AngelsWin.com

By Glen McKee, AngelsWin.com Columnist/Satirist-
Somewhere between the ball field in Anaheim, the production houses in Hollywood and the Winter Meeting suites in Orlando, a script was born.  A script chillingly familiar.  A script no one wanted you to see. What follows is an outtake from that script …
“A Few Good Pitchers.”

                      A Few Good Pitchers
                                   INT.  ANGELS’ STADIUM - DAY
                                              SCIOSCIA
                                           I want the truth!
                                               DIPOTO
                                   You can't handle the truth!
                                            And nobody moves.
                       
                                                DIPOTO
                                              (continuing)
               
Scioscia, we have a team that needs pitching. And we have to get it on the cheap.  How are we gonna do it? Sign Garza?  Sign Colon?  I have the financial restraints you gave me! You tell me to get Santiago and you don’t say how.  You have that luxury.  You have the luxury of not knowing what I know: That to trade for Santiago, we’ll have to give up Trumbo and do a three-way.  This trade will probably win games.  And this trade, while grotesque and incomprehensible to you, saves my job .
                                                  (beat)
You don't want the truth.  Because deep down, in places you don't talk about at the post-game spread, you want me on this job.  You need me here. 
                                                (boasting)
We use words like luxury tax, tERA, xFIP...we use these words as the backbone to a life spent crunching numbers to build a better team.  You use 'em as a punchline.
                                       
                                                  (beat)
               
I have neither the time nor the inclination to explain myself to a man who insists on starting Jeff Mathis, to the extreme that I had to trade him for scraps. I'd prefer you just said thank you and went with a sensible lineup.  Otherwise, I suggest you pick up a copy of Fangraphs and read it.  Either way, I don't give a damn what you think you're entitled to.
                                              SCIOSCIA
                                               (quietly)
                                   Did you trade Mark Trumbo?
                                               DIPOTO
                                                 (beat)
                                I did the job you sent me to do.
                                              SCIOSCIA
                                 Did you trade Mark Trumbo?
                                              DIPOTO
                                               (pause)
                                You're goddamn right I did.
                                   Silence.  From everyone.  
        ARTE MORENO, TIM MEAD, CHUCK RICHTER, they're all frozen.
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By Glen McKee, AngelsWin.com Columnist/Satirist-
Somewhere between the ball field in Anaheim, the production houses in Hollywood and the Winter Meeting suites in Orlando, a script was born.  A script chillingly familiar.  A script no one wanted you to see. What follows is an outtake from that script …
“A Few Good Pitchers.”

                      A Few Good Pitchers
                                   INT.  ANGELS’ STADIUM - DAY
                                              SCIOSCIA
                                           I want the truth!
                                               DIPOTO
                                   You can't handle the truth!
                                            And nobody moves.
                       
                                                DIPOTO
                                              (continuing)
               
Scioscia, we have a team that needs pitching. And we have to get it on the cheap.  How are we gonna do it? Sign Garza?  Sign Colon?  I have the financial restraints you gave me! You tell me to get Santiago and you don’t say how.  You have that luxury.  You have the luxury of not knowing what I know: That to trade for Santiago, we’ll have to give up Trumbo and do a three-way.  This trade will probably win games.  And this trade, while grotesque and incomprehensible to you, saves my job .
                                                  (beat)
You don't want the truth.  Because deep down, in places you don't talk about at the post-game spread, you want me on this job.  You need me here. 
                                                (boasting)
We use words like luxury tax, tERA, xFIP...we use these words as the backbone to a life spent crunching numbers to build a better team.  You use 'em as a punchline.
                                       
                                                  (beat)
               
I have neither the time nor the inclination to explain myself to a man who insists on starting Jeff Mathis, to the extreme that I had to trade him for scraps. I'd prefer you just said thank you and went with a sensible lineup.  Otherwise, I suggest you pick up a copy of Fangraphs and read it.  Either way, I don't give a damn what you think you're entitled to.
                                              SCIOSCIA
                                               (quietly)
                                   Did you trade Mark Trumbo?
                                               DIPOTO
                                                 (beat)
                                I did the job you sent me to do.
                                              SCIOSCIA
                                 Did you trade Mark Trumbo?
                                              DIPOTO
                                               (pause)
                                You're goddamn right I did.
                                   Silence.  From everyone.  
        ARTE MORENO, TIM MEAD, CHUCK RICHTER, they're all frozen.
View the full article

POINT - The “Pussification” of Baseball By Nathan Trop, AngelsWin.com Columnist
Baseball’s rumored prohibition of plate collisions is a tragic “pussification” of baseball.  Plate collisions are a part of baseball lore.  Some of the best baseball highlights you will ever see involve a player barreling down the third base line with the catcher in position to make that all-important out at the plate.
In a 1995 game against the Kansas City Royals, then Detroit Tiger Kirk Gibson barreled into Royals Catcher Pat Borders to give us one of the best action photos ever taken of baseball.

Now imagine if Gibson were to prance down the third baseline like a ballerina, blow a friendly little kiss to Borders and make a wide circle around him to home plate.  If you think that visual is disturbing, imagine the frustration in the dugout over losing a vital opportunity to score a run.
What if Erstad never plowed over Johnny Estrada in 2005? 

AngelsWin.com would be reduced to talking about dog names, iced tea, grilled cheese sandwiches, fat five year olds, or the debate over which is worse: DUIs or the fact that Bartolo Colon still looks like Jabba the Hutt after all that HGH.
The fact is that teams already go to great lengths to protect their players.  They put pitchers on pitch counts, innings counts, and they teach middle infielders how to avoid takeout slides.  There has already been talk of teams training their catchers how to avoid plate collisions.  I say we let the players and teams decide how to handle this aspect of player safety as well.  Do we really want baseball umpires to enforce a subjective rule?  Even if it is reviewed, do you trust the judgment of Doug Eddings or Joe West?
By the way, there is no truth to the rumor that Joe West is the father of that fat five year old.
As a soccer fan (don’t judge!), one of my biggest issues with the sport is the players who will take a dive after the tiniest bit of contact (or even a slight breeze) to draw a foul.  How long until every time a catcher gets his toe stepped on, he falls to the ground in pain like he just got bowled over?
How long until baseball starts to feel like the NFL?  Football is hardly fun to watch sometimes because of all of the bad calls.  Calls based on subjective rules around “player safety.”
I am not saying we shouldn’t care about player safety, but we also shouldn’t be wrapping the players in bubble wrap and having them use a tee to avoid being hit by a pitch.
This is Major League Baseball!  These are grown men making millions of dollars to play a game!  This is the American pastime!
Let’s not take away the action and anticipation of a runner barreling threateningly down the third baseline, the ball being thrown into the base path at home plate and the game-winning run hanging in the blance!
COUNTERPOINT – Safety is not “Pussification”
By Glen McKee, AngelsWin.com Columnist
Nate, you ignorant slut!
OK, I get it.  The most exciting moment in baseball is seeing a catcher get plowed over like an alfalfa field on bailing day.  I understand that, and will confess to occasionally enjoying such moments…when I was younger.   But now, not so much.  All I see is a bizarre exception to the rules of running the base path and the potential for injury and even serious injury. 
I agree that these collisions have given us some of the best photos in baseball, but the distinction of the best baseball action photo belongs to this one.  (Side Note: if anybody wants to get me a Christmas present, I’d love a signed copy of this print)

Yes, I’ll admit, the home plate collision has given us one of baseball’s most memorable moments.  Of course, I’m talking about Pete Rose giving his version of jazz hands to Ray Fosse in the 1970 All Star Game.  It’s particularly memorable for Fosse, except that he probably can’t remember it now.
The home plate collision is a relic and it deserves to be shelved with other relics, just like the Ark of the Covenant at the end of Raiders of the Lost Ark.  Really, do we want to melt other baseball players with this collision? ( AJ Pierzynski aside, of course.)   If you’re an Angels fan and attached to relics, well, you can get your fix watching #5 play next year, and daydreaming about how he used to hit.  Good times, those. 
I may be alone in thinking this, but the idea of Gibson in a ballerina dress sounds pretty damn funny.  I’d pay a few bucks to see that.  (Don’t judge!)
As for this “going too far to protect players,” baseball has batting helmets, rules about throwing at batters, and probably has training lectures about how dumb head-first slides are.  There shouldn’t be a problem with exploring further methods, as long as they are sensibly implemented.  Nobody is talking about anything drastic.  You can even simplify it: just say the catcher can’t block the plate until he has the ball.  Use that as the starting point and figure it out from there.  No bubble wrap necessary.
Which brings me to my next point:  Umpires and enforcement.  Given the Angels’ history with umpires – Eddings and West, I still fart in your general directions – I’m reluctant to trust them with yet more responsibilities.  However, you can’t use that as an excuse not to implement.  Make the rule, test it out, and adjust it as necessary.  Just like Obamacare, in a few years it’ll be just fine!  Amirite?  Back me up on this one, Nate.
In conclusion, your honor, and ladies and gentlemen of the jury:  This is indeed baseball and grown men are voluntarily playing a child’s game for ridiculous amounts of money.  There will still be the anticipation of a close play at the plate, just without the collision.  It will still be exciting.  It will just be the excitement level of a Hamilton at-bat, as opposed to a Trumbo at-bat.  I’m good with that.
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By David Saltzer, AngelsWin.com Senior Writer

As an Angels fan, I am very pleased with the 3-way trade that the Angels made involving the Diamondbacks and White Sox. The Angels needed to get younger, better, controllable pitching and got back in value as much (or more) than what they gave up.

As a parent, though, this trade presented a tough problem for me. Mark Trumbo was one of my sons’ favorite players. They loved his mammoth homeruns and would emulate his swing whenever he went to the plate. They loved yelling Trumbomb whenever he hit one out of the park.

For my eldest, this would be even more difficult. Mark Trumbo gave him his very first autograph. Prior to the start of the Little League season, Mark came out to help encourage the boys and parents prepare the fields and signed an autograph for my son.

Driving home from work, I thought about all the things I would have to explain to my boys in order to get them to understand a trade. My eldest is in 2nd grade and my youngest are twins in Kindergarten.

When I got home from work, my sons came running up to me and asked me what happened with the Angels and Mark Trumbo. Apparently on the radio they had heard that the Angels did something with him, and they wanted me to explain it to them.

Since they are all learning about the value of money and how to make change, I thought I would use an analogy to help them understand what happened. I started off by asking them to make change for a dollar for me using their quarters. I told them that their uncle Kevin needed some quarters to do laundry in his apartment building and had given me three $1 bills to get some quarters for his laundry.

They all got me 4 quarters from their savings. I was pleased with their math.

I then asked them if it was a fair trade to trade a $1 bill for 4 quarters. They said “yes” because 4 quarters was worth $1. Since both amounts were the same, it was a fair and even trade. They then told me that I was being a silly daddy and that I should know that already (after all, they knew that).

I then asked them if there were times when a person might need 4 quarters instead of a $1 bill. They said “yes” and said that uncle Kevin needed them for the laundry machines. Again they told me that I was being a silly daddy.

Seeing that they understood the concept of making a trade, I then explained that as Angels fans we want the Angels to win as many games as they can. We want to see them win the World Series again.

