Angels sign Aaron Hicks (1 year, $740k) - DFA Ingram

[Erstad Grit]

1 hour ago, Inside Pitch said:

The other interesting thing about these sorts of deals is that because the Yankees are technically STILL paying him and baseball doesn't allow players to double-dip, the most any team would want to offer him is the minimum, this will be true again next season.  Offering him more would only result in the Yankees paying him less.

Also, I guess this means maybe he wanted to play for the Angels.

My guess is playing time might have been a factor.  I could see him prefer being a platoon with Moniak rather than a 4th outfielder. 

[BTH]

Unless the Angels add two more MLB position players, they have room to carry 5 outfielders on the active roster.

So, at the moment, I don’t think this move means a trade is incoming.

Moniak/Hicks platoon and Adell is stashed on the bench until someone inevitably gets hurt.

[Second Base]

1 hour ago, Blarg said:

Gentlemen, this team is not being assembled to win a division. It is to develop the core of younger players. There is no Moreno big splash in any of the off season moves, this is Minasian playing the long game with a short contract. 

Exactly. When they sign someone of actual value, like Moore or Stephenson, it's a two-fold move made with the distinct probability that they'll be dealt at the trade deadline in return for a prospect package AND that they'll help the team while they're here. 

And that's what Hicks is, on a smaller scale. He's filler, meant to kick the can down the road until the Angels youngsters mature and they can contend. Literally, the best possible outcome for the Angels and Hicks is that he's solid in his time here and when the deadline comes, they flip him for a fireballing reliever prospect or a prospect in need of a change of scenery. Similar to when the Angels flipped Syndergaard and got Moniak. 

[Erstad Grit]

10 minutes ago, Second Base said:

Exactly. When they sign someone of actual value, like Moore or Stephenson, it's a two-fold move made with the distinct probability that they'll be dealt at the trade deadline in return for a prospect package AND that they'll help the team while they're here. 

And that's what Hicks is, on a smaller scale. He's filler, meant to kick the can down the road until the Angels youngsters mature and they can contend. Literally, the best possible outcome for the Angels and Hicks is that he's solid in his time here and when the deadline comes, they flip him for a fireballing reliever prospect or a prospect in need of a change of scenery. Similar to when the Angels flipped Syndergaard and got Moniak. 

You don't think under any circumstance they can contend? I could see them getting the WC if guys stay healthy, SP improve, pen kicks ass.  

[Second Base]

1 minute ago, Erstad Grit said:

You don't think under any circumstance they can contend? I could see them getting the WC if guys stay healthy, SP improve, pen kicks ass.  

No, I don't believe they'll contend in 2023. But I do think they'll be equally as good as they were with Ohtani. I think Trout will be healthier and more productive, as will Neto, O'Hoppe and Schanuel. And the bullpen will be better. 

All of that combined will offset the singular loss of Ohtani and result in a 75-ish win team. 

[Docwaukee]

decent depth/value move here.  

[Angels 1961]

2 hours ago, Second Base said:

No, I don't believe they'll contend in 2023. But I do think they'll be equally as good as they were with Ohtani. I think Trout will be healthier and more productive, as will Neto, O'Hoppe and Schanuel. And the bullpen will be better. 

All of that combined will offset the singular loss of Ohtani and result in a 75-ish win team. 

Contend maybe in 2024

[greginpsca]

i think IF the starting pitching reverts somewhere close to 2022 level, and relief pitchers can cut the blown saves 40-50% they could be in the wild card race. But, that is a BIG IF.

[Second Base]

58 minutes ago, Angels 1961 said:

Contend maybe in 2024

Yeah I messed up. I'm hoping they'll be ready to contend in 2028. 

[angelsnationtalk]

12 hours ago, Second Base said:

No, I don't believe they'll contend in 2023. But I do think they'll be equally as good as they were with Ohtani. I think Trout will be healthier and more productive, as will Neto, O'Hoppe and Schanuel. And the bullpen will be better. 

All of that combined will offset the singular loss of Ohtani and result in a 75-ish win team. 

Which means they'll be bad. Very bad.

[Stradling]

21 minutes ago, angelsnationtalk said:

Which means they'll be bad. Very bad.

They won’t win less games than last year if they have a normal health season. 

[Stradling]

And I mean a normal Angels health season and not the train wreck we saw last year. 

[Blarg]

Just now, Stradling said:

And I mean a normal Angels health season and not the train wreck we saw last year. 

For the last 4 years, last year was the normal. 

[Stradling]

5 hours ago, Blarg said:

For the last 4 years, last year was the normal. 

No Blarg it wasn’t. They lost every offensive starter not named Renfroe for significant time last year. Trout, Rendon, Ohtani, Ward, Stassi, O’Hoppe, Neto, Urshela, Drury, Moniak.  So if they have a normal injury season where they just lose Trout and Rendon and not 8 other hitters they’ll have a better record. 

[Blarg]

You might want to go through the last four seasons, but just Trout and Rendon missing egregious amounts of time was enough to screw over the Angels. And if that was the end of the list you may have a point but when you take into account all of the position players, starters and relievers on the IL, the last four years has been a clusterfuck. To deny is so on point for you. 

[Stradling]

1 minute ago, Blarg said:

You might want to go through the last four seasons, but just Trout and Rendon missing egregious amounts of time was enough to screw over the Angels. And if that was the end of the list you may have a point but when you take into account all of the position players, starters and relievers on the IL, the last four years has been a clusterfuck. To deny is so on point for you. 

Ok pot, show me a season where every offensive starter minus one was injured.  

[Blarg]

1 minute ago, Stradling said:

Ok pot, show me a season where every offensive starter minus one was injured.  

I'm not saying that you dipstick. I'm saying the Angels haven't had a healthy season for five stinking years and if they have anything like that this year, whether it's a 2022, 2021, etc... season, they don't have a chance in hell. Even healthy this team is not a division winner and only a wildcard team if the rest of baseball has a down year.

[Stradling]

We had four guys play 100 games last year, one was our utility infielder at the start of the season.  2022 we had 7.  2021: 6, 2019:8.  

[Stradling]

3 minutes ago, Blarg said:

I'm not saying that you dipstick. I'm saying the Angels haven't had a healthy season for five stinking years and if they have anything like that this year, whether it's a 2022, 2021, etc... season, they don't have a chance in hell. Even healthy this team is not a division winner and only a wildcard team if the rest of baseball has a down year.

Ok. Dick.  My point still stands unless of course my point is something different than my point which it isn’t. 

[Inside Pitch]

4 minutes ago, Stradling said:

My point still stands unless of course my point is something different than my point which it isn’t. 

Don't mind me, I just want to see this back and forth continue.

[mmc]

 

[EdmontonAngelsFan]

Yup, there goes the dream of JD, Soler or Bellinger.

Go get Snell or Montgomery Perry!

[jsnpritchett]

4 minutes ago, mmc said:

 

Of course, "every day" for him usually ends up being about 90-100 games.

[mmc]

 

[mmc]