LA Times: Angels' Jerry Dipoto is limited in attempt to improve team

[KingJustinian]

If we get two decent starting pitchers and go into the season with the current bullpen, we can always make a move during the season to strengthen it if needed.

[DMVol]

If we get two decent starting pitchers and go into the season with the current bullpen, we can always make a move during the season to strengthen it if needed.

if we're really as boxed in as the article says, sign Maholm (who isn't terrible) and maybe one more serviceable guy, then see where we are in June...DO NOT make (another) bad trade if the trade market is flat...

[Angelsjunky]

I wonder if the Its Not Our Money Crowd get it now.

 

Anyhow, it sounds like Dipoto plans to sign a cheap free agent #4-5 type, and then hope to hell that he can trade Kendrick or Trumbo for a decent #3.

 

I feel reasonably optimistic about Garrett Richards, but I don't feel good about the game plan being assuming that he's going to be a #3 next year and/or they can pull off a trade. If Dipoto doesn't pull off a trade AND Garrett bombs, this rotation will be awful.

[bloodbrother]

Was hard to expect them to completely fix the pitching in one offseason IMO. Just wasn't a realistic goal considering how bad they were in that regard and what little money/flexibility they had. I do, however, would hope for some marginal improvement. Really gotta hit on whatever low level arm they sign for cheap

 

simple fact is this team, as it's constructed, has put all their eggs in the Pujols/Hamilton basket. If they rebound, the team will do well, if they don't, they'll suck again. That's the situation they are in and will be in for awhile

[wopphil]

I'd be stoked with Garza and one of Capuano/Maholm, especially if it meant we could keep Howie/Trumbo.

[DMVol]

I'd be stoked with Garza and one of Capuano/Maholm, especially if it meant we could keep Howie/Trumbo.

If you believe the article, can't sign Garza w/out moving Howie or Trumbo...

[Greg_Bearringer]

Ya, I'm not sure how replacing Scott Downs with Joe Smith, Michael Kohn with Fernando Salas, and Jerome Williams with Joe Blanton/Matt Shoemaker/Chris Volstad/Wade LeBlanc constitutes being in good shape.

 

They'll have better depth in the minors with Morin, Alvarez, et al moving up though, I guess.

 

Bullpens are like Basketball teams. Adding two good options make all the pieces fit better and make the remaining pieces perform better than they would without them

[Greg_Bearringer]

If you believe the article, can't sign Garza w/out moving Howie or Trumbo...

 

I still don't believe that Arte and co. wouldn't go a little into the tax if the right deal was there. Also: We should get together sometime at watch a game sometime. Morristown isn't that far away!

Edited December 9, 2013 by Greg_Bearringer

[greginpsca]

Add in the 5 million in Mike Scioscia's contract and you have 75 million worth of dead weight on this team.  you just cant make that many mistakes and expect to remain competetive.

I see what you did. By adding Sosh into this you were able to turn it into another fat joke.

[YouthofToday]

Wait, I thought trading for "Too Blessed" won't impact our ability to spend money?!?!

Lies!!!!

[HaloNation]

I thought we were in a "win now mode"? You dont win now with that group, thats a hope we dont suk to bad this year kinda group.

Strongly agree

It sounds like they're desperate. Adding two below average sp to an already average rotation will get you not more than 80 wins.

[Stradling]

Wait, I thought trading for "Too Blessed" won't impact our ability to spend money?!?!

Lies!!!!

Yep, three years later it finally caught up to them.

[Angel Oracle]

Was hard to expect them to completely fix the pitching in one offseason IMO. Just wasn't a realistic goal considering how bad they were in that regard and what little money/flexibility they had. I do, however, would hope for some marginal improvement. Really gotta hit on whatever low level arm they sign for cheap

 

simple fact is this team, as it's constructed, has put all their eggs in the Pujols/Hamilton basket. If they rebound, the team will do well, if they don't, they'll suck again. That's the situation they are in and will be in for awhile

It's actually the 2nd off-season of fixing the pitching.    And at the rate we're going, this will be like the previous off-season with lack of REAL pitching acquisitions.        

 

Unfortunately, Arte the long ball lover did put all his eggs in that basket. 

Edited December 9, 2013 by Angel Oracle

[tennischmp]

Yep, three years later it finally caught up to them.

It could have caught up to them last year when they didn't sign Grienke for all we know

[Stradling]

No, because they used the money allocated for Greinke and gave it to Hamilton.

[mtangelsfan]

For all we know it's not stopping us from doing anything at this point either.

 

Every contract that is active right now adds up.    Especially the evil triumvate of Wells, Hamilton and Pujols.

[bloodbrother]

Nah, they had the money for it, since they wasted it on Windmill Hamilton. The issue was the Dodgers had MORE money and would have paid whatever it took to get him

[Stradling]

It's actually the 2nd off-season of fixing the pitching. And at the rate we're going, this will be like the previous off-season with lack of REAL pitching acquisitions.

Unfortunately, Arte the long ball lover did put all his eggs in that basket.

We aren't really going with Arte the long ball lover are we? Arte signed Weaver, Arte signed CJ. Arte signed Albert, Arte signed Hamilton. Sounds pretty balanced to me. Just because you see it one way doesn't mean it is that way.

[Stradling]

Nah, they had the money for it, since they wasted it on Windmill Hamilton. The issue was the Dodgers had MORE money and would have paid whatever it took to get him

Yep. We have to hope that Hamilton is what he was in the second half last year, at least.

[tennischmp]

No, because they used the money allocated for Greinke and gave it to Hamilton.

So you are saying that if they had that extra 20 million/year they still wouldn't have signed Grienke in addition to Hamilton, 

[Stradling]

Yes I'm saying that. It was one or the other, and the Dodgers weren't going to be outbid. As it is he got way too much money. Look at the history of pitchers getting six year contracts, it's ugly.

[jshep]

Did Jerry at least get there on time?

 

This team has a bit of a mixed track record when it comes to that.

[stormngt]

You guys are missing the worst news of that report.  Its the fact that it looks like the Angels are not going to offer Trout an extension until after he hits arbitration.  That means the Angels are giving up most of their leverage in efforts to re-sign Mike Trout.  

 

If we are as bad off as the article says we are than we should:

 

1. Trade both Kendrick and Aybar:

2. Take the money saved from both and what is left over and extend Trout now.  

3.  Go with the shitty pitching that we have and suffer for a couple of years

4.  Than possibly as Wells and Hamilton are off the books try to build a winner!

 

WE ARE REALLY F'D UP IF WE BELIEVE THAT ARTICLE.

[James]

You guys are missing the worst news of that report.  Its the fact that it looks like the Angels are not going to offer Trout an extension until after he hits arbitration.  That means the Angels are giving up most of their leverage in efforts to re-sign Mike Trout.  

 

If we are as bad off as the article says we are than we should:

 

1. Trade both Kendrick and Aybar:

2. Take the money saved from both and what is left over and extend Trout now.  

3.  Go with the shitty pitching that we have and suffer for a couple of years

4.  Than possibly as Wells and Hamilton are off the books try to build a winner!

 

WE ARE REALLY F'D UP IF WE BELIEVE THAT ARTICLE.

That isn't what it said. It said they had already discussed it but they need to wait until during the season at the very least. 

[YouthofToday]

It could have caught up to them last year when they didn't sign Grienke for all we know

It's not just Greinke. If money wasn't an issue would we have begun the year with Blanton and Hanson in the rotation? Hanson was a massive question. Mark and was coming off of a litany of shoulder issues.

If $ was available they would have signed Anibal Sanchez or somebody else and kept Walden.