Next, I explained how the Angels needed pitching, particularly starting pitching. So for us, starting pitching was like the quarters for uncle Kevin. We needed it to get to the playoffs. And, just like uncle Kevin giving them $1 bills to trade for the quarters, we needed to trade something of equal value to get it.

They then asked me all about the pitchers we were getting back. They asked me if I thought that they were good, how hard they threw, and if they threw any tricky pitches. I answered all their questions, told them about Hector Santiago’s screwball (which for 7 and 5 year olds had them laughing and excited), and even told them how we traded Tyler Skaggs for Dan Haren and then traded to get him back. They found it all fascinating.

They asked me if I thought it was a good trade, and I said “yes.” I explained how I thought we would win more games next year and would be a stronger team overall. I didn’t want to build up their expectations too much, but I said that because of the trade we might be able to make more moves to help us get to the playoffs next year.

They were very excited.

We then discussed the importance of wishing Mark Trumbo well with his new team and that we would miss watching him. We decided that we would follow him with the Diamondbacks to see if he can hit 40 or more homeruns with his new team. They thought that would be cool. We agreed that we wanted him to do well when he played every team other than the Angels (because as they said he might hit a Trumbomb and beat the Angels and that would be not good).

When we were done talking about the trade, my eldest looked at me and said “Daddy, I hope the new pitchers have a lot of quarters.”

A bit confused, I asked him why he said that.

He replied “Because Mark Trumbo is worth one hundred dollars . . . and that’s a lot of quarters!”

By David Saltzer, AngelsWin.com Senior Writer

As an Angels fan, I am very pleased with the 3-way trade that the Angels made involving the Diamondbacks and White Sox. The Angels needed to get younger, better, controllable pitching and got back in value as much (or more) than what they gave up.

As a parent, though, this trade presented a tough problem for me. Mark Trumbo was one of my sons’ favorite players. They loved his mammoth homeruns and would emulate his swing whenever he went to the plate. They loved yelling Trumbomb whenever he hit one out of the park.

For my eldest, this would be even more difficult. Mark Trumbo gave him his very first autograph. Prior to the start of the Little League season, Mark came out to help encourage the boys and parents prepare the fields and signed an autograph for my son.

Driving home from work, I thought about all the things I would have to explain to my boys in order to get them to understand a trade. My eldest is in 2nd grade and my youngest are twins in Kindergarten.

When I got home from work, my sons came running up to me and asked me what happened with the Angels and Mark Trumbo. Apparently on the radio they had heard that the Angels did something with him, and they wanted me to explain it to them.

Since they are all learning about the value of money and how to make change, I thought I would use an analogy to help them understand what happened. I started off by asking them to make change for a dollar for me using their quarters. I told them that their uncle Kevin needed some quarters to do laundry in his apartment building and had given me three $1 bills to get some quarters for his laundry.

They all got me 4 quarters from their savings. I was pleased with their math.

I then asked them if it was a fair trade to trade a $1 bill for 4 quarters. They said “yes” because 4 quarters was worth $1. Since both amounts were the same, it was a fair and even trade. They then told me that I was being a silly daddy and that I should know that already (after all, they knew that).

I then asked them if there were times when a person might need 4 quarters instead of a $1 bill. They said “yes” and said that uncle Kevin needed them for the laundry machines. Again they told me that I was being a silly daddy.

Seeing that they understood the concept of making a trade, I then explained that as Angels fans we want the Angels to win as many games as they can. We want to see them win the World Series again.

Next, I explained how the Angels needed pitching, particularly starting pitching. So for us, starting pitching was like the quarters for uncle Kevin. We needed it to get to the playoffs. And, just like uncle Kevin giving them $1 bills to trade for the quarters, we needed to trade something of equal value to get it.

They then asked me all about the pitchers we were getting back. They asked me if I thought that they were good, how hard they threw, and if they threw any tricky pitches. I answered all their questions, told them about Hector Santiago’s screwball (which for 7 and 5 year olds had them laughing and excited), and even told them how we traded Tyler Skaggs for Dan Haren and then traded to get him back. They found it all fascinating.

They asked me if I thought it was a good trade, and I said “yes.” I explained how I thought we would win more games next year and would be a stronger team overall. I didn’t want to build up their expectations too much, but I said that because of the trade we might be able to make more moves to help us get to the playoffs next year.

They were very excited.

We then discussed the importance of wishing Mark Trumbo well with his new team and that we would miss watching him. We decided that we would follow him with the Diamondbacks to see if he can hit 40 or more homeruns with his new team. They thought that would be cool. We agreed that we wanted him to do well when he played every team other than the Angels (because as they said he might hit a Trumbomb and beat the Angels and that would be not good).

When we were done talking about the trade, my eldest looked at me and said “Daddy, I hope the new pitchers have a lot of quarters.”

A bit confused, I asked him why he said that.

He replied “Because Mark Trumbo is worth one hundred dollars . . . and that’s a lot of quarters!”

By David Saltzer, AngelsWin.com Senior Writer

As an Angels fan, I am very pleased with the 3-way trade that the Angels made involving the Diamondbacks and White Sox. The Angels needed to get younger, better, controllable pitching and got back in value as much (or more) than what they gave up.

As a parent, though, this trade presented a tough problem for me. Mark Trumbo was one of my sons’ favorite players. They loved his mammoth homeruns and would emulate his swing whenever he went to the plate. They loved yelling Trumbomb whenever he hit one out of the park.

For my eldest, this would be even more difficult. Mark Trumbo gave him his very first autograph. Prior to the start of the Little League season, Mark came out to help encourage the boys and parents prepare the fields and signed an autograph for my son.

Driving home from work, I thought about all the things I would have to explain to my boys in order to get them to understand a trade. My eldest is in 2nd grade and my youngest are twins in Kindergarten.

When I got home from work, my sons came running up to me and asked me what happened with the Angels and Mark Trumbo. Apparently on the radio they had heard that the Angels did something with him, and they wanted me to explain it to them.

Since they are all learning about the value of money and how to make change, I thought I would use an analogy to help them understand what happened. I started off by asking them to make change for a dollar for me using their quarters. I told them that their uncle Kevin needed some quarters to do laundry in his apartment building and had given me three $1 bills to get some quarters for his laundry.

They all got me 4 quarters from their savings. I was pleased with their math.

I then asked them if it was a fair trade to trade a $1 bill for 4 quarters. They said “yes” because 4 quarters was worth $1. Since both amounts were the same, it was a fair and even trade. They then told me that I was being a silly daddy and that I should know that already (after all, they knew that).

I then asked them if there were times when a person might need 4 quarters instead of a $1 bill. They said “yes” and said that uncle Kevin needed them for the laundry machines. Again they told me that I was being a silly daddy.

Seeing that they understood the concept of making a trade, I then explained that as Angels fans we want the Angels to win as many games as they can. We want to see them win the World Series again.

Next, I explained how the Angels needed pitching, particularly starting pitching. So for us, starting pitching was like the quarters for uncle Kevin. We needed it to get to the playoffs. And, just like uncle Kevin giving them $1 bills to trade for the quarters, we needed to trade something of equal value to get it.

They then asked me all about the pitchers we were getting back. They asked me if I thought that they were good, how hard they threw, and if they threw any tricky pitches. I answered all their questions, told them about Hector Santiago’s screwball (which for 7 and 5 year olds had them laughing and excited), and even told them how we traded Tyler Skaggs for Dan Haren and then traded to get him back. They found it all fascinating.

They asked me if I thought it was a good trade, and I said “yes.” I explained how I thought we would win more games next year and would be a stronger team overall. I didn’t want to build up their expectations too much, but I said that because of the trade we might be able to make more moves to help us get to the playoffs next year.

They were very excited.

We then discussed the importance of wishing Mark Trumbo well with his new team and that we would miss watching him. We decided that we would follow him with the Diamondbacks to see if he can hit 40 or more homeruns with his new team. They thought that would be cool. We agreed that we wanted him to do well when he played every team other than the Angels (because as they said he might hit a Trumbomb and beat the Angels and that would be not good).

When we were done talking about the trade, my eldest looked at me and said “Daddy, I hope the new pitchers have a lot of quarters.”

A bit confused, I asked him why he said that.

He replied “Because Mark Trumbo is worth one hundred dollars . . . and that’s a lot of quarters!”

By David Saltzer, AngelsWin.com Senior Writer

As an Angels fan, I am very pleased with the 3-way trade that the Angels made involving the Diamondbacks and White Sox. The Angels needed to get younger, better, controllable pitching and got back in value as much (or more) than what they gave up.

As a parent, though, this trade presented a tough problem for me. Mark Trumbo was one of my sons’ favorite players. They loved his mammoth homeruns and would emulate his swing whenever he went to the plate. They loved yelling Trumbomb whenever he hit one out of the park.

For my eldest, this would be even more difficult. Mark Trumbo gave him his very first autograph. Prior to the start of the Little League season, Mark came out to help encourage the boys and parents prepare the fields and signed an autograph for my son.

Driving home from work, I thought about all the things I would have to explain to my boys in order to get them to understand a trade. My eldest is in 2nd grade and my youngest are twins in Kindergarten.

When I got home from work, my sons came running up to me and asked me what happened with the Angels and Mark Trumbo. Apparently on the radio they had heard that the Angels did something with him, and they wanted me to explain it to them.

Since they are all learning about the value of money and how to make change, I thought I would use an analogy to help them understand what happened. I started off by asking them to make change for a dollar for me using their quarters. I told them that their uncle Kevin needed some quarters to do laundry in his apartment building and had given me three $1 bills to get some quarters for his laundry.

They all got me 4 quarters from their savings. I was pleased with their math.

I then asked them if it was a fair trade to trade a $1 bill for 4 quarters. They said “yes” because 4 quarters was worth $1. Since both amounts were the same, it was a fair and even trade. They then told me that I was being a silly daddy and that I should know that already (after all, they knew that).

I then asked them if there were times when a person might need 4 quarters instead of a $1 bill. They said “yes” and said that uncle Kevin needed them for the laundry machines. Again they told me that I was being a silly daddy.

Seeing that they understood the concept of making a trade, I then explained that as Angels fans we want the Angels to win as many games as they can. We want to see them win the World Series again.

Next, I explained how the Angels needed pitching, particularly starting pitching. So for us, starting pitching was like the quarters for uncle Kevin. We needed it to get to the playoffs. And, just like uncle Kevin giving them $1 bills to trade for the quarters, we needed to trade something of equal value to get it.

They then asked me all about the pitchers we were getting back. They asked me if I thought that they were good, how hard they threw, and if they threw any tricky pitches. I answered all their questions, told them about Hector Santiago’s screwball (which for 7 and 5 year olds had them laughing and excited), and even told them how we traded Tyler Skaggs for Dan Haren and then traded to get him back. They found it all fascinating.

They asked me if I thought it was a good trade, and I said “yes.” I explained how I thought we would win more games next year and would be a stronger team overall. I didn’t want to build up their expectations too much, but I said that because of the trade we might be able to make more moves to help us get to the playoffs next year.

They were very excited.

