nikkachez

19 minutes ago, totdprods said:

Simmons OPS is also below .700 and also had an inflated outlier season, but he was an important cog to the lineup. He walks a little more than Harrison, and strikes out far less, but they both make a ton of contact and have the speed to counter their limitations in OBP and SLG. They put the ball in play enough and are on the bases enough to be key pieces in the lineup. 

I'm not saying he's a great offensive player, just that he fits well in our lineup. He puts the ball in play often, doesn't strike out much, and has more speed than most on our club. Simmons was in the middle of everything last year. Everytime I watched highlights when I missed a game, it seemed Simmons was either driving in a run or scoring a run. 

If he struck out more, made less contact, was less versatile, or didn't have speed, I wouldn't be interested, but he's a great blend of several skills and should be attainable.

 

Simmons is on another planet in terms of defensive value. He plays shortstop (the higher demand position), was 3 years younger than Harrison when he was acquired, and signed to a very nice deal. Simmons' defense is the best in the game, main reason his fWAR (6.4) dwarfs Harrison's (2.8) over the past two seasons. Harrisons' career numbers are inflated by his 2014 season...and that's saying something.

If they got him as part of the equation, with the possibility of a 26th roster spot being added in the new CBA, as a 2B/3B/OF super utility player, I'd be down. But he doesn't do enough for me to change my perspective of the new going into 2017. They'd basically be the same team to me. 

Stove = En Fuego 

10 minutes ago, totdprods said:

He has a career .284 batting average. He hits quite a bit. As soon as his speed dives it'll go down, but he should be alright for another year or two. Not much power, but Trout, Calhoun, Cron, Pujols, Marte, and our catchers have that covered for now.

 

Okay? His career OBP is still .316 with an equally weak 3.5% walk rate, his career SLG is still only .410, with a SLG% below .400 the last two years. His career year in 2014 inflates the rest of his career numbers, that's saying something. I don't care if he hits .284, that's not hitting if your OPS is below .700. At least with Yunel, he gets on base at a decent clip, despite the lack of power. Harrison can't even do that. 

He's not an everyday player, he's a heavily paid utility player. 

Seems more like a poor man's Ben Zobrist on a good team, than an everyday guy. If they got him as part of the equation, I'd be down. But I'd want at least one more offensive piece. He doesn't hit enough. 

35 minutes ago, CanadianHalo said:

Trade for Harrison, sign Turner and get a legit 4th outfielder and offensively I think we're decent enough to compete 

I could get behind this, they'd have to add a reliever or two to make me more comfortable, though. 

20 minutes ago, totdprods said:

We'd be taking on quite a bit of salary. Maybe $25m-$35m in AAV. Without touching pitching. Pretty much have to move Escobar and maybe Street without eating any money in their deals or blow past whatever the lux tax threshold is to make that work. 

 

There should be a rise in the luxury tax threshold with the new CBA. I could see Arte willing to pass the threshold for one year (as long as they don't go waaaay over) since it'll be easy to get back underneath next year with Hamilton, Nolasco, Street, Maybin, Escobar, Chavez, Pennington, and Bailey off the books. They paid the tax threshold penalty back in 2004 after they signed Vlad, Colon, Escobar, and Guillen, although it was baaaarely over the threshold, but I could see Arte doing something similar. 

We gotta see what the new threshold will be, though. 

36 minutes ago, Erstad Grit said:

Would have preferred Ben Revere

I still think there's a chance that happens, good chance he'll get non-tendered by Washington. Left-handed, plays all three outfield spots, + speed, makes a lot of contact, that'd be a nice depth option. 

Dodgers are gonna have to save money to cut the debt they're in. Lolz.

Might have to let Turner go now. 

11 hours ago, Scotty@AW said:

I'm confident that Cron will be traded, but not until his value changes. He's on the brink right now, so no one knows where to value him at. He's either going to break loose and turn into a .280 30 DB 25 HR type or he'll show himself to be more of a bench bat. In any case, I think once Matt Thaiss is ready, Cron will be dealt, and preferably got a package as valuable as Trumbo's was. 

