Top free agent targets this off season

[rageous]

It should be 1A. Matt Garza or 1B Ricky Nolasco.

Neither of them will cost draft picks since they were both traded mid season so it won't hurt them like Pujols, Wilson and Hamilton signings.

Even if you have to overpay, the Angels NEED to sign one of them to fix their starting pitching for next year.

Trade away Trumbo, Howie and Aybar to clear out salary if needed but one of the two pitchers need to be signed.

There are other pitchers out there like AJ Burnett and Ervin Santana but they are more of a question mark in my opinion and they will cost you the draft pick.

[SoWhat]

I'd stay far away from Nolasco. We don't need another #5

[ettin]

I'd rather see us trade for an excellent young starter than spend more money on free agent pitchers. Nolasco is a definite no for me and Garza will probably cost to much anyway. Trades are the highly preferred route in my opinion.

 

But we do agree that an upgrade is needed.

[Scott34]

Neither.

[jsnpritchett]

I'd stay far away from Nolasco. We don't need another #5

 

Yeah.  Seems like he'd be a Blanton-esque signing.

[mtangelsfan]

No thank you to either one.  We need a two or three starter. Neither of those fit that description.

[James]

Don't like either and I see AJ named which is not an option for the Halos to sign as he already didnt want to come this far west once. Ervin won't happen simply due to the fact that a guy returning in such a way rarely happens. Must look at other options to find that pitcher. 

[tdawg87]

Personally, I'd rather they use whatever money they have available this offseason to completely revamp the bullpen. I realize this isn't always the best route to take but this year's class has some pretty good arms available. Joe Smith, Boone Logan, Grant Balfour, and Javier Lopez are all guys the Angels should look at this winter. Mujica is another intriguing option but he may command too much money.

I think their best option for bringing in starting pitching is via trades. I think if they can sign someone like Kelly Johnson to a 2 year deal, that makes trading Kendrick and/or Trumbo a little easier to swallow.

I would explore every possible option this offseason, even if the other GM calls Jerry a retard. Inquire about Bumgarner, Sale, Price and Gerrit Cole. Most likely the Angels don't have the pieces to land any one of those guys but at least put your feelers out there.

If that doesn't work, look at guys like Ivan Nova. Ask the Royals about Shields. The Angels may look desparate this winter but that's because they pretty much are.

The only money I think the Angels need to spend on a FA pitcher is Vargas. He clearly likes it in Anaheim, and I doubt he will get more than 3 years. Offer him 3/33 and leave it on the table.

My issue with Garza is that he is arguably the best FA pitcher on the market in an incredibly weak SP class. He'll get 5-6 years worth at least 13 million a year and given his past injury history I don't think that is a wise investment.

Worst case scenario, the Angels end up with a Phil Hughes type and maybe a couple AAAA pitchers for depth while shoring up the bullpen. The rotation has been the biggest issue in 2013 but we can't forget the wonderful contributions of the pen. That said, the Angels really need 2 new starters. And I don't mean Blanton and Hanson. I mean a young AAA pitcher with #2 potential and a veteran number 3. Zach Lee would have been perfect for the former but now that that deal is unlikely the Angels may need to focus their attention on Pittsburgh who have a ton of young arms and a need for a power bat.

I'm at work now but I have some sick trrrraaaaaddddes ideas that I will post in this thread when I get home.

[FireThemAll]

They need to overhaul the bullpen this offseason. There are some intriguing options out there like Tdawg mentioned. Start with Frieri and Burnett in middle relief, and Kohn, DDLR as the mopup men for next season. We need a setup man, a closer, and one more middle reliever that can pitch a lot. We need at least 3 relievers this offseason IMO, possibly four. This bullpen is BAD, and a lot of these guys don't deserve to come back. Only guys that should come back are Burnett, Frieri, Kohn, and DDLR - the rest of them need to go.

[Docwaukee]

I don't like Garza at all.  He's gonna get Anibal Sanchez money for 5 years and he's a year older than Sanchez was last year and he's not as good and he's a douche. 

 

If you were gonna spend Anibal Sanchez money on someone, they should have done it for, well, Anibal Sanchez.

 

If they are determined to go the FA route, then I hope Boston declines Lester's option. 

[ettin]

Personally, I'd rather they use whatever money they have available this offseason to completely revamp the bullpen. I realize this isn't always the best route to take but this year's class has some pretty good arms available. Joe Smith, Boone Logan, Grant Balfour, and Javier Lopez are all guys the Angels should look at this winter. Mujica is another intriguing option but he may command too much money.