We then discussed the importance of wishing Mark Trumbo well with his new team and that we would miss watching him. We decided that we would follow him with the Diamondbacks to see if he can hit 40 or more homeruns with his new team. They thought that would be cool. We agreed that we wanted him to do well when he played every team other than the Angels (because as they said he might hit a Trumbomb and beat the Angels and that would be not good).

When we were done talking about the trade, my eldest looked at me and said “Daddy, I hope the new pitchers have a lot of quarters.”

A bit confused, I asked him why he said that.

He replied “Because Mark Trumbo is worth one hundred dollars . . . and that’s a lot of quarters!”

By David Saltzer, AngelsWin.com Senior Writer

As an Angels fan, I am very pleased with the 3-way trade that the Angels made involving the Diamondbacks and White Sox. The Angels needed to get younger, better, controllable pitching and got back in value as much (or more) than what they gave up.

As a parent, though, this trade presented a tough problem for me. Mark Trumbo was one of my sons’ favorite players. They loved his mammoth homeruns and would emulate his swing whenever he went to the plate. They loved yelling Trumbomb whenever he hit one out of the park.

For my eldest, this would be even more difficult. Mark Trumbo gave him his very first autograph. Prior to the start of the Little League season, Mark came out to help encourage the boys and parents prepare the fields and signed an autograph for my son.

Driving home from work, I thought about all the things I would have to explain to my boys in order to get them to understand a trade. My eldest is in 2nd grade and my youngest are twins in Kindergarten.

When I got home from work, my sons came running up to me and asked me what happened with the Angels and Mark Trumbo. Apparently on the radio they had heard that the Angels did something with him, and they wanted me to explain it to them.

Since they are all learning about the value of money and how to make change, I thought I would use an analogy to help them understand what happened. I started off by asking them to make change for a dollar for me using their quarters. I told them that their uncle Kevin needed some quarters to do laundry in his apartment building and had given me three $1 bills to get some quarters for his laundry.

They all got me 4 quarters from their savings. I was pleased with their math.

I then asked them if it was a fair trade to trade a $1 bill for 4 quarters. They said “yes” because 4 quarters was worth $1. Since both amounts were the same, it was a fair and even trade. They then told me that I was being a silly daddy and that I should know that already (after all, they knew that).

I then asked them if there were times when a person might need 4 quarters instead of a $1 bill. They said “yes” and said that uncle Kevin needed them for the laundry machines. Again they told me that I was being a silly daddy.

Seeing that they understood the concept of making a trade, I then explained that as Angels fans we want the Angels to win as many games as they can. We want to see them win the World Series again.

Next, I explained how the Angels needed pitching, particularly starting pitching. So for us, starting pitching was like the quarters for uncle Kevin. We needed it to get to the playoffs. And, just like uncle Kevin giving them $1 bills to trade for the quarters, we needed to trade something of equal value to get it.

They then asked me all about the pitchers we were getting back. They asked me if I thought that they were good, how hard they threw, and if they threw any tricky pitches. I answered all their questions, told them about Hector Santiago’s screwball (which for 7 and 5 year olds had them laughing and excited), and even told them how we traded Tyler Skaggs for Dan Haren and then traded to get him back. They found it all fascinating.

They asked me if I thought it was a good trade, and I said “yes.” I explained how I thought we would win more games next year and would be a stronger team overall. I didn’t want to build up their expectations too much, but I said that because of the trade we might be able to make more moves to help us get to the playoffs next year.

They were very excited.

We then discussed the importance of wishing Mark Trumbo well with his new team and that we would miss watching him. We decided that we would follow him with the Diamondbacks to see if he can hit 40 or more homeruns with his new team. They thought that would be cool. We agreed that we wanted him to do well when he played every team other than the Angels (because as they said he might hit a Trumbomb and beat the Angels and that would be not good).

When we were done talking about the trade, my eldest looked at me and said “Daddy, I hope the new pitchers have a lot of quarters.”

A bit confused, I asked him why he said that.

He replied “Because Mark Trumbo is worth one hundred dollars . . . and that’s a lot of quarters!”

By David Saltzer, AngelsWin.com Senior Writer

As an Angels fan, I am very pleased with the 3-way trade that the Angels made involving the Diamondbacks and White Sox. The Angels needed to get younger, better, controllable pitching and got back in value as much (or more) than what they gave up.

As a parent, though, this trade presented a tough problem for me. Mark Trumbo was one of my sons’ favorite players. They loved his mammoth homeruns and would emulate his swing whenever he went to the plate. They loved yelling Trumbomb whenever he hit one out of the park.

For my eldest, this would be even more difficult. Mark Trumbo gave him his very first autograph. Prior to the start of the Little League season, Mark came out to help encourage the boys and parents prepare the fields and signed an autograph for my son.

Driving home from work, I thought about all the things I would have to explain to my boys in order to get them to understand a trade. My eldest is in 2nd grade and my youngest are twins in Kindergarten.

When I got home from work, my sons came running up to me and asked me what happened with the Angels and Mark Trumbo. Apparently on the radio they had heard that the Angels did something with him, and they wanted me to explain it to them.

Since they are all learning about the value of money and how to make change, I thought I would use an analogy to help them understand what happened. I started off by asking them to make change for a dollar for me using their quarters. I told them that their uncle Kevin needed some quarters to do laundry in his apartment building and had given me three $1 bills to get some quarters for his laundry.

They all got me 4 quarters from their savings. I was pleased with their math.

I then asked them if it was a fair trade to trade a $1 bill for 4 quarters. They said “yes” because 4 quarters was worth $1. Since both amounts were the same, it was a fair and even trade. They then told me that I was being a silly daddy and that I should know that already (after all, they knew that).

I then asked them if there were times when a person might need 4 quarters instead of a $1 bill. They said “yes” and said that uncle Kevin needed them for the laundry machines. Again they told me that I was being a silly daddy.

Seeing that they understood the concept of making a trade, I then explained that as Angels fans we want the Angels to win as many games as they can. We want to see them win the World Series again.

Next, I explained how the Angels needed pitching, particularly starting pitching. So for us, starting pitching was like the quarters for uncle Kevin. We needed it to get to the playoffs. And, just like uncle Kevin giving them $1 bills to trade for the quarters, we needed to trade something of equal value to get it.

They then asked me all about the pitchers we were getting back. They asked me if I thought that they were good, how hard they threw, and if they threw any tricky pitches. I answered all their questions, told them about Hector Santiago’s screwball (which for 7 and 5 year olds had them laughing and excited), and even told them how we traded Tyler Skaggs for Dan Haren and then traded to get him back. They found it all fascinating.

They asked me if I thought it was a good trade, and I said “yes.” I explained how I thought we would win more games next year and would be a stronger team overall. I didn’t want to build up their expectations too much, but I said that because of the trade we might be able to make more moves to help us get to the playoffs next year.

They were very excited.

We then discussed the importance of wishing Mark Trumbo well with his new team and that we would miss watching him. We decided that we would follow him with the Diamondbacks to see if he can hit 40 or more homeruns with his new team. They thought that would be cool. We agreed that we wanted him to do well when he played every team other than the Angels (because as they said he might hit a Trumbomb and beat the Angels and that would be not good).

When we were done talking about the trade, my eldest looked at me and said “Daddy, I hope the new pitchers have a lot of quarters.”

A bit confused, I asked him why he said that.

He replied “Because Mark Trumbo is worth one hundred dollars . . . and that’s a lot of quarters!”

By David Saltzer, AngelsWin.com Senior Writer

As an Angels fan, I am very pleased with the 3-way trade that the Angels made involving the Diamondbacks and White Sox. The Angels needed to get younger, better, controllable pitching and got back in value as much (or more) than what they gave up.

As a parent, though, this trade presented a tough problem for me. Mark Trumbo was one of my sons’ favorite players. They loved his mammoth homeruns and would emulate his swing whenever he went to the plate. They loved yelling Trumbomb whenever he hit one out of the park.

For my eldest, this would be even more difficult. Mark Trumbo gave him his very first autograph. Prior to the start of the Little League season, Mark came out to help encourage the boys and parents prepare the fields and signed an autograph for my son.

Driving home from work, I thought about all the things I would have to explain to my boys in order to get them to understand a trade. My eldest is in 2nd grade and my youngest are twins in Kindergarten.

When I got home from work, my sons came running up to me and asked me what happened with the Angels and Mark Trumbo. Apparently on the radio they had heard that the Angels did something with him, and they wanted me to explain it to them.

Since they are all learning about the value of money and how to make change, I thought I would use an analogy to help them understand what happened. I started off by asking them to make change for a dollar for me using their quarters. I told them that their uncle Kevin needed some quarters to do laundry in his apartment building and had given me three $1 bills to get some quarters for his laundry.

They all got me 4 quarters from their savings. I was pleased with their math.

I then asked them if it was a fair trade to trade a $1 bill for 4 quarters. They said “yes” because 4 quarters was worth $1. Since both amounts were the same, it was a fair and even trade. They then told me that I was being a silly daddy and that I should know that already (after all, they knew that).

I then asked them if there were times when a person might need 4 quarters instead of a $1 bill. They said “yes” and said that uncle Kevin needed them for the laundry machines. Again they told me that I was being a silly daddy.

Seeing that they understood the concept of making a trade, I then explained that as Angels fans we want the Angels to win as many games as they can. We want to see them win the World Series again.

Next, I explained how the Angels needed pitching, particularly starting pitching. So for us, starting pitching was like the quarters for uncle Kevin. We needed it to get to the playoffs. And, just like uncle Kevin giving them $1 bills to trade for the quarters, we needed to trade something of equal value to get it.

They then asked me all about the pitchers we were getting back. They asked me if I thought that they were good, how hard they threw, and if they threw any tricky pitches. I answered all their questions, told them about Hector Santiago’s screwball (which for 7 and 5 year olds had them laughing and excited), and even told them how we traded Tyler Skaggs for Dan Haren and then traded to get him back. They found it all fascinating.

They asked me if I thought it was a good trade, and I said “yes.” I explained how I thought we would win more games next year and would be a stronger team overall. I didn’t want to build up their expectations too much, but I said that because of the trade we might be able to make more moves to help us get to the playoffs next year.

They were very excited.

We then discussed the importance of wishing Mark Trumbo well with his new team and that we would miss watching him. We decided that we would follow him with the Diamondbacks to see if he can hit 40 or more homeruns with his new team. They thought that would be cool. We agreed that we wanted him to do well when he played every team other than the Angels (because as they said he might hit a Trumbomb and beat the Angels and that would be not good).

When we were done talking about the trade, my eldest looked at me and said “Daddy, I hope the new pitchers have a lot of quarters.”

A bit confused, I asked him why he said that.

He replied “Because Mark Trumbo is worth one hundred dollars . . . and that’s a lot of quarters!”

