Dave Saltzer

Thanks @taylorblakeward for writing this. Good to know that we have some young talent to watch. We will need it with the amount of graduates and trades we've made!

Good post, and a few thoughts:
1) Yes, the time to trade him, if we were trading him, was last year at the deadline or in the offseason. Our haul would have been much better. Having said that, we would have gotten back more than Quero and Bush for Ohtani. 
2) Almost all teams that would have traded for him would have done so to showcase their organization to Ohtani to sell him on their team. So, paying more for him than a generic rental would have cost more.
3) I don't think anyone was saying that we could have come acquired something close to him in a trade, even in 2 players. The question was whether or not we could improve the team overall and win more in the long run by trading him that an extra draft pick that we get next year (assuming we don't sign him, and assuming we don't draft the next Mike Trout with that pick).
4) Maybe Arte and Perry came to an understanding on the parameters of a future deal with Ohtani and decided to go for it with him as part of that deal. I believe that he is mostly happy here, and if we can show that we can win, will stay if the numbers are comparable.
5) Maybe Perry and Arte realized that what they would get back for Ohtani wasn't worth the chance of signing him (kind of the flip of what teams have to consider when trading for him).
6) When I went by the team store today at about 3:45 pm, there were 30+ people in there buying mostly Ohtani merchandise.\
 
Now, having said all that:
1) If we are going all in, we should go all in a bit more and continue to upgrade, without totally decimating the team (by say trading Joyce, Silseth, Bachman, etc.).
2) A discussion needs to be had at some point with him and his agent, if that winning is important to him, and we don't make the postseason this year, it isn't due to our lack of trying. It has much more to do with the team's health and that he and Trout have only been in the same lineup about 60% of the time, and even then, he wasn't a 2-way play and star for all those games.
3) Can we please end the whole "Angels are wasting Trout and Ohtani's careers' theme? If Ohtani stays, it's his life, as long as we continue to try and improve and win.
 
Finally
1) I know that @Jeff Fletcher has disagreed with me in the past about the idea of presenting Ohtani with a sales pitch of committing to spending a certain amount every year independent of Ohtani's deal (it's not likely that a player's contract could have, or that MLB would agree to such a clause because of the potential long term impact on future deals, but then again, they might frown upon agreeing to give an ownership stake in the team as part of the deal for the same reason), one can have a handshake deal to do exactly that. The reason why we would give him multiple opt-outs would be how we ensure that we live up to our commitments. He can always opt out, if we don't spend as we promised.
 
2) Whatever team does sign Ohtani (and I sure hope it is us), needs to consider something. Let's assume that Ohtani gets about $55 million/year deal for about 8 to 10 years. Whatever team that signs him to that, is going to want to win and most likely will have a payroll without Ohtani around $200+ million/year already, and probably higher. That's one of the supposed reasons why the Dodgers lowered their payroll this year to reset their luxury tax hit.
 
However, when one adds in Ohtani's future contract, that will push just about any team over the luxury tax, and many teams like the Mets, Padres, Dodgers, Yankees, etc. into a position where they are $40 million or more over the luxury tax. I believe it is at that point that a team starts to have its 1st round draft pick pushed back 10 spots in the 1st round (unless the team finishes in the bottom 6 teams in record, in which case it is its second round pick). 
 
Whatever team realistically signs Ohtani is going to hit that threshold, which will over the life of the contract, hinder that team's ability to draft as high quality players, especially in the first round. Granted, if the team goes deep into the postseason year in and year out, who cares, there's *that* much of a difference of picking 28th or 38th. 
 
Still, Ohtani's deal will most likely hamper the future overall organization for whatever team realistically signs him. 

You have a problem with fleecing instead of being fleeced?

They do. Here is some of the publicly available info on Schanuel. From: https://www.mlb.com/news/nolan-schanuel-guide
 
Schanuel played five games this season against either the Gators or another high-major, top-25 squad in the Miami Hurricanes. He went 12-for-21 with seven home runs.
Random fun facts

Yeah, I think he's outgrown SS, and will move to 3B. He was listed as a SS/3B in the Cape Cod League before signing with us. Interestingly, he also got a couple of games in the OF there.
 
Here are a couple of good articles on Blake:
https://capecodchronicle.com/en/5827/sports/10603/Blake-Brings-Big-Bat-Steady-Approach-To-Firebirds-Lineup-Cape-Cod-Baseball-League-Orleans-Firebirds.htm
and
https://www.trentonian.com/2023/07/11/former-hopewell-valley-and-hun-standout-andy-blake-ivy-player-of-the-year-at-columbia-signs-with-angels/
 
The Angels really seemed to want him with the way they pounced on him and raised their offer. 
 

Assuming No Neto, O'Hoppe, Bachman, Joyce, Soriano, etc., I'd rank them like this:
1. Quero
2. Schanuel
3. Bush
4. Dana
5. Rada
6. Paris
7. Madden
8. Albright
9. Adams
10. Blakely

Yeah, I think he's outgrown SS, and will move to 3B. He was listed as a SS/3B in the Cape Cod League before signing with us. Interestingly, he also got a couple of games in the OF there.
 
Here are a couple of good articles on Blake:
https://capecodchronicle.com/en/5827/sports/10603/Blake-Brings-Big-Bat-Steady-Approach-To-Firebirds-Lineup-Cape-Cod-Baseball-League-Orleans-Firebirds.htm
and
https://www.trentonian.com/2023/07/11/former-hopewell-valley-and-hun-standout-andy-blake-ivy-player-of-the-year-at-columbia-signs-with-angels/
 
The Angels really seemed to want him with the way they pounced on him and raised their offer. 
 