I think Cron will be here next year and the year after. That's it.

 

That's when he becomes arbitration eligible too, hopefully Thaiss is ready to take over at that point. 

Can't forget Cron! 

Agree with the list, feel the exact same about all the players you mentioned, think Meyer's destined for the bullpen (especially after the Chavez signing), but that's not a bad thing. I think he could thrive there, and it's an area of need. Him, Bedrosian, and Middleton throwing gas out of the pen certainly is a nice idea. Marte's definitely got a spot on this list too, in my opinion. 

People act surprised when I tell them the Angels core, just gotta think about it. You got a franchise center fielder, shortstop, right fielder, first baseman, designated hitter, part of the catching equation (Bandy's a solid tandem catcher), 3-4 quality starting pitchers, 2 potentially dominant relievers in Bedrosian and Meyer, and more relief help in the pipeline (Middleton, Paredes, Adams, and Grendell). What's still missing? A long-term second baseman (#1 on the list), third baseman, and left fielder, along with overall depth in the rotation, bullpen, bench, and farm system. 

Shorter term deal with a higher average annual value seems like the best bet if they are, in fact, interested in Turner. 

It would take quite a bit of spending on Arte's part, but if they signed Turner, flipped Yunel for anything (which would also free up $7 million), flipped Skaggs for Hernandez, signed a Jason Hammel type of SP, and utilized the Rule V/smaller free agent deals to fill out the bullpen and bench (team still really needs a 4th outfielder), that would make for one hell of a lineup (particularly, one hell of an infield, minus a franchise catcher). That front 6 could be as strong as anyone aside from the Cubs. 

1. Hernandez 2B

2. Trout CF

3. Turner 3B

4. Pujols DH

5. Calhoun RF

6. Cron 1B

7. Maybin LF

8. Bandy/Perez C

9. Simmons SS 

If he was replacing Pennington as the utility infielder, I could be convinced. 

I don't know, all of the second base options will probably be underwhelming for me. 

2 minutes ago, totdprods said:

If they threw in one of their numerous SP prospects into the deal I'd do it. One of the Asher, Eflin, Thompson, Appel tier. Or a young reliever, like Ramos. 

Yeah, young pitching > young second baseman. I'd probably want a reliever as well. 

Defensive ratings don't like him, .972 FLD% at second base in 87 games (11 errors), for someone with speed, he's not good at stealing bases, but I love the idea of some more speed pumped into the lineup in general, so it's not the end of the world. Lack of power would be the reason he's still rated as a below average offensive player (94 OPS+ and a 95 wRC+). 

I think you'd be banking on him to continue improving on the defensive end, getting that SLG% as close to .400 as possible. 

Wouldn't be an exciting option, but I could get on board. 

22 minutes ago, Scotty@AW said:

Well I think the price has to be considered in terms of prospects if it's a trade. Sure, Cesar Hernandez is a prime target, but if he costs us Skaggs and our best prospect, we'd be better served simply going 1-7 for Utley.

 

I'd have to at least consider Skaggs for Hernandez straight up. At the very least. 

1 hour ago, Jeff Fletcher said:

When i asked a FO member about him his opinion was he is not an everyday player and would be exposed with more ABs. 

Also think they'd really like a LH. If they're gonna get a RH hitter, he better be a damn good hitter. 

 

Sounds like someone's gonna overpay for Cesar...

1 hour ago, tdawg87 said:

Probably good. Though it seems counter productive.

Only if they don't sign a Jason Hammel type afterwards 

A chance Eppler trades a SP for a second baseman? 

Hellllllll no

1 hour ago, Hubs said:

I say forget Dozier. Chicks and Angelswin.com posters dig the long ball but I'd rather have Cesar Hernandez from Philly. If it cost Skaggs and I could get some other pieces back I'd be all over that. 