By Ellen Bell, AngelsWin.com Staff Writer -  
Tis the Season that my husband and I head to Angels Stadium to pick out our season seats for the year. We gather with other fans and scan the empty ballpark, looking for white-papered seats that are newly available. We run-walk to the place we want to spend the summer watching baseball and imagine the possibilities of the season to come. Each year we get to choose in order of seniority; grouped by when we first bought our seats. This year, we made it to group A...as in, we’re Ahead of all you suckers in groups B and C...
I know, I know..that’s pretty lame. But I haven’t had the chance to talk baseball smack in almost two years. I’m a little rusty.
We took our place near the front of the line and I thought of the ghosts of Seat Selection Day past. The Pujols Signing. The Josh Hamilton Surprise. Years and years of Angels baseball possibilities and expectations, wrapped up in one, off-season day when we try out our new view for the summer to come.
Most years we’ve changed our seats, inching ever closer to home plate, hoping to improve on the year before with a new perspective on things. This year, we decided to stay put; to remain faithful to the place we were before. Instead of switching things up to the latest and the greatest, we’ve decided to stick with our seats as we stand by our team.
In reality, Seat Selection Day happens at the perfect time. It’s the season of wish lists, and shiny new toys, and Christmas miracles. This is the perfect time for the baseball fan since we are the biggest dreamers of all. Every spring we scan the fresh, green field and hope for the best. We invest our hearts and believe that this could be our year, even if the lineup and baseball writers tell us otherwise.
So, as I sat in my familiar seat looking out over a very familiar field, I thought about my Christmas wishes for the Angels. A shiny, new left-handed ace on the mound, the latest and greatest young prospect to bloom in April, and a big, fat stocking full of cash to make Mike Trout giggle with glee.
It reminded me that one of the best gifts that baseball gives me this time of year is hope for a fresh start in the spring and sweet dreams for celebration in October.
What do you wish for?
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The Angels are generating a lot of action in Major League Baseball's Stand Up To Cancer Auction, with Mike Trout's meet-and-greet package leading the way.
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By Ellen Bell, AngelsWin.com Staff Writer -  
Tis the Season that my husband and I head to Angels Stadium to pick out our season seats for the year. We gather with other fans and scan the empty ballpark, looking for white-papered seats that are newly available. We run-walk to the place we want to spend the summer watching baseball and imagine the possibilities of the season to come. Each year we get to choose in order of seniority; grouped by when we first bought our seats. This year, we made it to group A...as in, we’re Ahead of all you suckers in groups B and C...
I know, I know..that’s pretty lame. But I haven’t had the chance to talk baseball smack in almost two years. I’m a little rusty.
We took our place near the front of the line and I thought of the ghosts of Seat Selection Day past. The Pujols Signing. The Josh Hamilton Surprise. Years and years of Angels baseball possibilities and expectations, wrapped up in one, off-season day when we try out our new view for the summer to come.
Most years we’ve changed our seats, inching ever closer to home plate, hoping to improve on the year before with a new perspective on things. This year, we decided to stay put; to remain faithful to the place we were before. Instead of switching things up to the latest and the greatest, we’ve decided to stick with our seats as we stand by our team.
In reality, Seat Selection Day happens at the perfect time. It’s the season of wish lists, and shiny new toys, and Christmas miracles. This is the perfect time for the baseball fan since we are the biggest dreamers of all. Every spring we scan the fresh, green field and hope for the best. We invest our hearts and believe that this could be our year, even if the lineup and baseball writers tell us otherwise.
So, as I sat in my familiar seat looking out over a very familiar field, I thought about my Christmas wishes for the Angels. A shiny, new left-handed ace on the mound, the latest and greatest young prospect to bloom in April, and a big, fat stocking full of cash to make Mike Trout giggle with glee.
It reminded me that one of the best gifts that baseball gives me this time of year is hope for a fresh start in the spring and sweet dreams for celebration in October.
What do you wish for?
View the full article

By trading away Mark Trumbo, the Angels gained two young, controllable left-handed starters while clearing about $4 million in payroll. Now they can really hit the free-agent market.
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By Greg Bearringer, AngelsWin.com Columnist -

The narrative for this trade has been written out since the Angels once again dug themselves a huge hole they couldn't dig themselves out of early in the season-- and Joe Blanton was a target for a lot of it, since he symbolized the #1 problem for the Angels: starting pitching.

You know, already, the position the Angels found themselves in heading into the Winter meetings: two starters needed; $15 Million or so to spend; Mark Trumbo and Howie Kendrick as the two top  trade pieces.

So How did they do? Lets look at the trade:

Angels:
Trade: Mark Trumbo, 2 Players to be named later (Diamondbacks)
Receive: Hector Santiago (White Sox) and Tyler Skaggs (D'backs)

Diamondbacks:
Trade: Tyler Skaggs (Angels), Adam Eaton (White Sox)
Recieve: Mark Trumbo, 2 Players to be named later (From Angels)

White Sox:
Recieve: Adam Eaton
Trade: Hector Santiago

This deal makes the most sense, perhaps, for the White Sox, who are rebuilding without cutting payroll (at least not yet). Eaton would give them a young, quality player who can play defense and get on base, which is something they sorely lack. While Santiago is a young pitcher, he doesn't have a super long track record of success as a starter and has spent some time in the bullpen. He's also not an ace and won't have much value over the next two years, assuming they aren't competing for a playoff spot in a talented (if volatile, outside of Detroit) division.  Eaton gives them their best center fielder since Aaron Rowand. Yikes.

As for the Diamondbacks, this deal is a head scratcher. This team has four outfielders good enough to start, and are swapping the best of the group and a decent (if flawed) prospect for still ANOTHER outfielder. I know they must be wanting protection for Paul Goldschmidt, but Trumbo's low OPB and high strikeout rates call into question this strategy. He has many good qualities: 35 homers is a mid range estimate on how many home runs he'll hit in that park and in the National league. He's also not absolutely terrible in the outfield. He's also a lot cheaper than the other sluggers on the market, which will allow them to sign or trade for a top of the rotation starter. And in the NL, Goldschmidt/ Trumbo is a darn good heart of the lineup.

As for the prospects the Diamondbacks are receiving, the names will obviously be important in the final judgement of the deal. However, the Angels will gladly give them up since they don't have any tier-1 prospects (though CJ Cron and the unlucky Kaleb Cowart are close), and their need for pitching is so dire that risking one of them pullin' a Corbin on them is worth it. Taylor Lindsey ( the best current long-term option at second base, depending on your opinion of Grant Green) would probably sting the most, especially if Kendrick is still on the market.

For the Angels: their work isn't done. Santiago has decent stats last season, but was a tad lucky last season (..289 BABIP). He's know for throwing a screwball despite the fact that he doesn't throw it often or effectively. He is mainly a fastball/ change up guy, which he throws about 93 and 83 MPH, respectively. As a guy with a control problem (5.1 BB/ 9), he should focus on his Fastball/change up/ Curve combination, which give him the most whiffs of all his pitches. (He also throws a cutter, which might be a useful "show-me" pitch  for now and is good enough to develop over the next couple of seasons).  Thinking of him as a solid #4 option is probably best for Angels fans who want to temper expectation. His upside is higher than that, and he might reach it pretty soon with more experience on the mound PLUS a move to a much more pitcher friendly park.

Tyler Skaggs is a guy who has always been about projection, going back to when he was with the Angels the first time around.  He has a change up that still needs to develop but could compliment his other pitches nicely. He eventually got his fastball up to the mid-90's, which complimented his wicked, high 70's/low 80's curve ball. However, a big drop in his velocity is cause for concern, ending last season in the upper 80's too often to be effective. However, we've seen pitchers loose velocity before and it comes back just often enough to think this is a good upside play for the Angels. Upside in a nutshell: his curveball is frightening and his left-handedness is valuable. 

Like I said: their work isn't done. They need to give Skaggs enough time to show his velocity has returned, and they still don't have a good enough #5 to allow him the necessary time in the minors. They still have Howie Kendrick and about $19 Million still laying around, so I'd expect another starter and a DH to come down the pike pretty soon, either  via trade or signing.  Adding someone like Matt Garza-- or, heck, even someone with less upside-- would allow them to complete their rotation and allow them to potentially trade Kendrick for prospects, which the Angels desperately need.

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By Robert Cunningham, AngelsWin.com Staff Writer - 
First a trivia question: Who is the missing 10th member from the following list of 2013 starting pitchers?


Perhaps the more important question is would you like to see the Angels acquire/sign the missing player based simply on the quality of the other names on that list?

Not convinced?

What if I also told you that the missing player gave up fewer home runs every 9 innings than Stephen Strasburg? Would that pique your interest?

No?

What if I also told you that the missing player walked fewer batters every 9 innings than Jose Fernandez? That should get you excited, right?

Still not there yet?

What if I also told you that the missing player has the highest groundball percentage out of that entire group? In fact out of all 139 pitchers that threw 100 innings or more last year, this pitcher has the 11th highest ground ball to fly ball ratio, making him a real groundball machine! That has to give you a warm-fuzzy right?

Give up?

The list above contains the names of the top 10 hardest thrown fastballs (vFA) by starting pitchers with at least 100 innings pitched in 2013 and the missing player is none other than our very own Garrett Richards!



Garrett’s fastball (vFA) velocity is pretty elite and when you combine it with his hard slider (vSL), change-up (vCH), and curveball (vCU), along with low home run and walk rates, you have the ingredients for a quality starting pitcher.

Now Richards is still young and making adjustments to Major League hitters so the expectations should be tempered with the realization that Garrett still has a lot to learn. Garrett’s learning arc would best be served by a spot in the back-end of the rotation where the pressure to be “the guy” is reduced and he can just focus on making his pitches on a consistent basis.

Although the Angels should still approach their off-season with the goal of acquiring a front-of-the-rotation starter, the front office has to be pleased with Garrett’s potential and progress that he made last season and what it could mean for the team’s success in 2014.

For Garrett to really triumph he will really have to learn to trust the movement in all of his secondary pitches. Richards’s slider has solid wipeout potential and if he can increase the use and quality of his curveball, which has excellent vertical drop, along with even a merely average change-up he will be a force to be reckoned with on the mound.

One final detail is that Garrett will have to find a way to get left-handed hitters out on a more consistent basis. Over his Major League career LHH’s have gotten under the ball (home runs) nearly twice as much as RHH’s. This is why it would be important for Garrett to improve the quality and use of his change-up as it could help mitigate left-handed hitters and the damage they do against him.

2014 will be Garrett’s year to really shine and show what he can do in a full season of starts for the Halo’s. I for one don’t think he will disappoint!

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By Greg Bearringer, AngelsWin.com Columnist - 
As I witnessed the rest of the league (specifically the AL west) make a flurry of moves over the past few days, I began to wonder just what the Angels are waiting on. Of course, the week before free agency opens in hardly the time for panic, but it is the off-season; a few days can crawl by very, very,very, very slowly.

Part of the problem is that the Angels have begun leaking out information to the press the past few days. "We can't get fair value for Trumbo," the GM says. "Unless they get a good deal for Kendrick, we might have to find two pitchers for the price of two Blanton's", we're told. The question is: what if this is true? What if the offseason is "Freese, Smith, Salas,  Scott Feldman, and Bartolo Colon or something?"

