Cdaniel

I don't know, man.  Trout would look weird in this...

California Angels style. 
These are my two favorites:


 

There is no hyper valuing the money associated with the second round pick -- that's the bigger issue.  The changes to the draft assigning a hard slot value to each pick per spot means that losing the pick also means losing the money allocated to spend in the draft.  The Angels under Eppler have excelled at maximizing the value of their slot money.  Imo, their greatest success in the draft has been how they have spread that money around as much as who they have actually taken with the second round pick.

Did someone take a bite out of Jose's forehead?

And, everything that I’ve read on the topic has supported that idea.  This guy on ESPN saying they made him an offer last year is the first time I’ve seen anything like that.  And I suspect it’s complete bullshit. 

I totally get this frustration because I too am frustrated.  I thought we would get Heyward that year, we didn’t.  I always assumed we would be the team that swooped in and got someone, but that hasn’t really happened for a free agent since Albert.  We did get Ohtani somewhat out of nowhere, which was amazing.  I do think he is purposely using free agency to get us to a certain point in time, where the farm will be ready, but who knows at this point.  I guess my point is if he doesn’t see a free agent as a guy that could be good and still putting up bigger numbers when the farm is ready, then he will sign guys to short term deals that expire before the farm is ready.  I fully admit I could be misreading this, but it is how i see it.

you want a butterscotch candy to help you get through?  

You are sick.

I thought the way you make money in the stock market is to buy low before the price starts rising to maximize your return.

as long as you're not going to state your opinion. . . 

Given they now have at the very least covered the two gaping holes in the rotation -- whether or not to lose the 2nd rounder is a less imposing question.   If you trade for Realmuto you're essentially trading multiple second rounders who are all further along to paying off.  So do they value the potential maybes they MIGHT be able to pick or the multiple maybes they already have.
I'd rather keep the guys they have.  

^Well, you just further my point: our last four second picks were all guys with high upside. They haven't contributed yet because it is the last four years. We'll see Canning this year, Jones and Marsh next.
But I somewhat agree with floplag that the gap between Realmuto and Grandal might not be so large as to warrant the bucketload of prospects difference (minus the second round pick).

AS far as catchers, Grandal and his second round pick costs a lot less than what a Realmuto trade would prospect wise and we missed the boat on the Ramoz/Suzuki train.  At this point its either that or bring Back Maldonado and upgrade elsewhere for offense.   which i would be ok with on many levels pending who what position that upgrade was at. 

Is that really a bad free agent haul? For a team needing depth and which has a lot of holes?

I'd just move Cozart to 2B, leave La Stella on the bench. Moose at 3B, Bour/Pujols at 1B. 
Moose had positive dWAR last season, up from negative in '17. He's still solid. Tulo could serve the same purpose for a lot less money, but a lot less certainty than Moose. 

Your starting AAA infield would be: 3B Ward, SS Fletcher, 2B Rengifo, 1B Thaiss - talk about having actual depth for once!

Odds are, someone on the starting infield or La Stella will get hurt or struggle - Fletcher is likely your first guy up then. 
If Pujols gets hurt, or if Ohtani is slow returning, or if Bour winds up sucking, Moose can play some 1B too. 

If the Angels need to trade for a SP upgrade midseason, they can pull from the infield prospect depth without hurting the MLB team. 
Things go south, it wouldn't be hard to move any of these vets midseason or 2020 deadline before they hit FA. 

A line-up of Calhoun, Simmons, Trout, Ohtani, Upton, Pujols, Grandal, Moustakas, Cozart is pretty solid.
 

I'd much rather have one year of Cahill at $9M than five years of Keuchel for $90M.
The Angels rotation isn't sexy, but its deep with solid starters with some upside:
Heaney, Skaggs, Harvey, Cahill, Barria, Tropeano, F Pena, Peters, Cole, Smith, Canning, Suarez, Ramirez. That's 13 guys who could contribute in 2019, 15 if you count Sandoval and L Pena.

Absolutely, but also think I’d prefer simply signing Grandal and keeping Barria. 
Instead of buying another low/mid-tier arm, I think I’d see if Moose could be had for 1-2 years around $8-10m AAV. Adding the OBP that Bour, La Stella, and Grandal brings really negates Moose’s troubles there, and he’ll give you good defense, another lefty bat, and more power. Really well-rounded lineup. Lots of IF versatility. Lots of 1B depth. No long deals, no prospects lost. 

Id rather sign Grandal and keep Barria.  Giving up a 2nd pick would suck for the Grandal signing but I view Barria higher than that, plus add additional prospects on top of that...no thank you.

Id rather sign Grandal and keep Barria.  Giving up a 2nd pick would suck for the Grandal signing but I view Barria higher than that, plus add additional prospects on top of that...no thank you.

I thought the way you make money in the stock market is to buy low before the price starts rising to maximize your return.

I thought the way you make money in the stock market is to buy low before the price starts rising to maximize your return.

isn't that the point of buying any stock?  why the eff else would you buy it?  

Good thing they will have payroll space to add guys again next year when they might be closer, and the kids are further along.

I don't get saving for the Trout ext, wouldn't it be just adding additional 5-7 mil based on what he is making now?  
I think we end the offseason by signing Kikuchi and Grandal.