I think their best option for bringing in starting pitching is via trades. I think if they can sign someone like Kelly Johnson to a 2 year deal, that makes trading Kendrick and/or Trumbo a little easier to swallow.

I would explore every possible option this offseason, even if the other GM calls Jerry a retard. Inquire about Bumgarner, Sale, Price and Gerrit Cole. Most likely the Angels don't have the pieces to land any one of those guys but at least put your feelers out there.

If that doesn't work, look at guys like Ivan Nova. Ask the Royals about Shields. The Angels may look desparate this winter but that's because they pretty much are.

The only money I think the Angels need to spend on a FA pitcher is Vargas. He clearly likes it in Anaheim, and I doubt he will get more than 3 years. Offer him 3/33 and leave it on the table.

My issue with Garza is that he is arguably the best FA pitcher on the market in an incredibly weak SP class. He'll get 5-6 years worth at least 13 million a year and given his past injury history I don't think that is a wise investment.

Worst case scenario, the Angels end up with a Phil Hughes type and maybe a couple AAAA pitchers for depth while shoring up the bullpen. The rotation has been the biggest issue in 2013 but we can't forget the wonderful contributions of the pen. That said, the Angels really need 2 new starters. And I don't mean Blanton and Hanson. I mean a young AAA pitcher with #2 potential and a veteran number 3. Zach Lee would have been perfect for the former but now that that deal is unlikely the Angels may need to focus their attention on Pittsburgh who have a ton of young arms and a need for a power bat.

I'm at work now but I have some sick trrrraaaaaddddes ideas that I will post in this thread when I get home.

 

I'm looking forward to your ideas but please make sure to not mix "trade porn" with your "normal porn" when you post them.

 

[ettin]

They need to overhaul the bullpen this offseason. There are some intriguing options out there like Tdawg mentioned. Start with Frieri and Burnett in middle relief, and Kohn, DDLR as the mopup men for next season. We need a setup man, a closer, and one more middle reliever that can pitch a lot. We need at least 3 relievers this offseason IMO, possibly four. This bullpen is BAD, and a lot of these guys don't deserve to come back. Only guys that should come back are Burnett, Frieri, Kohn, and DDLR - the rest of them need to go.

 

I agree that we need to invest money and/or trades to bolster and improve the pen. However, we do have other pitchers such as Coello, Roth, and Rasmus who could provide (especially Coello) some of those arms we need and they should have a shot during Spring Training to make the team. In the worst case scenario they are depth.

 

Whatever happens we need to bring in at least one bullpen arm that is closer worthy, preferably two.

[SoWhat]

The bullpen needs a complete makeover. I hope they sign 3 arms

[Angel Oracle]

No overpaying for FAs anymore, trade Kendrick or Trumbo for a young pitcher and sign the Beard (no draft pick lost).

[Second Base]

Trade market's the way I'd go I think.  Personally, after seeing the way the kids are playing and the energy they bring, I have no problem whatsoever trading both Trumbo and Kendrick to get 2 young SP that will help in the future. 

[Hollyw00d]

trumbo for lackey

[TroutAdell]

Who is going to trade young, cost controlled pitching. Teams will trade vets, especially with big contracts, before they trade young quality starting pitching.

[NJHalo]

I know people have soured on Phil Hughes, but his ERA away from Yankee Stadium is a very respectable 3.80. This is almost a half run lower than our team ERA

[tdawg87]

His ERA away from NY last year was 4.76. Hughes sucks.

[OregonLAA]

Please no to Hughes

[SoWhat]

I wouldn't mind having Hughes in the bullpen, but definitely not starting

Edited September 10, 2013 by SoWhat

[greginpsca]

The free agent market for starting pitchers sucks. I have to believe that the best way to strengthen the rotation will be finding a couple of organizations with a lot of depth. Then make deals for a couple of young arms mlb ready. Use the free agency to find some bullpen arms, and to fill in any holes in the position players resulting from those trades.

[Scott34]

If all things were equal, I'd target Tim Lincecum, Masahiro Tanaka on the FA market and deal Kendrick and or Bourjos, Trumbo for a young SP (Zach Lee type)

 

Weaver

Wilson

Tanaka

Lincecum

Richards/Acquired SP

 

// Williams

[m0nkey]

I like lincecum as much as anyone else, but man he is so inconsistent

[Scott34]

I like lincecum as much as anyone else, but man he is so inconsistent

 

He's showing signs of turning it around and it's nice to have another body with star potential.  Make the rotation deeper.