Now, before I go further let me just say that this is almost certainly not the end of the Angels off-season. Once Robinson Cano lands somewhere, teams needing a  second baseman might begin to view Kendrick more favorably. Ditto for Stephen Drew and Erick Aybar.  Personally, I'd love to see a three team trade where the Angels end up with Trevor Cahill or Yovanni Gallardo plus a decent prospect, but we need to remember: off-seasons are weird. "We're done for the offseason" can turn into "welcome Josh Hamilton!"  in a heartbeat. We should also remember that lower expectations are always in the best interest of an organization when it comes to the offseason. If Moreno ends up exceeding the luxury tax and signing a big name free agent or if somehow David Price is the opening day starter in Anaheim, the Angels look like geniuses. If they screw the pooch and end up feeding off  the fetid carrion of a picked-over pitching market (I imagine Dipoto exclaiming, "look, I found a nice hunk of Scott Baker!" to a ravenous Scioscia), then they are simply fulfilling the expectations they set.

Anyway, back to my premise. If this is the Angels off-season, have the Angels improved? The answer would have to be "yes", though with major qualifiers. First, if the Angels can just get "average" out of the two pitchers they end up with, they will have a much improved rotation. Assuming that Sean Burnett returns to form, the Angels bullpen is greatly improved -- even if Joe Smith is mid-grade fuel acquired for  the premium price. The line up is roughly the same as the 5th highest scoring line-up in the AL-- with the addition of a hopefully-healthy Albert Pujols, a huge improvement at third in David Freese, and some presumed improvement by Josh Hamilton. Not loosing Kendrick helps raise the floor of offensive production, and would probably help the defense improve simply out of continuity.

The real question is: would this team plus two average inning-eaters be improved enough to contend for the AL West? The answer, however much it pains me to say it, is probably "no". Even if we take two 200 inning, 4.30 ERA starters as a given, the club still has one-too-many question marks. For starters, the line up is dependent upon improvement by two players who needed to be great and weren't  (Pujols and Hamilton) and the continued quality performance of a rookie (Kole Calhoun). Secondly, there is little depth on the roster outside of  shuffling around Mark Trumbo or hoping that Grant Green isn't a defensive nightmare. The viability of the rotation is dependent upon Jered Weaver not loosing more velocity off his fastball and hoping that the good Garret Richards shows up more often than the bad Garret Richards.

This is the "glass half-empty" view, but it is pretty realistic. If Hamilton and Pujols start playing up to their potential, that plus two average pitchers will have the Angels winning a whole lot more. However, he last two seasons have shown us that "just enough" in the rotation is never enough across a whole season.  I think the Angels need at least one starting pitcher whose description doesn't start with the term "innings eater". It doesn't have to be an ace; it could be a reclamation project with upside or, preferably, a solid no. 3 starter. And, for the record, I think the Angels get just that next week. If they don't, the Angels will probably be hunting for a new GM and manager. The AL west is going to be a fight next year, and they need to make sure that they can take a hit and keep on punching. 

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By Jonathan Northrop, AngelsWin.com Columnist -
Yesterday, Angels General Manager Jerry Dipoto made his first big splash of the offseason, trading Peter Bourjos and Randal Grichuk to the Cardinals for David Freese and Fernando Salas, and in so doing stirred up a hornets nest among Angels fans. A majority hated the trade; Bourjos was a homegrown talent and beloved for his incredible defense and dynamic play, while Grichuk was a former first-round draft pick in a farm system devoid of talent. Some, however, liked the trade in that it filled a need the team had for a solid third baseman.   Hopefully the dust is settling a bit today and we can start to get a clearer look at the ramifications of this trade. In this article, I'm going to try to take a broad view of this trade, or at least see it from multiple angles. To start, let's look at each player individually:   Peter Bourjos: We all know Peter is a great defensive center fielder. He is probably no more than an average hitter, although his career numbers--.251/.306/.398--aren't truly representative of his abilities because he's been injured a few times over the last two years and accrued less than 400 plate appearances in that span of time. When Peter is healthy, he's a game changer. I've likened him to Darin Erstad (sans Erstad's 2000 outlier). Again, if healthy Peter could very well hit .280/.340/.420 and be a 4 fWAR player. He's going to love playing in the National League and should be ecstatic playing for the Cardinals, who remain one of the very best franchises in baseball.   Randal Grichuk: Grichuk is (in)famous for being the player the Angels drafted one slot before Trout, presumably to slightly reduce Trout's draft money. Grichuk's rise through the minors has been much slower than Trout's, and without the impact or fanfare. But he's still a decent prospect, holding his own in AA last year at age 21, hitting .256/.306/.474 with 22 HR in a pitcher's park. Grichuk hasn't had that massive breakthrough Angels fans have been hoping for for a few years, but he's also still on the young side for his level. His main problem is - surprise, surprise - plate discipline. Right now he looks like another Trumbo.   David Freese: Freese is best known for his World Series heroics in 2011. He followed that up with a breakout season in 2012, hitting .293/.372/.467 and a 4.0 fWAR. Yet last year he fell apart, hitting .262/.340/.381 with a 0.3 fWAR and terrible defense. He's going to be 31 in 2014 and has serious health concerns, but when healthy he's a very good player. From 2011-12, among players with at least 500 plate appearances, he was 8th in fWAR (6.6) among all major league third basemen.   Fernando Salas: Dial back a couple years and Salas would be a welcome addition to the Angels bullpen. He was excellent in 2011, with a 2.28 ERA, 21 walks and 75 strikeouts in 75 IP. His walk and hit rate jumped in 2012, leading to a 4.30 ERA. Last year he only pitched in 28 innings, reducing his walk rate, but his ERA was still poor at 4.50.    From the Cardinals Perspective They didn't need Freese. Not only does he have major question marks, but they need to make room in the infield for talented Kolten Wong. Salas was probably a non-tender candidate with no place in their ultra-talented pitching staff. In other words, they were both spare parts and didn't lose anything by trading them away.   Peter Bourjos is the definition of a great buy-low player. He's coming off an injury-plagued year that saw him, when healthy, look like a game changer. Some Cardinals fans see him as the fourth outfielder, but (again, if healthy) he'll be the starting center fielder, with Jay returning to the role best suited for him - as a 4th outfielder.   As for Grichuk, he's a decent prospect with some upside. He's still relatively young for his level--22 in AAA next year. The Cardinals insisted upon his inclusion in the trade and may feel that they can help develop him into a very good player.   Best Case Scenario for the Cardinals: Bourjos is healthy and thrives, becoming a 4+ fWAR player and a minor star. Grichuk breaks out and gives the Cardinals a plus hitter in the future, or at least a more valuable trading chip.   From the Angels Perspective Third base has consistently been the biggest hole in the Angels lineup since Troy Glaus departed after the 2004 season. Chone Figgins transformed from a super UT player to a solid, then excellent, defensive third baseman, but then departed after 2009. For the last four years the Angels have essentially filled the space with various players, particularly Alberto Callaspo, and then Chris Nelson last year, even trying Trumbo there for a few games. The hope was for someone to hold it down until top prospect Kaleb Cowart arrived in 2014 or 2015. But Cowart stalled big time last year and needs at least another year to find himself, and the Angels were hesitant to give the job to Luis Jimenez, whose glove is excellent but his bat not so much.   Freese is a health risk but could also produce well for the Angels in 2014 and possibly 2015, and give Cowart time to develop.   As for Salas, he's another possible reclamation project. He gives the Angels another option, and is certainly better than Gutierrez, but it might be too much to hope that he regains his 2011 form.   As with Freese and Salas for the Cardinals, neither Bourjos or Grichuk had a clear place in the Angels future, whether 2014 or beyond. The Angels organization is strong in two areas: outfielders and middle infielders, so their best trading chips come from those areas.   Best Case Scenario: Freese is healthy and hits .290/.800 or so, with solid defense. Salas thrives in Anaheim and becomes another solid middle reliever ala Dane de la Rosa.   My Take I can understand why some are happy with this trade. It doesn't actually worsen the team next year, except possibly the outfield defense (although I think Trout will bounce back and be a plus center fielder again) and potentially  shores up third base for a year or two. If I put on my pollyanna glasses, I can even see how this trade helps the team, at least for a year or two. The Angels had three needs this offseason, two dire (starting pitching and bullpen) and one not as dire but still serious (third base). Dipoto could be seen to working his way up.   I also like the fact that Kole Calhoun is all but assured of a starting job in 2014. I've been a big supporter of Kole ever since he was drafted and started raking (and taking walks!) in 2010 at Orem. Somewhere around then I called him "Baby Brian Giles" in that I felt he had a similar profile. Kole continued to excel at every level, even skipping AA. I crossed my fingers that the Angels wouldn't trade him, feeling that he was under-appreciated and would be better than expected. So far it seems that I was right. While I never expect him to be as good as Giles was, I do think he's capable of being an above average player - even a borderline star, with an upside not far from Shin-Soo Choo.   That said, I don't like this trade. I understand that Bourjos wasn't getting the type of interest that we fans who have seem him play deserved, but that's exactly why you don't trade that type of player. Dipoto sold low, and made yet another desperation move. To add insult to injury, he traded away yet another of the organization's few decent prospects and only received a questionable middle reliever in return.   I wouldn't say I hate this trade as I see it potentially improving the team in the near future. It does trade from a position of strength to one of weakness, but while the Cardinals come off looking like geniuses - losing nothing and potentially gaining a lot - the Angels end up looking desperate.   There's also the matter of age. In 2014, Bourjos will be 27 and Grichuk 22. Freese, on the other hand, will be 31 and Salas 29. At a time when the farm system is arguably the worst in baseball, this is not the time to get older.   Now while I think this trade could help the team in the short term, it is yet another questionable move that clarifies my view that Dipoto is not who we hoped he was two years ago: a sabermetrically minded (or at least aware) GM that is able to make lemonade out of lemons. If you look at his transaction record over the last couple years, he's had far more misses than hits. In fact, there are no moves that really stand out as huge successes. Even someone like CJ Wilson, who has performed well for the Angels, is not quite as good as we hoped, or as he was for the Rangers - despite moving from a hitter's paradise to a pitcher's park (his fWAR total as an Angel in two years is the same as his last year as a Ranger, 5.4).   Even trades that looked good at the time they were made - like Amarista and Roach for Frieri, Chatwood for Iannetta, or Segura, Pena and Hellweg for Greinke - haven't turned out as well as hoped. Dipoto's supporters cry "hindsight is 20-20!" but the problem is that, we're finding that nearly every trade Dipoto makes ends up looking back in hindsight. At some point a GM - whose job is partially to be able to project into the future - has to take responsibility for this.   Maybe Jerry's just growing up. He's only been at the helm for two years and has the lurking (and meddling) presence of Arte Moreno forever over his shoulder. This isn't a trade of Wellsian proportions and so we shouldn't give up all hope for the franchise, the 2014 season, or even Jerry Dipoto. But I don't feel a lot of faith right now in his ability to turn this flailing franchise around; I'm still waiting for the lemonade.

By David Saltzer, AngelsWin.com Senior Writer -   

The Angels season ended over a month ago. The last pitch of the World Series has already been thrown. And yet, one of the most significant series for the 2013 was about to begin.

Saturday, November 2nd, 2013 was a gorgeous day in Orange County-the kind of day that makes the rest of the country jealous. It was in the low 80s, sunny, clear, with a light breeze. It was the perfect day for baseball.

