wopphil

It's all about control. With the top-heavy contracts the team has, it's important to keep as many of these cheap options as long as possible.
They aren't going to give the back-up spot outright to Bandy or Perez because they have options, and both can benefit from working full-time in the minors. Both still have some room to grow; Bandy is still young, Perez is in a new org with new pitchers and knowing Scioscia, a new catching philosophy.
They obviously liked something about Butera enough to go out and trade for him, be it defense, his arm, pitch-framing, whatever. If they give the back-up spot to Perez or Bandy outright, they run the risk of losing Butera. If they lose Butera, they have to go out and find someone else to fill that spot on the depth chart. And whoever that player is, they likely aren't going to be much different than Butera.
It's a back-up catcher, they're there for a handful of games and defense. Is cutting Butera worth losing a catcher just so Bandy or Perez can fill a very minor role? A role in which any upside Perez or Bandy being would only be minimally useful because of the back-ups lack of playing time?
And besides, the pecking order can change during spring training due to performance or injuries to one or two catchers.

The most ridiculous thing about this is that these are probably the two least likely teams to trade for Hamilton. The Padres have a tiny payroll and just blew a ton on Kemp, and the Rangers already have a ton of bad money on the books and know Hamilton (and his flaws) better than any team.

"the most transparent presidency in history"

The religion of peace.  
 
As long as everyone only follows their definition of religion.

At that price, I believe the Angels should have been all over him.

like dipoto has been pushing this whole offseason, "we have an average or better player at every position." now, we can include DH in that statement with some degree of confidence.

Matt Joyce hasn't really declined.
His OPS+ over the last three years has been
115, 108, 111(2014)
 
His fwar over the last three years has been
1.7, 1.7 and 1.9(2014)
 
Sounds like a great deal getting him for a guy who's only had one good season. The Angels also have a lot of depth this year for relief pitchers.
I'm excited to see what Alvarez and Bedrosian can do with real opportunities next year.

with each move Dipoto makes, I'm more and more convinced that Pujols and Hamilton were 100% Arte.

Really like this move. Joyce crushes righties, plays decent defense and is only projected to make about 5 mil next season(FA after the year). Dipoto has also said that Joyce will be the primary DH.
 
Jepsen was great last year but the Angels have plenty of bullpen depth and still have enough money to sign another reliever if they so desire.
 
Joyce creates a ton of flexibility for the team. Big fan of the trade. 

This is essentially the equivalent of acquiring a Billy Butler, at one-sixth the cost. Fantastic move.

This is essentially the equivalent of acquiring a Billy Butler, at one-sixth the cost. Fantastic move.

CJ has had one good full season with the Angels thus far, one average one, and one bad one, which was also his most recent. He is also making 19 million over the next two years.
Shields has been the definition of consistent. 8 straight years of 200 innings pitched or more, with all but one year having an ERA+ of at least 105. If he could sign for a 4 year deal, the Angels should be all over it. I don't see him getting more than 4/84.

Those are both misleading statements.  
 
Every position isn't just about one facet of the game but about overall value.  It's a balance and why you don't just convert CJ cron to 3b. 
 
You aren't spending 60 mil on a defensive 3bman.  You'd be spending 60 mil over 4 years for a 3bman who is a considerable defensive upgrade over what we have now and has some offensive value as well.  
 
And if you were to bring back Freese beyond 2015, he's probably gonna cost you about 8-10mil per for about 3 years.  So if Freese costs you 35 mil or so for the next 4 years and Headley costs you 60 then the delta is 25mil
 
You are under the assumption that they are likely to be similar offensively over those 4 years, but I think Headley has more upside.  So, to me, you are spending about 6-7 mil per year extra over the next 4 years to get a much better defender and a mild increase in offense with a higher ceiling.  I agree with Phil that it's something that could be considered.  
 
We really have nothing for that position after this year.  Nothing on the farm and the FA pool at 3b for 2016 is horrendous.  

No love for Tony Reagins?
 
Remember the good ol' days when Tony Reagins would show up late to the winter meetings?

CJ is tradable as long as they are willing to pick up some of his contract and it won't be as much as people on here think it would have to be. If the Angels picked up $8 million that leaves CJ at two years $30 million. Last year he was bad, but he has a track record of success and worse pitchers have gotten more for longer.

It is absolutely amazing how much depth we now have. What was a glaring weakness just 53 weeks ago has now become a big strength based on three exceptional trades and the emergence of Richards and Shoemaker.

Zero Hindsight...at least for me.  Hated the Hamilton contract from the moment it was announced and wasn't thrilled about giving a 31 year old a 10 year deal, even with his HOF credentials.  And I've never said "its not our money" nor did I advocate for signing Lester.  You know, for the record....
 
I'm also in favor of signing Headley since he provides solid D, would not cost a draft pick, wouldn't need a late-inning defensive caddy like Freese, slots in perfectly to bat 2nd in between Calhoun and Trout, and would solidify an area of the team in which we have zero depth...again, for the record.

It is shocking to me how many deals like this Dipoto has made, when I cannot recall a single one made by Reagins.

Yep, if idiots grew on trees, we'd have an orchard here.

You said it wasn't "arguable." Clearly, it is. Also, this isn't an argument over Green vs. Kendrick, it is an argument over Heaney plus Kendrick's replacement vs. Kendrick. Not a single person on here would argue or has argued that Green is superior to Kendrick and an upgrade over Kendrick for 2015.

You said it wasn't "arguable." Clearly, it is. Also, this isn't an argument over Green vs. Kendrick, it is an argument over Heaney plus Kendrick's replacement vs. Kendrick. Not a single person on here would argue or has argued that Green is superior to Kendrick and an upgrade over Kendrick for 2015.

So if the Angels trade David Freese for Felix Hernandez and $100 million we can't call it a good deal until both of them play out the rest of their contracts?

Look at his stats once he was traded to NY: .262, .371, .398, .768.  Love that OBP.  I think 4/44 would be the max but he's probably gonna get closer to $50 million.  That said, what's $6 million at that rate?

since we're talking headley keep in mind he's spent his career in petco. the most brutal place to hit in baseball. he came alive once he got out of that park. for the right dollars he's worth it, but if someone gives him a crazy contract then you just let him go. i think the 4/44 would be perfectly reasonable in today's mlb dollars.

Headley has been a 4+ WAR player the last four years, and plays a position for which we have no minor league replacement. Yes, Freese would be adequate for 2015, but Headley will probably be better overall and would be a good long-term solution as well.