Cdaniel

Gonzalez is definitely a fit. But he’ll be a fit for a lot of teams and I think he’s going to get a lot of money. I can’t see the Angels spending more than $5-6M on anyone who isn’t a pitcher, based on what Eppler said. 

Apologies. I'll try and work in a reference to someone contracting AIDS, so that it has more appeal to you, next time.

Shut up

Can people stop using the word douchey. Just because you don't like the guy from afar doesn't mean they are douchey. No one here other than I imagine Fletcher has probably met Harper. And I am guessing even he, while covering the Angels, doesn't know him that well. It is the most over played word here. 

I'm not worried about trading away prospects but more so who we trade.  Rangers aren't sold on Profar, they may trade Elvis at some point if he doesn't opt out and they don't know which Odor they will get from year to year.  Willie Calhoun doesnt have a position and it looks like Beltre wont be back.  They arent as deep at infield as some would think.  We could get Gallo for position prospects and the Rangers could flip Mazara & Elvis for Pitching.

Heres the kicker.
If we sign trout this winter, that will be THE big off season. Not much more. And the team wont be improved.
That will be a let down to some on here. Which is silly. My point being, we should focus on long term success, not short term. So the complaints about the recent underwhelming offseasons are short sighted.
Weve done a pretty decent job treading water with the bloated payroll, lack of a farm, old roster. Were not out of the woods yet. It will still take some time. But its more important to retain trout than to chase houston next year, fail, and lose trout in 2 years.

I am sure you all read this...
https://www.ocregister.com/2018/10/01/angels-to-focus-on-pitching-market-while-looking-internally-for-offensive-upgrades/
Eppler gave a lot of hints as to the direction.

Shelby Miller and Sonny Gray

And what did he give up to acquire all of those guys? Many of those guys could be deemed as productive players - albeit fairly unexciting ones.
To me, the Angels have been rebuilding since Eppler was hired, and I personally think he's done an incredible job. The farm has improved immensely and he's brought in some huge talent (Upton, Ohtani, Simmons) without giving up anything painful other than Newcomb, who was worth it and he's brought in a ton of useful cheap talent (Briceno, Pena, Bridwell, Parker, Cole, Ramirez, multiple pitchers really) for literally nothing. 
When time comes, as we saw with Simmons and Upton, he'll make those big impact moves. I think at the time those were convenient, but not part of a big plan to go all-in.

The Astros aren’t a lock to win 100 games forever, you know. 
Look at the Dodgers from 17 to 18? The Cubs from 16 to 17?
Keuchel could be gone. Morton could be gone. Verlander is going to be 36. Cole might revert to the Cole he’s been his whole career before this year. Bullpens are always up and down. Marwin could be gone. They don’t really have a catcher for next year. 
They have a core of Altuve-Correa-Springer-Bregman that you expect will all be above average, but the Angels have Trout-Ohtani-Simmons-Upton that should all be above average. 
Anyway, the point is you never know what will happen and I assume the Angels will be building the best team they can build and trying to win the division.

Flop - you're not playing for anything. It's going to be what it is whether you or I like it or not.  Us 'farm folk' are hopeful for next year as well.  But it's not about the farm.  It's about the current roster and the competition.  We're going to be better in 2019.  We could grab a wild card.  A division title is less likely but not totally off the table.  

I think they can do all that, although upgrade doesn’t necessarily mean “get a star.” They could get modest upgrades at a few spots and a big upgrade at one. 
Remember, the Angels already have a few spots they are above average. They just have to get to average at the others. You don’t need a star at every position. You need to not have any black holes. 

What about signing Donaldson and McCutcheon, instead of Machado? Probably would be for less money, combined, and you wouldn't be stuck with a long-term contract with a no-trade clause, in case Machado struggles in Anaheim. Donaldson and Cutch might be had for two year contracts with an option year. No draft picks lost for either, I dont believe.
We'd have a big bat behind Trout, Ohtani (Donaldson) and we have a leadoff hitter (Cutch) with a high OBP in front of them. Good speed at the top of the lineup.
Then, get creative for bullpen help and a starter. Leave catcher alone. Hope Fernandez hits enough to displace at lot of Albert ABs, in a platoon. 
Infield depth solved. Cozart/Fletch at 2nd, both of whom can play 2nd, SS, 3rd. Fernandez who can play 1st, 2nd or 3rd and platoon with Albert at first. Calhoun becomes a platoon in RF with Cutch and/or a late inning defensive replacement for Upton's dreaded glove. Kole can handle LF.
Kole aint going away, with that contract, IMO.

I completely disagree with you Jeff.  A manager has the ability to completely motivate or demotivate a team.  He can be the difference between a 20 game win streak or 20 game losing streak.  If you have a manager that doesn't relate to the players or players who are just tired of the same old manager.  That will be a huge difference.  I would say 10+.  I know you have more experience...but I'm right. Whenever I change managers in MLB The Show, it easily affects my team.  

how about SPOILER ALERT????