I went to Angels stadium to attend the 8th Annual Orange County Little League® Challenger Classic. Over 900 children with physical and mental disabilities from 30 Challenger Division Little League teams throughout Orange County were given the opportunity of a lifetime: to play a game on the field at Angels Stadium. Developed as a partnership between The Angels Baseball Foundation and the Bank of America, I was in for a day of smiles.

See for yourself in my slideshow of pictures below.   
 
To be honest, this was the first time I had heard of this game. Although I have a nephew with special needs, he is not yet old enough to play baseball. And, he lives in the Valley, a distance away from Angels Stadium.

From the moment I arrived at the stadium, the excitement was palpable. The sheer joy and excitement was everywhere. Smiles were everywhere. Players told me that they slept in their uniforms so that they would be fully prepared for the day's events.

As I watched the players come onto the field, cheered on by local area cheerleaders, I wanted to find out how such an incredible opportunity came into being. I spoke with Dr. Darrell Burnett, a local area sports psychologist to find out more about how this event came into being. Like many great events, it was an accidental encounter between people wanting to do good for the community.

Click below to listen to an interview with Dr. Darrell Burnett.  
 
I also spoke with Mark Merhab, the Chairman of the Angels Foundation to find out more about how the Angels, under the direction of Mr. and Mrs. Moreno, have supported charities in and around Orange County. I was surprised to learn that in the past decade, the Morenos have donated over $3 million dollars through their foundation to over 400 charities and groups! That's a lot of good work in our community!

Click below to listen to my interview with Mark Merhab.    
Due to the overwhelming number of players and teams, the day was divided into 4 sessions starting every 2 hours throughout the day. Each session got the opportunity to come onto the field through a crowd of cheerleaders and Bank of America volunteers, stretch, sing the National Anthem and recite the Little League® Pledge. Players were all smiles.

And then they got to play. But, they didn't get to play by themselves. Every session had current and former Angels players who came out to join in the fun. These included current Angels Jerome Williams and Steve Soliz and former Angels Jim Abbott, Bobby Grich, Clyde Wright, and Justin Speier.

Click below to watch my interview with Jim Abbott.    
Click below to watch my interview with Chuck Finley.
 
 
Click below to watch my interview with Justin Speier.

 
Click below to watch my interview with Jerome Williams.
 
 
Click below to watch my interview with Clyde Wright.
 
 
Talking with all of them, it was clear that they got more out of the event than they gave. Never had I seen an Angels pitcher smile so much as he gave up hit after hit (and even a few home runs that went over the fence)!

This event could not have occurred without all the hard work from over 350 Bank of America volunteers and Little League® Buddies who came out to support the players and the game of baseball. However, all baseball fans are welcome and can attend the event to cheer on the players. I guarantee if you do come next year, you will leave with a smile that will last all day.

As we head into the holiday season, and think about how we can help those in our community, there are many ways to support those in need. Baseball is a great way to connect with the community. AngelsWin.com has proudly supported the Orange County Miracle League and has supported many of our own members in tough times. That's part of our commitment to the #AngelsFamily.

Remember, you can also support many worthwhile causes through the Angels Baseball Foundation to share your love of baseball with those who need it most in Southern California. So, while shopping for that special Angels fan this holiday season, consider buying him/her an Angels brick and know that your gift will not only put a smile on his/her face, but on the faces of many through the Angels Foundation.

By David Saltzer, AngelsWin.com Senior Writer -   

The Angels season ended over a month ago. The last pitch of the World Series has already been thrown. And yet, one of the most significant series for the 2013 was about to begin.

Saturday, November 2nd, 2013 was a gorgeous day in Orange County-the kind of day that makes the rest of the country jealous. It was in the low 80s, sunny, clear, with a light breeze. It was the perfect day for baseball.

I went to Angels stadium to attend the 8th Annual Orange County Little League® Challenger Classic. Over 900 children with physical and mental disabilities from 30 Challenger Division Little League teams throughout Orange County were given the opportunity of a lifetime: to play a game on the field at Angels Stadium. Developed as a partnership between The Angels Baseball Foundation and the Bank of America, I was in for a day of smiles.

See for yourself in my slideshow of pictures below.   
 
To be honest, this was the first time I had heard of this game. Although I have a nephew with special needs, he is not yet old enough to play baseball. And, he lives in the Valley, a distance away from Angels Stadium.

From the moment I arrived at the stadium, the excitement was palpable. The sheer joy and excitement was everywhere. Smiles were everywhere. Players told me that they slept in their uniforms so that they would be fully prepared for the day's events.

As I watched the players come onto the field, cheered on by local area cheerleaders, I wanted to find out how such an incredible opportunity came into being. I spoke with Dr. Darrell Burnett, a local area sports psychologist to find out more about how this event came into being. Like many great events, it was an accidental encounter between people wanting to do good for the community.

Click below to listen to an interview with Dr. Darrell Burnett.  
 
I also spoke with Mark Merhab, the Chairman of the Angels Foundation to find out more about how the Angels, under the direction of Mr. and Mrs. Moreno, have supported charities in and around Orange County. I was surprised to learn that in the past decade, the Morenos have donated over $3 million dollars through their foundation to over 400 charities and groups! That's a lot of good work in our community!

Click below to listen to my interview with Mark Merhab.    
Due to the overwhelming number of players and teams, the day was divided into 4 sessions starting every 2 hours throughout the day. Each session got the opportunity to come onto the field through a crowd of cheerleaders and Bank of America volunteers, stretch, sing the National Anthem and recite the Little League® Pledge. Players were all smiles.

And then they got to play. But, they didn't get to play by themselves. Every session had current and former Angels players who came out to join in the fun. These included current Angels Jerome Williams and Steve Soliz and former Angels Jim Abbott, Bobby Grich, Clyde Wright, and Justin Speier.

Click below to watch my interview with Jim Abbott.    
Click below to watch my interview with Chuck Finley.
 
 
Click below to watch my interview with Justin Speier.

 
Click below to watch my interview with Jerome Williams.
 
 
Click below to watch my interview with Clyde Wright.
 
 
Talking with all of them, it was clear that they got more out of the event than they gave. Never had I seen an Angels pitcher smile so much as he gave up hit after hit (and even a few home runs that went over the fence)!

This event could not have occurred without all the hard work from over 350 Bank of America volunteers and Little League® Buddies who came out to support the players and the game of baseball. However, all baseball fans are welcome and can attend the event to cheer on the players. I guarantee if you do come next year, you will leave with a smile that will last all day.

As we head into the holiday season, and think about how we can help those in our community, there are many ways to support those in need. Baseball is a great way to connect with the community. AngelsWin.com has proudly supported the Orange County Miracle League and has supported many of our own members in tough times. That's part of our commitment to the #AngelsFamily.

Remember, you can also support many worthwhile causes through the Angels Baseball Foundation to share your love of baseball with those who need it most in Southern California. So, while shopping for that special Angels fan this holiday season, consider buying him/her an Angels brick and know that your gift will not only put a smile on his/her face, but on the faces of many through the Angels Foundation.

By David Saltzer, AngelsWin.com Senior Writer -   

The Angels season ended over a month ago. The last pitch of the World Series has already been thrown. And yet, one of the most significant series for the 2013 was about to begin.

Saturday, November 2nd, 2013 was a gorgeous day in Orange County-the kind of day that makes the rest of the country jealous. It was in the low 80s, sunny, clear, with a light breeze. It was the perfect day for baseball.

I went to Angels stadium to attend the 8th Annual Orange County Little League® Challenger Classic. Over 900 children with physical and mental disabilities from 30 Challenger Division Little League teams throughout Orange County were given the opportunity of a lifetime: to play a game on the field at Angels Stadium. Developed as a partnership between The Angels Baseball Foundation and the Bank of America, I was in for a day of smiles.

See for yourself in my slideshow of pictures below.   
 
To be honest, this was the first time I had heard of this game. Although I have a nephew with special needs, he is not yet old enough to play baseball. And, he lives in the Valley, a distance away from Angels Stadium.

From the moment I arrived at the stadium, the excitement was palpable. The sheer joy and excitement was everywhere. Smiles were everywhere. Players told me that they slept in their uniforms so that they would be fully prepared for the day's events.

As I watched the players come onto the field, cheered on by local area cheerleaders, I wanted to find out how such an incredible opportunity came into being. I spoke with Dr. Darrell Burnett, a local area sports psychologist to find out more about how this event came into being. Like many great events, it was an accidental encounter between people wanting to do good for the community.

Click below to listen to an interview with Dr. Darrell Burnett.  
 
I also spoke with Mark Merhab, the Chairman of the Angels Foundation to find out more about how the Angels, under the direction of Mr. and Mrs. Moreno, have supported charities in and around Orange County. I was surprised to learn that in the past decade, the Morenos have donated over $3 million dollars through their foundation to over 400 charities and groups! That's a lot of good work in our community!

Click below to listen to my interview with Mark Merhab.    
Due to the overwhelming number of players and teams, the day was divided into 4 sessions starting every 2 hours throughout the day. Each session got the opportunity to come onto the field through a crowd of cheerleaders and Bank of America volunteers, stretch, sing the National Anthem and recite the Little League® Pledge. Players were all smiles.

And then they got to play. But, they didn't get to play by themselves. Every session had current and former Angels players who came out to join in the fun. These included current Angels Jerome Williams and Steve Soliz and former Angels Jim Abbott, Bobby Grich, Clyde Wright, and Justin Speier.

Click below to watch my interview with Jim Abbott.    
Click below to watch my interview with Chuck Finley.
 
 
Click below to watch my interview with Justin Speier.

 
Click below to watch my interview with Jerome Williams.
 
 
Click below to watch my interview with Clyde Wright.
 
 
Talking with all of them, it was clear that they got more out of the event than they gave. Never had I seen an Angels pitcher smile so much as he gave up hit after hit (and even a few home runs that went over the fence)!

This event could not have occurred without all the hard work from over 350 Bank of America volunteers and Little League® Buddies who came out to support the players and the game of baseball. However, all baseball fans are welcome and can attend the event to cheer on the players. I guarantee if you do come next year, you will leave with a smile that will last all day.

As we head into the holiday season, and think about how we can help those in our community, there are many ways to support those in need. Baseball is a great way to connect with the community. AngelsWin.com has proudly supported the Orange County Miracle League and has supported many of our own members in tough times. That's part of our commitment to the #AngelsFamily.

Remember, you can also support many worthwhile causes through the Angels Baseball Foundation to share your love of baseball with those who need it most in Southern California. So, while shopping for that special Angels fan this holiday season, consider buying him/her an Angels brick and know that your gift will not only put a smile on his/her face, but on the faces of many through the Angels Foundation.

