  He was killing it lately. I hope he bounces back.

[mmc]

 

[robblin17]

2 minutes ago, case said:

Disgusting moves.  Going to destroy the weak farm we already have for a tiny percentage chance of making the playoffs.

A weak farm is a weak farm. Outside of maybe Quero, no one we moved projects as anything more than fringe MLB players, especially considering Bush has been absolute dogshit this year. Who knows which direction he goes.

Can this change? Of course, but they are all huge maybes and are replaceable in future drafts. 

[totdprods]

8 minutes ago, bloodbrother said:

That's likely their scenarios tbh

Well, there's still the third - and maybe likeliest scenario. 

The Angels don't make the playoffs, Ohtani walks, and they don't go full rebuild, instead desperately trying to immediately compete again in a stacked division, signing a bunch of bad deals for mid/big names to try and replace Ohtani and appease casual fans with name familiarity, driving payroll way back up, all with no farm to support.

If they fall short and Ohtani walks, they need to give up on this 'all-in to win' mentality that's dominated the Trout window, acknowledge that they need to commit to the farm, and endure a season or two of a team with very little expectation of competing. Trade away controllable talent like Sandoval and Canning and Ward ASAP instead of letting them walk and keep drafting solid, quick-to-bigs guys.

Edited July 31, 2023 by totdprods

[Second Base]

Honestly not sure why anyone is complaining. Madden is a big boy with good velo and arm angle, but he's a future reliever, at least from what I've seen. Albright has polish but lacks upside, seems like a back end or swing starter to me. 

It's not like they gave up anything irreplaceable. Two solid prospects for two solid major leaguers. 

 

[ScottT]

Also...

meh.

These guys arent good.  Neither is gonna keep Velazquez out of the lineup. 

[totdprods]

3 minutes ago, ScottT said:

Also...

meh.

These guys arent good.  Neither is gonna keep Velazquez out of the lineup. 

They're better than Cabbage and Padlo.

Again, more people shitting on Velazquez. He can't hit and he's had a few flubs, but he made at least one play today that saved a run. The glove plays and we have plenty of offense, including some from guys not great at fielding. Velazquez helps with that late in games. Eduardo Escobar's OPS is about the same and he's already down -0.5 WAR. He needs to pick it up.

Edited July 31, 2023 by totdprods

[Blarg]

Coming up are the dog days of the season where every team feels a little tired and front of the pack can settle back a little. This move puts a lot of talent back into the lineup card where it is needed and should bridge that gap while Trout and company return and when they do there is more talent on the bench than what they started the season with. It better work because it was costly.

[ScottT]

3 minutes ago, totdprods said:

They're better than Cabbage and Padlo.

Again, more people shitting on Velazquez. He can't hit and he's had a few flubs, but he made at least one play today that saved a run. The glove plays and we have plenty of offense, including some from guys not great at fielding. Velazquez helps with that late in games. Eduardo Escobar's OPS is about the same and he's already down -0.5 WAR. He needs to pick it up.

Are they?   Padlo, sure.   I could see Cabbage being as good.

[GrittyVeterans]

I understand that we are in deep going for this thing, but this just doesn’t appear to be a sound decision to make when you’re 3-4 games out in August basically.

 

this is the move you make when you’re tied for a playoff spot or have a lead

 

its risky business. Sure hope it works. Might as well push the chips in completely now. Go get the top reliever on the market. 

[GrittyVeterans]

Escobar is completely washed IMO. Not a major league player at this point. I think he’ll be the odd man out in a couple weeks