I didn't really get that at all from what he wrote.  I got that some guys still need to develop because at their current stage, they're likely not worth that much in trade.  Something I agree with for guys below A ball.  
I disagree with where he put a couple guys but I also agree with the notion that trading 2-3 of our top guys for one piece doesn't make a lot of sense right now.  
as an example, I love Simmons as a player.  hated the trade.  admitted I was wrong etc but he now has only two years of club control left and is approaching his 30's.  What has his value truly brought to the team?  Certainly, we could probably trade him now for someone that's likely to be better than Newcomb, but we aren't going to.  Sean Newcomb has 5 years of control left and is developing into a top of the rotation starter.  
So even if we go out and move Marsh, Jones, Suarez and others for a big time player or pitcher, does that move the needle enough for this team?  
with 3 years of club control left, Chris Sale cost the consensus best prospect in baseball plus another top 25 pitching prospect.  I am not sure there's a Chris Sale to be had right now.  The closest is deGrom with 2 years of control left.  But he's also already 30 years old.  He would absolutely cost Adell, Canning and probably two more players that would sting.  
the moral of the story for me is that we should be in 'wait and see' mode.  
The current team is going to finish below .500 or right around it.  We've got some really nice players.  And some really big holes to fill.  3b.  C.  2b maybe.  RF maybe.  Our pen is pretty terrible.  We need at least one starter assuming guys stay healthy for next year.  
But let's be realistic about 2019.  We could have a lot of stuff go right and grab a wild card spot.  But I'm not trading anyone from the top of our farm system to bolster that low odds opportunity.  
So I'm probably making a few moves that hopefully improve the team for 2020 and beyond but I definitely don't want to damage them for 2-3 years from now.  Maybe I grab a decent starter.  A short term answer to 3b/1b.  But I lock up Trout and maybe even consider extending Simmons.  
The farm isn't being overvalued.  There just isn't a ton of reason to start moving them.  yet.  
My hopeful scenario is that we lock up Trout.  Get at least three more years before an opt out after 2023.  Adell becomes the dynamic player we think he can.  Star level RFer.  I would extend Simmons too.  I think he will age well even though defense normally doesn't (super elite defense actually does).  Albert's got to be phased out.  Canning become a solid #2 in a couple years.  Skaggs stays healthy and we extend him beyond arb.  Maybe Heaney too.  Barria and Suarez fill out the back of the rotation.  Ohtani comes back and pitches once a week.  One of Rengifo, Jones or Fletcher becomes a solid everyday 2bman.  Somehow we piece together a better pen.  That leaves us needing a top of the rotation starter, a strong 3bman and a solid catcher.  
They'll be adjustments to that obviously.  Like make Kruger becomes a solid Catcher or Ward becomes the every day 3bman.  Maybe we bring back Richards for a couple of years.  Maybe Upton fall apart by 2020 and we need a LFer.  
But, contingent on a Trout extension, I like our chances to be really good in 2021.  That's probably when I make that trade for the top of the rotation starter costing our #1 prospect and others.  
Until I see true promise on the field, I'd be inclined to hold.  
 

Being a fairweather fan is the heat!
Go F*ck yourself.

I got Barria's autograph this spring. Chuck pointed him out as he was sitting right near where we were. 
So I hopped over, knelt down next to him and got his autograph. Then, since I'm a fat clumsy F*ck, I tried getting up and fell backwards into the people behind me who were then pissed because a 300 pound man just fell ass-first into their face.
But yeah, Barria's a nice kid. 

The current team as is, without any changes at all, has a solid chance at 85 wins; the Pythagorean Record bears that out. The question is: how to make that 85+ wins closer to a certainty with a chance to win 90?
Well, the WAR thread pointed out what we already know, that the team this year is like so:
Weaknesses: C, 1B, 3B, RF, SP
Neutral: RP, 2B
Strengths: SS, CF, LF, DH
My $30 million solutions:
Obviously DH, SS, CF, and LF are OK. I'd let Calhoun keep his job, assuming that he'll be more consistent and at least league average. I also don't want to clog up a spot for Adell, who could be ready as soon as late next year.
Furthermore, I'd solve 2B and 3B from within, with some combination of Fletcher, Cozart, Rengifo, and Ward; maybe a dash of Fernandez. 2B was pretty good between Kinsler and Fletcher and I think should be at least average next year. 3B was a real weakness, but either Cozart comes back and is solid, Ward takes a step forward, Fernandez is adequate, and even Rengifo takes over 2B and Fletcher moves to 3B. Either way, 2B and 3B can be filled internally--and for cheap--at about league average level.
That least C, 1B, SP and RP for possible external upgrades.
Catcher: I do not feel good about Briceno/Arcia. I'd go after Grandal, and if not him Ramos or some else, perhaps a clever trade.
1B: Hard to imagine Pujols not getting the job, but the door will open for Walsh, Fernandez, and Thaiss. I'd probably keep this internal, at least for 2019. I feel confident that between the four of them, decent production will emerge - and again, for internal (cheap) money.
SP: I'd go after Corbin ($20+ million a year, nine figures) but not go completely overboard. If not him, look for someone like Eovaldi.
RP: Familia is the guy - he's really good and will be a lot cheaper than Kimbrel, and better than Herrera. I'd also consider going after someone like Robertson.
I figure with those changes--signing a catcher, a starter, and a reliever or two, with internal solutions at 2B, SS, 3B, DH, and the outfield--will convert the above to:
Weaknesses: None.
Neutral: SP, 2B, 3B, 1B, C.
Strengths: SS, CF, LF, DH, RP, maybe SP, maybe C.

This thread got awesome.  And now it sucks.  
RIP

Well, 80 mil only gets you so much.
Imagine what you could do with 180-200 mil?
Uh, never mind...............

Have you ever considered volunteering for a suicide hotline?

okaaaaaay.....
cots

Arte just has to buy the Santa Ana Zoo, turn it into a private hunting reserve and rename the team the Millville Angels and its a done deal.