By Robert Cunningham, AngelsWin.com Staff Writer - 
Disclaimer: This trade discussion is purely speculative in nature and presents an unlikely example of how the Angels can improve their roster for 2014. FanGraphs WAR stat is used to help evaluate player value, but it is merely a useful guide for this analysis. This series of articles are meant to entertain, generate discussion and to show that there are multiple avenues to improve the team.
Teams Involved:
Note: This is not a multi-team trade. Each of the trades would be separately conducted between the Angels and each other individual team in question.
Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim St. Louis Cardinals San Diego Padres Toronto Blue Jays
Team Needs:
Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim –
The Angels need pitching for both the rotation and bullpen. Additionally a possible upgrade at third base would be desirable. Team budget is a concern (even if Arte Moreno breaks the luxury tax threshold for 2014) so any trade would need to keep the team payroll relatively neutral. Improving their overall farm system is a secondary goal.
St. Louis Cardinals –
The Cardinals are looking for upgrades at both shortstop and center field. Budget is not a concern for them and improving their overall farm system would be icing on the cake as they have probably the premier prospect base in MLB.
San Diego Padres –
The Padres have a stated need for a left-handed bat, a corner outfielder and/or first baseman, and a left-handed reliever. Additionally there is some upheaval surrounding their third baseman Chase Headley so that may be a concern for them as well. The Padres are a small-market team so budget is a concern, requiring any trade to relatively neutral. An improvement to their farm system would also be a bonus for the Padres who already have a good prospect base.
Toronto Blue Jays –
The Jays have made it clear they need to find an upgrade at second base. Also they have stated a desire to acquire a right-handed hitting backup catcher against left-handed pitching. Adding some inexpensive bullpen help could allow them to safely move one or more of their current relievers in trade. The Jays farm system is relatively strong so an improvement there is a bonus.
Players Involved:
‘Adjusted Value Out’ takes the average WAR of a player, over the last three years, and makes minor adjustments for age (decline), scarcity (projected high WAR season), and whether they project to receive a Qualifying Offer.
Please note that prospects are, by nature, inherently cheaper in value. Top prospects, of course, are more valuable than ‘organizational depth’ type prospects and Minor League experience level is also reflected in their value.
Example: The Rangers traded Mike Olt (#57 on MLB 2013 Top 100), Justin Grimm, C.J. Edwards, and Neil Ramirez for essentially $5.1 million (1.1 WAR for 2nd half of 2013) and a half-year of Matt Garza. Although it was a deadline overpay for one mid-level star and three organizational players, it illustrates the point.
This prospect evaluation is reflected in the ‘Adjusted Value Out’ column in the chart above. Those players under contract that are likely eligible for a Qualifying Offer at contract end, which would net the controlling team a compensatory draft pick, adds additional dollars to their ‘Adjusted Value Out’ total.
Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim –
The Angels are coming off a disappointing season and know that in order to compete they need to acquire young, controllable pitching and one of the only ways to accomplish that is through trade of some of their position players.
One of those players is Howie Kendrick. Since early June there has been increasing chatter that Kendrick and the remaining two team-friendly years on his contract could be moved. It is also likely that Howie, at the end of his contract when he enters free agency, will receive a Qualifying Offer which would net a draft pick, increasing his value.
Mark Trumbo is also a player that the Angels might consider parting with in trade. Several teams are looking for a corner outfielder/first baseman and the Angels don’t really have a clear starting position for him in 2014. Trumbo is also likely to receive a Qualifying Offer before hitting free agency, netting a draft pick for the controlling team.
Erick Aybar might be the most painful of these players to part with as our replacement options, although defensively sound, are not offensively oriented to the degree that Erick is. Aybar is a solid shortstop with a team-friendly 3 years remaining on his contract, making him an attractive option for a team in need.
Chris Iannetta also has two years remaining on his team-friendly contract. His positive value would allow the Angels to move him in trade and then sign a catcher who can hit left-handed pitching to backup Hank Conger, who would receive the lion’s share of starts in 2014.
Peter Bourjos, whose performance has been hampered by injuries, is quite possibly the most elite defensive center fielder in the game today but hasn’t had too many opportunities to show it. His offensive game started to take a step forward in 2013 before being hit by a pitch that limited his season. Although trading him right now is a sell low moment, other teams recognize the tremendous value he brings and he will net more than most realize.
Prospects Michael Roth and C.J. Cron are expendable pieces for the Angels, especially the latter who is a first baseman/designated hitter type that probably won’t have a positional home on the team for the foreseeable future. Cron, a first round pick, has some value as a potential power hitter while Roth, a lefty specialist, has quite a bit less.
St. Louis Cardinals –
The Cardinals are coming off a tremendous season where they nearly won it all. St. Louis is flush with cash to compliment a great farm.
Recently there have been rumors that the Cardinals would be willing to move Shelby Miller or Lance Lynn in trade to fill their other needs. They are so deep in pitching that they can also afford to part with another starter/long reliever in Seth Maness, who is a sinker-ball specialist.
San Diego Padres –
The Padres are facing a big question regarding the retention of their current third baseman Chase Headley. The fact that they haven’t been able to sign him to an extension yet leads to the belief that they might move him in trade this offseason. If they do lose Headley, Jedd Gyorko could be moved over to the hot corner and second base could be filled internally (Amarista for instance) or through trade/free agency.
Beyond Headley the Padres have two prospects, Matthew Wisler, a young right-handed pitching prospect, and defensive-whiz, Austin Hedges who are expendable due to the Padres depth in their rotation (Luebke and Wieland should be available next season) and also their team control of Hundley and Grandal at the catcher position for at least the next two years.
Toronto Blue Jays –
Just like the Angels and Phillies, the Blue Jays are also coming off a disappointing season where they were expected to contend. Questions surround their rotation, second base, and at the backup catcher position behind Josh Thole. Looking towards the future when Edwin Encarnacion’s contract expires they could use a power-hitting first baseman.
Although the Blue Jays would be okay with retaining Casey Janssen, their 2013 closer, he could also be moved in trade to fill some roster holes. Janssen could be a one year rental for an acquiring team or a possible extension candidate.
The Blue Jays also have enough pitching depth in AAA that they can afford to part with young right-handed pitching prospect Marcus Stroman (AA) in a trade for the right players.
The Trades:

How Does This Improve Each Team?
Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim –
The Angels, by moving Kendrick, Trumbo, Iannetta, Aybar, Bourjos, Cron and Roth, move a lot of salary off of the books to make room for the acquisition of Shelby Miller, a clear front of the rotation starter.
Essentially the Halos trade five controllable, MLB players and two prospects in exchange for one controllable MLB player, two rental MLB players and four controllable, near-MLB ready prospects.
The net cash results of this trade, for the 2014 season, is a reduction of $11,420,000 in team payroll after we pay about half of Aybar’s 2014 contract in salary relief to the Cardinals and receive about a million each in salary relief for Headley and Iannetta for 2014 only.
If the Angels re-sign Jason Vargas, it would give them a starting five rotation of Jered Weaver, C.J. Wilson, Shelby Miller, Jason Vargas, and Garrett Richards which would be an improvement over the 2013 pitching staff.
In addition to controlling Miller for the next five seasons, we acquire sinker ball pitcher Seth Maness who is very good at limiting both walks and home runs. With the new Angels defensive arrangement behind him (Headley, Romine/Field, Lindsey/Green, and Pujols) he should enjoy quite a bit of success with the Halo’s as either a starter or long reliever.
Additionally, from the Padres, we acquire a one-year rental of one of the better defensive third basemen in the Majors: Chase Headley. Chase is also a switch-hitter who hits RHP better than LHP but is a presence in the middle or top of our batting order. He would also be a secondary extension candidate behind Mike Trout.
Beyond that we also acquire a rising young AA RHP prospect in Matthew Wisler and the young, defensive-wizard catcher Austin Hedges who can act as the primary depth option behind Conger and whomever we sign as a free agent catcher for 2014.
Finally from the Blue Jays we acquire a one-year rental of Casey Janssen who immediately upgrades the back-end of our bullpen and young AA RHP prospect Marcus Stroman who is also a rising star in the Jays farm system.
The net result is that the Angels do improve their rotation and bullpen along with acquiring, at least for 2014, a third baseman that is a significant upgrade over what was available to us internally. We do lose some offense at both shortstop and second base but it is made up by the improvements in other areas.
St. Louis Cardinals –
The Cardinals deal from their impressive farm system by trading away top prospect Shelby Miller and prospect Seth Maness for three years of shortstop Erick Aybar and three years of Peter Bourjos.
Losing Miller or Maness doesn’t hamper the Cardinals rotation options and it allows them to reload for another sustained run at a championship in 2014. In particular the upside of Bourjos, if he avoids injury, is favorable to St. Louis.
Additionally they only had to take on a small amount of total salary ($4,325,000) which will allow them to pursue any and all free agents that they choose to pursue and could even allow them to consummate additional trades to further upgrade their already elite team.
In the end the Cardinals deal from great positions of strength to fortify their main areas of weakness. It would not surprise me to see the Cardinals try to acquire Max Scherzer or another experienced, high-quality starter (maybe even Cliff Lee) to upgrade their rotation in pursuit of another World Series run.
San Diego Padres –
The Padres end up replacing the loss of Headley by moving Gyorko over to third base, his former Minor League position, and acquiring power-hitter Mark Trumbo who they can use at either RF or at first base and the offensive-minded Howie Kendrick to plug in at second base.
This gives the Padres a nice infield of Gyorko, Cabrera, Kendrick, and Alonso/Trumbo. If they want to keep Alonso at first they can move Trumbo to the outfield and trade Will Venable or perhaps Chris Denorfia for some of the pitching depth they want. Also Kendrick has no significant platoon split, giving the Padres added strength vs. RHP.
The catching tandem of Hundley and Grandal mitigates the loss of Hedges. Wisler would probably not contribute significantly this season whereas the likes of Luebke and Wieland probably could help making Wisler’s loss manageable.
San Diego takes on a little over four million in salary for 2014 and pays for almost a million of Headley’s salary, creating a net increase of about $5 million for 2014 which is a reasonable increase for the team payroll. The remaining holes can be filled by a Venable-based trade. The Padres could take a significant step forward in 2014.
Toronto Blue Jays –
The Blue Jays end up using their farm system and bullpen depth to acquire the right-handed hitting catcher they need along with a first base power hitting prospect.
Chris Iannetta would become the backup catcher to Josh Thole, creating a nice catching platoon for the Blue Jays. Chris has a reasonably priced, two-year contract which is a good fit for the Blue Jays current window of contention.
C.J. Cron places a left-handed hitting power prospect who can possibly be the first baseman or DH in the coming years. This would provide insurance behind Edwin Encarnacion and allow the Blue Jays to deal Adam Lind for starting pitching help. Cron could possibly take over first base in two years if Edwin leaves or could hit in the DH spot.
The Blue Jays take on nearly $975,000 in salary for the 2014 season along with an additional $1,100,000 in salary relief for Casey Janssen which is a reasonable increase for their team payroll.
Conclusion:
The actual individual trades are fairly reasonable. Probably the most disagreement will center on the Miller-Maness for Aybar-Bourjos trade. Just so you understand I assumed Peter would project for a 2.4 WAR season in 2014, 3.1 WAR in 2015, and 3.5 War in 2016, his walk year.
These are reasonable values in my opinion and it only reinforces the idea that Bourjos is a valuable commodity. Some focus so much on his offense that they forget he is one of the top 3 defensive center fielders in the game today. Run prevention is criminally underrated by the fans but luckily not so by MLB teams.
Although this was a fun thought exercise it does show what some extreme creativity can do to improve a team. In reality, the likelihood that the team completely sells off all of the players in this scenario is pretty remo

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By David Saltzer, AngelsWin.com Senior Writer -   

The Angels season ended over a month ago. The last pitch of the World Series has already been thrown. And yet, one of the most significant series for the 2013 was about to begin.

