Angels

I really hope Dipoto doesn't trade Trumbo for Cahill straight up. Cahill's contract isn't exactly club-friendly (4/46...which includes two option years) and I feel the Angels can get similar production from a few available free agent pitchers. That would cost just cash, not Trumbo + cash. Wishful thinking and all...but if Dipoto can somehow pull off Skaggs and Cahill, that would be terrific. Trumbo + ?

Skaggs and Cahill, please (wishful thinking).

That's the thing. Even with Price, I still don't think they would be good enough to make the postseason. I would love to see them gut their farm system and give up some potentially valuable young players on their club for two guaranteed years of David Price.

I would love to see the M's trade Taijuan Walker + for Price.

Grichuk (22 HR) and Lindsey (17 HR) both hit more homers than Cron (14 HR) did. Both hit more homers and hit for more power in AA than they did at A+. Both are younger than Cron. You're right about one thing...they were playing in difficult hitting environments, but Cron simply wasn't the hitter he was made out to be. Even after adjusting for park effects, he wasn't good. As a DH-only player, he's going to have to hit to have any value. He didn't do that last year. He also wasn't even young for the league. He turns 24 next month.

"Cron was the best hitter for the Travs in 2013. Better than Lindsey, better than Grichuk, much better than Cowart." Lindsey: 119 wRC+ Grichuk: 116 wRC+ Cron: 107 wRC+.

Sale is one of the 10 best pitchers in all of baseball and he has one of the most ridiculously team-friendly deals in all of baseball. And he's 24. To get him, a team with a good farm system would have to empty it. And that's not us.

Sign Maholm and Arroyo or Colon, keep Trumbo. Seriously though, I'm all for trading Trumbo if it makes sense. Trading Trumbo for Cahill (who doesn't even have a team-friendly contract) makes no sense...especially considering there are guys available out there on the open market who can give you that kind of production...and without having to subtract pieces from the roster.

Trading Trumbo for someone like Cahill would be pointless. One, that's addition by subtraction. Two, Cahill is nothing better than a league average pitcher. Why not just sign someone like Maholm instead? Maholm will give you nearly the same results as Cahill. And we would get to keep Trumbo.

If Shuck wasn't so poor defensively, he would have value. His defensive numbers pretty much confirm what my eyes saw. I just hope Scioscia doesn't let Shuck steal playing time from Calhoun.

He was the best pitcher in baseball just a few years ago. Sad that he had to go out like this.

5.87 K/9 4.12 BB/9 And his GB rate is just around league average. His peripherals were junk at AAA, too. Color me unimpressed with Jacob Turner.

Jacob Turner? The same guy who couldn't strike anyone out at AAA (and was terrible)? The same Jacob Turner who was terrible in the majors last year? No thanks.

Even if all of this is true and not exaggerated, it is pretty stupid of him to reveal it publicly. Good luck getting hired again, Tony Blengino.

If accurate, Jay Z is an idiot.

138.2 innings (as a starter last season) 4.94 FIP 5.06 ERA There was absolutely nothing solid about Jerome Williams as a starting pitcher last season. You can't expect that kind of production if your goal is to make the postseason. It's just not going to get it done, sorry.

Not for $4-5 million you don't. Dipoto should be able to find someone who can replicate what Jerome can do for much cheaper.

Creating a few holes to fill one hole doesn't improve the Angels. Especially when you have no competent replacements ready to fill in. I would much rather see the Angels sign someone like Garza (if the price is right)...and hold on to their pieces (which are not enough for Price to begin with). Creating more holes just to fill one hole is counterproductive and not smart and wouldn't improve this team.

Where are you getting the better defender part? According to UZR, Cruz been a horrible defender for the last 3 years. Cruz isn't worth much. I wouldn't even give him 3/30. Any gm who spends big money on Nelson Cruz is an idiot. As far as Trumbo is concerned, I can see why no team is lining up to give quality starting pitching for a guy with a career OBP under .300. He simply isn't worth that much. We can get pitching for him, but probably not the kind the Angels need or want.

The level of outrage over losing Jerome Williams has reached comedic levels. Dipoto has made many questionable decisions, but this is not one of them. You don't pay a long reliever/spot starter $4-5 million. Especially a team that is cash-strapped. You just don't. I understand that the Angels need depth...but finding a Jerome Williams for league minimum (or close to it) shouldn't be hard to do. Just how difficult could it be to find a pitcher who is slightly above replacement level (if given enough innings)? If you are forced to rely on Jerome Williams to make 25+ starts (as he did last season), then you are screwed either way. It's nice to have a Jerome Williams, but not for $4-5 million. For a million tops, sure. And any competent minor league farm system should have a few of Jerome Williams' at the AAA level.

Meh. He wouldn't be a terrible option at the back of the rotation, but I would like to see the Angels set their sights higher than Phil Hughes.

You can add Kohn and Salas (despite not pitching an inning here) to your list...

http://www.mlbtraderumors.com/2013/11/angels-designate-juan-gutierrez-for-assignment.html To make room for Joe Smith

Hell, Jerome Williams (as a starter) would've been an upgrade for them.

Nolasco has got to be one of the more frustrating pitchers around. He reminds me of Javier Vazquez. Everything looks so nice until you get to the run prevention part...