Some of us have already been hard at work on this, but a lot of discussion occurred to wait until after the trade deadline. 
 
I agree with these guys, but would also add Minacci.
 
Then again, I believe that we will see about a third of our list either being open spots due to aging out in the Majors or trades. And, who knows if we get a bunch of new prospects back in trades. 

Some of us have already been hard at work on this, but a lot of discussion occurred to wait until after the trade deadline. 
 
I agree with these guys, but would also add Minacci.
 
Then again, I believe that we will see about a third of our list either being open spots due to aging out in the Majors or trades. And, who knows if we get a bunch of new prospects back in trades. 

How to pitch? 
 
Easy. Watch a few hours of the Angels blowpen and don't do what they do. 

How to pitch? 
 
Easy. Watch a few hours of the Angels blowpen and don't do what they do. 

How to pitch? 
 
Easy. Watch a few hours of the Angels blowpen and don't do what they do. 

They do. Here is some of the publicly available info on Schanuel. From: https://www.mlb.com/news/nolan-schanuel-guide
 
Schanuel played five games this season against either the Gators or another high-major, top-25 squad in the Miami Hurricanes. He went 12-for-21 with seven home runs.
Random fun facts

Agreed. Maybe Ohtani, Ward, Rengifo, and Soriano for Lawlar, Jones, and Pfaadt.
 
I just want AZ to make an offer like this so we can stick it to the Dodgers. We would have such a young nucleus to build around, that it would work out well for us. 

Lawlar, Jones, and Pfaadt would get the job done, IMHO. 

Thanks @taylorblakeward for putting in all the hard work prepping and covering the draft! 

Thanks @taylorblakeward for putting in all the hard work prepping and covering the draft! 

Nobody outdoes @John Smith

Thanks @taylorblakeward for putting in all the hard work prepping and covering the draft! 

Thanks @taylorblakeward for putting in all the hard work prepping and covering the draft! 

A few things here my friend. I'm enjoying the discussion, as always.
First, you are right, we have "covered" 1B. But, outside of 1 good year from Walsh, we haven't done well at the position for a long time. Sure, we can blame that on Albert, but we also didn't have anyone to push him off the base either. And, we haven't develo0ped a left-handed MOTO bat (again, outside of 1 good year of Walsh and of course, Ohtani), in a while.
 
I see Schanuel as a premium bat who happens to play 1B. As such, I'm thrilled with the pick (although I really thought that we could get him below slot--oh well). I am guessing those who aren't thrilled with this see him as a 1B first who may have a premium bat. I guess it's all what one chooses to focus on.
 
Frankly, I think it's a LOT easier to get a 2B or even a 3B than it is an elite hitting 1B. Most of the Latin players that we sign internationally are MIFers who can be moved to other positions. Most of the 16 year olds that we sign from Latin America play SS and then get moved as they fill out to 2B and 3B if they have the power. )again, not counting pitchers or OFers). We don't know who they are looking at this year internationally, but looking at our top prospect list, we have have several MIFers who can be moved to 2B or 3B. Most teams have a lot of players who fall into that category.
 
Looking at MLB's Top 100 prospects, only 3 are 1B or split time at 1B. Now, before you argue that it's because of the defensive limitations, it also has to do with the lack of premium bats at the position as well. If Schanuel develops as projected (.280/.380/.520), that would make him one of the Top=5 at the position, essentially an All-Star at his peak. I would like to have a long-term solution like that, and I would like to have a major bat like that in our lineup. I would like to have a set 1B to develop with Neto, O'Hoppe, Quero, etc. With Neto using the bounce throw, having a good defender at1B is very important. 
 
Overall, I think last year's draft may be one of our best in a decade. The year before is a success, and this year will be a success (using the definition of success as producing 1 player with a 5-year career_. 
True, other players may develop, like Sonny D. If that happens, that's gravy and things will work their way out. We can worry about that if and when it happens. 

If he played 3B, I'd expect him to have gone in the top 5 or 6 picks. 

This. 
 
I think our best pitch is to explain to him a commitment to spend a certain amount irrespective of what we offer him. 
 
Imagine committing to a payroll of $230 million + whatever we pay him, say $50 million/year, for a minimum payroll of $280 million. Additionally, opt outs every other year and a commitment for him and Trout to be a very integral part in designing the future of the team and who to target in FA. 

Just a thought for those who seem down on the draft. There seems to be some consensus on here that Schanuel, at peak, should be a .280/.380/.520 hitter with 25+ HR potential. People seem to think that those numbers are pedestrian and can be filled easily at 1B.
 
Numbers like that would make him the second best offensive 1B in the AL in terms of OPS (way above Vladdy Jr right now). Numbers like that would make him the 3rd best in the NL by way of Ops, not far behind Freddie Freeman. 
 
So, does that change some minds if Schanuel pans out to what we think he can? 
 
 

This. 
 
I think our best pitch is to explain to him a commitment to spend a certain amount irrespective of what we offer him. 
 
Imagine committing to a payroll of $230 million + whatever we pay him, say $50 million/year, for a minimum payroll of $280 million. Additionally, opt outs every other year and a commitment for him and Trout to be a very integral part in designing the future of the team and who to target in FA.