 

Yeah I wouldn't do Skaggs for Hernandez straight up, especially with the price tags that should be on SP. 

With Dozier and Hernandez, I'm afraid of buying high after career years from both. 

Having said that, I think this is at least interesting in the sense that in opens up a new possible route to upgrading the team, I don't think many were thinking of before. I'm not comfortable trading Skaggs or Shoey (especially with the available options in free agency) but if the team feels like Skaggs' elbow/arm are cause for long-term health concerns, maybe it would be a viable time to flip him? Or maybe they don't think Shoemaker's success is sustainable and sell him at his peak value. 

Either way, I think it's important to at least take this into consideration, just depending on the return, and how they fill the void left by Matt or Tyler. Maybe the package is based more around prospects who are knocking on the door? I don't know, I just think it gets the ball rolling on some out-of-the-box ideas, which is what Eppler seems to love to do. 

Greg Holland and Boone Logan, give me. 

They either pick it up and he's the everyday third baseman or he becomes instant trade bait. 

11 minutes ago, tdawg87 said:

I agree. But we already have a leadoff hitter. I'd prefer Fowler but not at a crazy price AND losing Escobar.

Because you can replace him with a much better leadoff hitter and fill another need elsewhere by trading Escobar, if you sign a Walker type, you could have him at the top or even Kole hitting second, I'd prefer Trout there, but Scioscia. Fowler has more power than Escobar, he's faster than Yunel, he's a MUCH better baserunner than Escobar, and he's a defensive asset (especially if he moves to left field) which Escobar is not. Yunel's only strengths are his ability to make contact and his good OBP, that's it. I'd flip him for a reliever, save the $7 million, and try to snag Walker and Fowler. Let Marte sink-or-swim at third base. Escobar's "meh" at best. 

1. Fowler 2. (I'd hit Trout here and have Walker hitting third, but RBIZ!!!) Calhoun RF 3. Trout CF 4. Pujols DH 5. Walker 2B 6. Cron 1B 7. Marte 3B 8. Bandy/Perez C 9. Simmons SS

1 hour ago, totdprods said:

No, it's not a bad deal, but it makes you wonder if they feel comfortable just handing Marte the job, or they could be considering pursuing someone 'better' and more expensive like Justin Turner or someone possibly comparable in price such as Luis Valbuena or even someone cheaper like Stephen Drew or Kelly Johnson.

It would also mean they're looking at guys like Jon Jay or Dexter Fowler who could lead off, unless they want to put Calhoun or Simmons there.

 

I've been on the Fowler bandwagon since last offseason, he would be amazing to replace Escobar at the top of the lineup. 

1 minute ago, Dave Saltzer said:

He said he'd like to get a defensive catcher, but didn't think adding a 20 HR catcher would be as valuable (who else fits that bill besides Wieters?). He mentioned that we have defensive catchers already, so it isn't as necessary.

 

I didn't get the impression that they are opposed to trades. He explained the whole reasoning for trading Hector Santiago. He talked about opportunistic trades and used this an example. He said he was asked why he traded pitching when we needed pitching. He said he got 2 pitchers back in exchange for Santiago and enough money to make the deal cash neutral. So, he got a two for one deal. He said that if the Angels are going to be successful, they need to be opportunistic when trade proposals come up (I also got the impression that the Twins came at us with the deal more than we came at them for the deal). Using that as an example, if trading Cron and/or Calhoun could make us substantially better, that could happen.

 

Oh, one more thing I forgot to say: one question was why not trade Trout for a haul of prospects. The question received a resounding round of boos and Eppler said "We are not trading the best player in baseball." Not that it will end the pointless and useless threads discussing the idea, but we're not trading Trout.

 

Thanks! Was just a little thrown off to hear him interested in adding a catcher, didn't think it was a necessity.