Dave Saltzer

If you want to play along, or think you can do better than us, here's the list of questions in an easy to copy format. Have some fun. Be bold. Post your predictions for the year! What grade would you give the Angels this offseason? Biggest question going into the season? Which Angels player or prospect will create a buzz out of the gate? Who is your Angels’ 2018 sleeper? Which Angel player is most likely to disappoint in 2018? Which Angel player is your 2018 comeback player of the year pick? Which Angel starting pitcher will lead the team in strikeouts? Which Angel reliever pitches in the most games in 2018? Which Angel player finishes with the highest batting average? Which Angel player finishes with the most home runs? Which Angel player gets the most RBIs? Which Angel player steals the most bases? Will Mike Trout win the MVP Award? Will Ohtani find more success as a pitcher or a hitter? Will Ohtani win the ROY award? Which Angels prospect will be named the Angels minor league player of the year? How many runs will the Angels score in 2018? How many games will the Angels win in 2018? What AL West team will be the toughest competition for the Angels in 2018? Which team in any league will give the Angels the most trouble? Will the 2018 Angels make the playoffs? Your fearless prediction?

I should have been more clear. Perez could be traded for a team's prospect ranked 15-20th within their system, not a prospect ranked in the top 15-20 in all of baseball.

Here it is folks, straight from the Angels: ANGELS ANNOUNCE 2018 OPENING DAY ROSTER ANAHEIM, CA – Angels’ General Manager Billy Eppler today announced the Club’s Opening Day roster for the 2018 campaign. To set the roster at 25 active players, LHP Andrew Heaney (left elbow inflammation) has been placed on the 10-day disabled list (retro to March 26). Following Tuesday night’s game in Los Angeles, the Angels selected RHP/DH Shohei Ohtani to the Major League roster, optioned RHP Felix Peña to Triple-A Salt Lake and designated C Carlos Perez for assignment. The Angels begin the 2018 regular season this afternoon against the Oakland Athletics at 1:05 p.m. (PDT) at the Oakland Coliseum. Following is a breakdown by position of the Angels’ 2018 Opening Day 25-man roster: PITCHERS (12) PITCHER/DH (1) CATCHERS (2) INFIELDERS (6) OUTFIELDERS (4) José Álvarez (LH) Shohei Ohtani Martín Maldonado Zack Cozart Kole Calhoun Luke Bard (RH) René Rivera Ian Kinsler Mike Trout Cam Bedrosian (RH) Jefry Marte Justin Upton Jim Johnson (RH) Albert Pujols Chris Young Keynan Middleton (RH) Andrelton Simmons Blake Parker (RH) Luis Valbuena JC Ramírez (RH) Noé Ramirez (RH) Garrett Richards (RH) Matt Shoemaker (RH) Tyler Skaggs (LH) Blake Wood (RH)

We should be able to get a bullpen arm or a prospect ranked around 15-20 for him, IMHO. As was pointed out, I believe we do have 10 days to work out a trade for him before any team can just claim him.

Likewise. I prefer discussion and thoughts longer than 140-280 characters, and not always based on memes (although memes are good when mixed with words and things).

So, we're tanking the 2020 season to get this kid?

Here is the entire press release issued by the Angels today: ANGELS ACQUIRE LUIS RENGIFO FROM TAMPA BAY Minor League infielder is player to be named later to complete C.J. Cron trade to Rays TEMPE, AZ – The Angels today acquired minor league INF Luis Rengifo from Tampa Bay to complete the Feb. 17 trade which sent INF C.J. Cron to the Rays. Today’s announcement was made by Angels General Manager Billy Eppler. Rengifo, 21, appeared in 125 total games last season between Class-A Clinton (Mariners affiliate) and Class-A Bowling Green (Rays affiliate) in the Midwest League. He combined to bat .250 (124/496) with 27 doubles, five triples, 12 home runs, 52 RBI and 34 stolen bases. He was one of three minor leaguers traded by Seattle to Tampa Bay on Aug. 6, 2017 in exchange for C Mike Marjama and RHP Ryan Garton. A native of Naguanagua, Venezuela, Rengifo was originally signed by the Mariners as an international free agent in 2014. Across his four minor league seasons, the switch hitter has batted .255 (268/1049) with 55 doubles, 15 triples, 16 home runs, 116 RBI and 86 stolen bases. Defensively, he has appeared primarily at second base and shortstop but has also played third base and all three outfield positions.

Sorry for the delay in getting this posted. I came home from Spring Training and became quite ill (not from anything related to ST), and am just now getting back on the mend.

Disagree. I spoke with some people in the know and we definitely were in talks with him. I didn't get the exact numbers, but this doesn't seem too far off. It also fits with the whole timeline of: we were close to signing Cozaar for 2B. Detroit offered Kinsler and he was willing to come over. We talked with Cozaar about 3B and he said yes. Moose was holding out for more and we moved on. Moose definitely wanted to come home, but overestimated his market. Think about this: last year I think he made over $9 million, hit 38 diners, and is making almost $3 million less.

Damn, I'm getting excited for this weekend. Get your tix to this event while you can!

I agree Scotty. Eppler has done a good job filling in a lot of depth, and this may be a really good pickup in the long run. I don't think he'll be as important as Parker or Bridwell were last year, but, if anything happens to our infield, it's good to know that we have some options.

I know there's the nominal rule (hardly enforced) that ST games should have at least 4 regulars in the starting lineup, but, I like getting to see position battles (even if it is for a bench role) and watching the youngsters get more time early in ST. At this point in the Spring, I don't think the pitchers need to face regular competition so much as they are getting their work in, hitting their pitch counts, etc. So, this condensed Spring Training gives more time to more players, and I think makes it more interesting for fans.