Saturday, November 2nd, 2013 was a gorgeous day in Orange County-the kind of day that makes the rest of the country jealous. It was in the low 80s, sunny, clear, with a light breeze. It was the perfect day for baseball.

I went to Angels stadium to attend the 8th Annual Orange County Little League® Challenger Classic. Over 900 children with physical and mental disabilities from 30 Challenger Division Little League teams throughout Orange County were given the opportunity of a lifetime: to play a game on the field at Angels Stadium. Developed as a partnership between The Angels Baseball Foundation and the Bank of America, I was in for a day of smiles.

See for yourself in my slideshow of pictures below.   
 
To be honest, this was the first time I had heard of this game. Although I have a nephew with special needs, he is not yet old enough to play baseball. And, he lives in the Valley, a distance away from Angels Stadium.

From the moment I arrived at the stadium, the excitement was palpable. The sheer joy and excitement was everywhere. Smiles were everywhere. Players told me that they slept in their uniforms so that they would be fully prepared for the day's events.

As I watched the players come onto the field, cheered on by local area cheerleaders, I wanted to find out how such an incredible opportunity came into being. I spoke with Dr. Darrell Burnett, a local area sports psychologist to find out more about how this event came into being. Like many great events, it was an accidental encounter between people wanting to do good for the community.

Click below to listen to an interview with Dr. Darrell Burnett.  
 
I also spoke with Mark Merhab, the Chairman of the Angels Foundation to find out more about how the Angels, under the direction of Mr. and Mrs. Moreno, have supported charities in and around Orange County. I was surprised to learn that in the past decade, the Morenos have donated over $3 million dollars through their foundation to over 400 charities and groups! That's a lot of good work in our community!

Click below to listen to my interview with Mark Merhab.    
Due to the overwhelming number of players and teams, the day was divided into 4 sessions starting every 2 hours throughout the day. Each session got the opportunity to come onto the field through a crowd of cheerleaders and Bank of America volunteers, stretch, sing the National Anthem and recite the Little League® Pledge. Players were all smiles.

And then they got to play. But, they didn't get to play by themselves. Every session had current and former Angels players who came out to join in the fun. These included current Angels Jerome Williams and Steve Soliz and former Angels Jim Abbott, Bobby Grich, Clyde Wright, and Justin Speier.

Click below to watch my interview with Jim Abbott.    
Click below to watch my interview with Chuck Finley.
 
 
Click below to watch my interview with Justin Speier.

 
Click below to watch my interview with Jerome Williams.
 
 
Click below to watch my interview with Clyde Wright.
 
 
Talking with all of them, it was clear that they got more out of the event than they gave. Never had I seen an Angels pitcher smile so much as he gave up hit after hit (and even a few home runs that went over the fence)!

This event could not have occurred without all the hard work from over 350 Bank of America volunteers and Little League® Buddies who came out to support the players and the game of baseball. However, all baseball fans are welcome and can attend the event to cheer on the players. I guarantee if you do come next year, you will leave with a smile that will last all day.

As we head into the holiday season, and think about how we can help those in our community, there are many ways to support those in need. Baseball is a great way to connect with the community. AngelsWin.com has proudly supported the Orange County Miracle League and has supported many of our own members in tough times. That's part of our commitment to the #AngelsFamily.

Remember, you can also support many worthwhile causes through the Angels Baseball Foundation to share your love of baseball with those who need it most in Southern California. So, while shopping for that special Angels fan this holiday season, consider buying him/her an Angels brick and know that your gift will not only put a smile on his/her face, but on the faces of many through the Angels Foundation.

By David Saltzer, AngelsWin.com Senior Writer -   

The Angels season ended over a month ago. The last pitch of the World Series has already been thrown. And yet, one of the most significant series for the 2013 was about to begin.

Saturday, November 2nd, 2013 was a gorgeous day in Orange County-the kind of day that makes the rest of the country jealous. It was in the low 80s, sunny, clear, with a light breeze. It was the perfect day for baseball.

I went to Angels stadium to attend the 8th Annual Orange County Little League® Challenger Classic. Over 900 children with physical and mental disabilities from 30 Challenger Division Little League teams throughout Orange County were given the opportunity of a lifetime: to play a game on the field at Angels Stadium. Developed as a partnership between The Angels Baseball Foundation and the Bank of America, I was in for a day of smiles.

See for yourself in my slideshow of pictures below.   
 
To be honest, this was the first time I had heard of this game. Although I have a nephew with special needs, he is not yet old enough to play baseball. And, he lives in the Valley, a distance away from Angels Stadium.

From the moment I arrived at the stadium, the excitement was palpable. The sheer joy and excitement was everywhere. Smiles were everywhere. Players told me that they slept in their uniforms so that they would be fully prepared for the day's events.

As I watched the players come onto the field, cheered on by local area cheerleaders, I wanted to find out how such an incredible opportunity came into being. I spoke with Dr. Darrell Burnett, a local area sports psychologist to find out more about how this event came into being. Like many great events, it was an accidental encounter between people wanting to do good for the community.

Click below to listen to an interview with Dr. Darrell Burnett.  
 
I also spoke with Mark Merhab, the Chairman of the Angels Foundation to find out more about how the Angels, under the direction of Mr. and Mrs. Moreno, have supported charities in and around Orange County. I was surprised to learn that in the past decade, the Morenos have donated over $3 million dollars through their foundation to over 400 charities and groups! That's a lot of good work in our community!

Click below to listen to my interview with Mark Merhab.    
Due to the overwhelming number of players and teams, the day was divided into 4 sessions starting every 2 hours throughout the day. Each session got the opportunity to come onto the field through a crowd of cheerleaders and Bank of America volunteers, stretch, sing the National Anthem and recite the Little League® Pledge. Players were all smiles.

And then they got to play. But, they didn't get to play by themselves. Every session had current and former Angels players who came out to join in the fun. These included current Angels Jerome Williams and Steve Soliz and former Angels Jim Abbott, Bobby Grich, Clyde Wright, and Justin Speier.

Click below to watch my interview with Jim Abbott.    
Click below to watch my interview with Chuck Finley.
 
 
Click below to watch my interview with Justin Speier.

 
Click below to watch my interview with Jerome Williams.
 
 
Click below to watch my interview with Clyde Wright.
 
 
Talking with all of them, it was clear that they got more out of the event than they gave. Never had I seen an Angels pitcher smile so much as he gave up hit after hit (and even a few home runs that went over the fence)!

This event could not have occurred without all the hard work from over 350 Bank of America volunteers and Little League® Buddies who came out to support the players and the game of baseball. However, all baseball fans are welcome and can attend the event to cheer on the players. I guarantee if you do come next year, you will leave with a smile that will last all day.

As we head into the holiday season, and think about how we can help those in our community, there are many ways to support those in need. Baseball is a great way to connect with the community. AngelsWin.com has proudly supported the Orange County Miracle League and has supported many of our own members in tough times. That's part of our commitment to the #AngelsFamily.

Remember, you can also support many worthwhile causes through the Angels Baseball Foundation to share your love of baseball with those who need it most in Southern California. So, while shopping for that special Angels fan this holiday season, consider buying him/her an Angels brick and know that your gift will not only put a smile on his/her face, but on the faces of many through the Angels Foundation.

By David Saltzer, AngelsWin.com Senior Writer -   

The Angels season ended over a month ago. The last pitch of the World Series has already been thrown. And yet, one of the most significant series for the 2013 was about to begin.

Saturday, November 2nd, 2013 was a gorgeous day in Orange County-the kind of day that makes the rest of the country jealous. It was in the low 80s, sunny, clear, with a light breeze. It was the perfect day for baseball.

I went to Angels stadium to attend the 8th Annual Orange County Little League® Challenger Classic. Over 900 children with physical and mental disabilities from 30 Challenger Division Little League teams throughout Orange County were given the opportunity of a lifetime: to play a game on the field at Angels Stadium. Developed as a partnership between The Angels Baseball Foundation and the Bank of America, I was in for a day of smiles.

See for yourself in my slideshow of pictures below.   
 
To be honest, this was the first time I had heard of this game. Although I have a nephew with special needs, he is not yet old enough to play baseball. And, he lives in the Valley, a distance away from Angels Stadium.

From the moment I arrived at the stadium, the excitement was palpable. The sheer joy and excitement was everywhere. Smiles were everywhere. Players told me that they slept in their uniforms so that they would be fully prepared for the day's events.

As I watched the players come onto the field, cheered on by local area cheerleaders, I wanted to find out how such an incredible opportunity came into being. I spoke with Dr. Darrell Burnett, a local area sports psychologist to find out more about how this event came into being. Like many great events, it was an accidental encounter between people wanting to do good for the community.

Click below to listen to an interview with Dr. Darrell Burnett.  
 
I also spoke with Mark Merhab, the Chairman of the Angels Foundation to find out more about how the Angels, under the direction of Mr. and Mrs. Moreno, have supported charities in and around Orange County. I was surprised to learn that in the past decade, the Morenos have donated over $3 million dollars through their foundation to over 400 charities and groups! That's a lot of good work in our community!

Click below to listen to my interview with Mark Merhab.    
Due to the overwhelming number of players and teams, the day was divided into 4 sessions starting every 2 hours throughout the day. Each session got the opportunity to come onto the field through a crowd of cheerleaders and Bank of America volunteers, stretch, sing the National Anthem and recite the Little League® Pledge. Players were all smiles.

And then they got to play. But, they didn't get to play by themselves. Every session had current and former Angels players who came out to join in the fun. These included current Angels Jerome Williams and Steve Soliz and former Angels Jim Abbott, Bobby Grich, Clyde Wright, and Justin Speier.

Click below to watch my interview with Jim Abbott.    
Click below to watch my interview with Chuck Finley.
 
 
Click below to watch my interview with Justin Speier.

 
Click below to watch my interview with Jerome Williams.
 
 
Click below to watch my interview with Clyde Wright.
 
 
Talking with all of them, it was clear that they got more out of the event than they gave. Never had I seen an Angels pitcher smile so much as he gave up hit after hit (and even a few home runs that went over the fence)!

This event could not have occurred without all the hard work from over 350 Bank of America volunteers and Little League® Buddies who came out to support the players and the game of baseball. However, all baseball fans are welcome and can attend the event to cheer on the players. I guarantee if you do come next year, you will leave with a smile that will last all day.

As we head into the holiday season, and think about how we can help those in our community, there are many ways to support those in need. Baseball is a great way to connect with the community. AngelsWin.com has proudly supported the Orange County Miracle League and has supported many of our own members in tough times. That's part of our commitment to the #AngelsFamily.

Remember, you can also support many worthwhile causes through the Angels Baseball Foundation to share your love of baseball with those who need it most in Southern California. So, while shopping for that special Angels fan this holiday season, consider buying him/her an Angels brick and know that your gift will not only put a smile on his/her face, but on the faces of many through the Angels Foundation.