The Official Los Angeles Angels 2023-2024 Hot Stove Offseason Thread

[Inside Pitch]

2 minutes ago, jeskola said:

The nothing is so nothing now tho, I am looking forward to some ill-conceived save face overture to make people think they are trying.

To be fair, most of the fan base likely feels that same exact way.

[jeskola]

lets just sign Yamamoto, Snell, Hader, Bellinger and call it a day.

[Stradling]

11 minutes ago, jeskola said:

The nothing is so nothing now tho, I am looking forward to some ill-conceived save face overture to make people think they are trying.

Why?  

[jsnpritchett]

 

[jeskola]

19 minutes ago, Stradling said:

Why?  

because? 

[Chuck]

Interesting that they have Yamamoto who has never pitched in MLB as the top free agent pitcher over Blake Snell who literally just won the NL Cy Young. 

[Angelsfan1984]

1 minute ago, Chuck said:

Interesting that they have Yamamoto who has never pitched in MLB as the top free agent pitcher over Blake Snell who literally just won the NL Cy Young. 

That’s the scary part. No way he’s faced this level of competition before. How can you justify one of the biggest pitching contracts ever without playing in the mlb? 

[BTH]

23 minutes ago, Angelsfan1984 said:

That’s the scary part. No way he’s faced this level of competition before. How can you justify one of the biggest pitching contracts ever without playing in the mlb? 

Because he’s 25 with 80 command and an upper 90s fastball.

[Angelsfan1984]

3 minutes ago, BTH said:

Because he’s 25 with 80 command and an upper 90s fastball.

Who is he pitching against? It’s one thing to throw gas against big leaguers, it’s another to throw it against the JV team. 
 

I understand he did well in the WBC but to hand out a contract that big is a little crazy.

[jeskola]

I guess we are out of the Jeter Downs sweepstakes.

 

New York Yankees claim shortstop Jeter Downs off waivers - ESPN

 

Also thumbs down to Bing AI image creator

 

[tdawg87]

12 minutes ago, Angelsfan1984 said:

Who is he pitching against? It’s one thing to throw gas against big leaguers, it’s another to throw it against the JV team. 
 

I understand he did well in the WBC but to hand out a contract that big is a little crazy.

Same things were said about Ohtani. This dude is basically Ohtani without the hitting.

I think Japan is far more than "the JV team". Things are different over there, but considering how players have come over and had success recently I would give them a little more credit. 

It's like AAAA+ if we're comparing it to MLB. 

Doesn't mean he'll be successful but the odds are pretty good. It's not just about stats; MLB scouts are looking at his pitches and projecting how they would fair against MLB hitters. 

Considering the Dodgers are all in on him is an indication that the general belief is he could be something very special.

[Angels 1961]

Many teams have scouted Yamamoto and they probably know more about him than people on AW. 

[Inside Pitch]

I'm not advocating going after him at all, but it's been surprising to see Matt Chapman get as little attention as he has so far.

[tdawg87]

3 minutes ago, Inside Pitch said:

I'm not advocating going after him at all, but it's been surprising to see Matt Chapman get as little attention as he has so far.

I wouldn't mind. Yes I know he's frustrating as fuck.

[Lazorko Saves]

14 minutes ago, jeskola said:

Also thumbs down to Bing AI image creator

All censorship, all the time, in 2023 America.  You gotta run your own instance of AI to bypass the censors.

This is the best I could get out of SD.  I had forgotten some of the other teams Downs Jeter played for: D TAV and INEW DERS.  But he had his best seasons for DEW YARN.

[Lazorko Saves]

By the way, I am hearing Dew Yarn is the mystery team in on Yamamoto.

[jsnpritchett]

 

 

[tdawg87]

Man Bing AI is blocking everything today. 

[Taylor]

4 minutes ago, jsnpritchett said:

 

 

These are good changes, but they're keeping the extra innings ghost runner. Very sad.

[BTH]

59 minutes ago, Angelsfan1984 said:

Who is he pitching against? It’s one thing to throw gas against big leaguers, it’s another to throw it against the JV team. 

His fastball velocity isn’t gonna change because he’s throwing to major leaguers instead of players in Japan…

[Dgar24]

38 minutes ago, Inside Pitch said:

I'm not advocating going after him at all, but it's been surprising to see Matt Chapman get as little attention as he has so far.

5 or 6 gold gloves at third. Big fan of defense at third , it’s a right handed hitter pull hitter league.

Never really a fan of his but lock down d so hard to come by. Don’t think we have this in minors.

Not that he is on same level offensively but the last 3rd baseman we passed on Beltre still haunts some of us.

[tdawg87]

I know it's not going to happen because Arte is gonna Arte, but I'd be fine if the Angels just keep signing guys on minor league deals.

I mean is Snell going to get us to the playoffs? Bellinger? 

I'd rather have those 4 draft picks in the first 83 picks. 5 in the first 113. Wake Forest has a ton of talent likely to go in the first round so...

[Angelsfan1984]

44 minutes ago, BTH said:

His fastball velocity isn’t gonna change because he’s throwing to major leaguers instead of players in Japan…

Nobody says it would. I’m saying the guys swinging at it are far better. I’m not saying he’s a bad pitcher. I’m saying I don’t believe he should be one of the top paid pitchers in the mlb without playing here. 

[Angelsfan1984]

6 minutes ago, tdawg87 said:

I know it's not going to happen because Arte is gonna Arte, but I'd be fine if the Angels just keep signing guys on minor league deals.

I mean is Snell going to get us to the playoffs? Bellinger? 

I'd rather have those 4 draft picks in the first 83 picks. 5 in the first 113. Wake Forest has a ton of talent likely to go in the first round so...

I agree with that. I want the draft capital too. 

[Erstad Grit]

1 hour ago, Inside Pitch said:

I'm not advocating going after him at all, but it's been surprising to see Matt Chapman get as little attention as he has so far.

If they're willing to move Rendon to 1B I'd love Chapman.

Fantastic glove and hits the ball hard. it would be like signing Hunter right after Steve Finley and GMJ to a whole new level. Rendon was obviously supposed to solidify 3B  and Chapman is probably a tough sell for Arte.