Okay, so the Superbowl is over. Time to get onto more important topics like baseball. Be sure to grab your tickets to Fanfest. You will want to be there.

No, you cannot. I have to have a final count in 10 days in advance. Please get your tickets early, before they are gone.

Another thing that would be fun, Jeff, if you are up for it is something like what Alden Gonzalez did in his quest for the perfect taco. You could pick something like that and add that to your writeups (quest for the perfect beer, perfect ice cream, etc.).

Okay, trying to update it now for version 4.0 RHP/DH Shohei Ohtani - MLB (23) OF Jo Adell - Rookie Ball (18) OF Jahmai Jones - Advanced A Ball (20) OF Brandon Marsh - Rookie Ball (19) SS Kevin Maitan - Rookie Ball (17) RHP Jaime Barria - AAA (20) RHP Griffin Canning - DNP (21) 1B Matt Thaiss - AA (22) RHP Chris Rodriguez - A Ball (18) OF Michael Hermosillo - AAA (22) OF Trent Deveaux - DNP (17) C Taylor Ward - AA (23) IF Leo Rivas - A Ball (19) RHP Jesus Castillo - AA (21) IF David Fletcher - AAA (23) RHP Jake Jewell - AA (24) SS Livan Soto - Rookie Ball (17) RHP Jose Soriano - Rookie Ball (18) LHP Jose Suarez - A Ball (19) RHP Luke Bard - AAA (27) OF Brennon Lund - AA (22) RHP Eduardo Paredes - MLB (22) RHP Cole Duensing - Rookie Ball (19) IF Nonie Williams - Rookie Ball (19) OF D'Shawn Knowles - DNP (16) OF Torii Hunter Jr. - Rookie Ball (22) RHP Luis Pena - AA (21) IF Julio Garcia - Rookie Ball (19) LHP Jerryell Rivera - Rookie Ball (18) RHP Joe Gatto - Advanced A Ball (21)

How about asking some of the players their takes on other players around the league. I remember an article a while back asking players what they often talk about and who were good guys to talk to on 1st base. And, many players have talked about guys who are quite funny on the field, etc. How about asking a series about who are today's practical jokers, best stunts pulled, weird superstitions, etc. Who do our guys admire (maybe about being humanitarians, overcoming serious obstacles, etc. Who has weird/interesting hobbies, pets, etc? Basically things that help make them human.

Yeah, our farm system has come a long way. It's good to see. Re: Thaiss I like the player, but comparing him and Cron is rather faulty. Thaiss is 6'0" and the interesting line with him in the writeup is "some scouts are bothered by the undersized target he presents for infielders." Cron, by comparison is listed at 6'4"--a noticeable difference. While Cron is taller than Thaiss, Cron has far more power than Thaiss. Cron, I believe was scouted as a 70 power, and Thaiss is not that. However, if plate discipline were scouted, Thaiss would be far superior. Look at their age 22 seasons at IE. Thaiss had a 40:59 BB:K ratio in 84 games, whereas Cron had a 17:72 ratio in 129 games. Cron will put up more power over a season, but with more feast and famine stretches, whereas Thaiss appears to be more steady and consistent, albeit with far fewer homers, but probably more doubles.

With all of the other prospect lists coming out now, here is our list for comparison. I don't recall if we ever officially ranked Bard in our list. I would place him at 20 if we did and would drop everyone else down 1 slot.

Did you read the date of the injury in that article? Now look at this and pay attention to the date https://www.google.com/amp/s/amp.mlb.com/159233076-mlb-issues-recommendations-on-netting.amp.html Having a recommendation by MLB to extend the netting, and having many clubs agree and follow the recommendations makes all the difference in the legal world for teams that don't follow the recommendation. That guideline by MLB established what is reasonable, and any club not following it is being unreasonable. Any half-witted 1L (well, they all are half-witted, so, should I say quarter-witted?) could win a verdict after that recommendation came out.

That would be an interesting thread of players whom we, as fans coveted. I use that word specifically to mean more than just really wanting or hoping that we would get. I'd be interested in seeing whom others on here coveted.

What a great signing and addition he was. He was always one of the few players I coveted from another team, and I'm so glad we got to see him play. Can you imagine how much he would get in today's market? With this slow offseason, it is an interesting comparison for players like Hosmer and JDM.

Martínez deserves to be in the HoF and should be the first primary DH to do so. There is little doubt that he was one of the premier hitters in his generation, which to me makes him worthy.

Um, no. It's not PR at all. It's liability issues and the right thing to do. MLB already came out with a recommendation to extend netting all the way to the end of the dugout. The next person who got hurt by a fall ball in an area that was recommended to be protected by a net, and wasn't, would have an incredible and financially rewarding lawsuit against that stadium and team. Any lawyer who couldn't get large money out of that situation should be disbarred. And, really, it is the right thing to do. It doesn't mar your view. If you are that upset about the netting, do you avoid going to movie theaters because people on the cell phones will disrupt the experience? Do you avoid Angels games because of people standing up at times or because of beach balls? I'm not advocating for everyone living in bubble wrap. However, not doing obvious safety features, especially when minimally obtrusive is equally foolish.

Hermosillo really stood out on that team in Orem. His athleticism was quite pronounced compared to many of the others I saw there. Yes, there was some rawness to his play, but, he has struggled and improved as his risen through the organization. It will be very tough for him to break into our starting OF, but, he is a very capable player and athlete.