Cdaniel

Nice work!

D-Baggery is apparently a medical condition now.

Based off Raul's recent contracts he will be at least half the cost of Trumbo as well

He sucked and was out of MLB for a year. Then comes back and tears it up only to get caught with PEDs. Now that he is supposedly clean, he's still pitching great. I'm not buying it. Do you think that PEDs didn't help him?

i'm glad he's not a Halo.  F*ck that cheater.

Thank god he's off the list.

Aybar has some trade value to the Mets.
 
One thing we're not talking about is Grant Green as the replacement at SS if Aybar is dealt. That was Green's primary position out of college played hundreds of games there in the minors.
 
More on Grant Green..
 
The Call-Up Grant Greenby Nick J. Faleris and Bret Sayre

The Situation: The first-place Oakland Athletics have received lackluster production out of the second base position in 2013—.264/.339/.343 and just one home run through 89 games—and now look to Triple-A Sacramento for an offensive boost in the form of Grant Green. After a solid but unspectacular year in Sactown last summer, Green has broken out in his second tour through the hitter-friendly PCL, triple-slashing .318/.374/.500 through 81 games whiles launching 11 home runs and 25 doubles.
 
Background: After entering his junior year at USC as a potential top five draft pick in 2009, Green struggled at the plate and in the field, ultimately dropping to Oakland as the 13th overall selection that June. Since then, he’s slowly climbed through the minor league ranks, showing steady growth in his game, and particularly in his approach at the plate. After shuffling around the diamond through his first three full seasons, Green made the permanent move off of shortstop in 2013 and looks to have found a permanent home at the keystone.
 
Scouting Report: Green projects to have average tools across the board, with a chance for an above-average hit tool thanks to an improved approach at the plate and a simple swing that helps the barrel to the ball more often than not. While he has shown some over-the-fence pop during his minor league tenure, those power spikes have come in home run-friendly environments, and the odds are that Green will be a much larger doubles threat as a major leaguer—particularly in the spacious Coliseum.
 
Green has improved his production in the field through reps and instruction, but the strongest catalyst for the positive growth may have been the simple switch off the six-spot. At shortstop, his range was pushed at the margins, often leading to hurried actions and imperfect execution. He is a more deliberate defender at second, but has enough athleticism and body control to make the necessary pivots, and his lower half works well enough to cover the necessary ground without sacrificing his ability to finish.
 
Green is most likely a second-division starter, long term, but given the current state of second base on Oakland’s 25-man, that would be a nice improvement. He should hit for average with a good number of doubles and low-double-digit home runs, and will show some on-base ability while providing positive value on the bases.
 
Immediate Big-League Future: Green isn’t being promoted to sit on the bench, so he should see the lion’s share of the action at second base. The lack of production thus far from the Athletics’ second basemen should afford Green some adjustment time, as there is no reason not to let him get his reps and find his stride, even if that means some struggles along the way. If Green proves up to the task of adjusting to top-tier pitching in his first taste of big league ball, the A’s will get a much-needed bump in production and Green will lay claim to the inside track on the everyday second base job in Oakland long term. —Nick J. Faleris

Owner wants to fly back and meet with Tanaka before he makes his decision. Probably won't hear anything for a couple days.

Chuck's used to be accused of being premature.

After one serious trade, I'm considerably more optimistic for 2014 than before.  I wasn't sure we'd get anything more than a #4/5 SP a year or two away from FA in return for Trumbo.  The fact that we received a #3/4 that's 4 years away from FA and one of the best pitching prospects in the game, plus 4 million in salary relief is just outstanding. 
 
The way I see it, Freese is an upgrade at 3B, Hamilton couldn't possibly be worse and was trending in the right direction, for the first time in half a decade Albert Pujols is healthy, Mike Trout will be playing in his age 22 season, which will likely be as good or better than age 21 and Calhoun's OBP, speed and power has been infused into the lineup.  Even without Trumbo, this offense has a good chance at being better in 2014 than it was in 2013.
 
As for the rotation, Santiago is better and younger than Vargas, Richards is better and younger than Hanson, and Skaggs/a pitching machine with a bucket of balls is better and younger than Williams/Blanton.  Also, I wouldn't count on Weaver braking any more bones but you never know.  The rotation looks MUCH BETTER.
 
The bullpen is even showing some signs.  Frieri's dynamic.  Joe Smith was a big acquisition and should really help steady the back end.  Sean Burnett is expected be back 100%.  Before injury, he was basically a left handed Joe Smith.  De La Rosa and his sub-3 ERA projects to be our 6th inning man right now.  Kohn and Jepsen are a couple of projectable, hard-throwing monkeys in the middle right now.  Salas posted a 1.93 ERA in AAA last year and logged 24 saves and a 2.28 ERA in the Major Leagues 2 years ago.  Rasmus logged a 1.94 ERA last season in AAA and carries a promising WHIP and K/9 as a reliever.  We also have Maronde, Morin, Alvarez and Bedrosian all being likely a year away from the bullpen.  Add a recovered Brandon Sisk into the mix and suddenly we look deep.
 
Then there's the last part.  The Angels are close to 20 million UNDER the Luxury Tax right now.  They also have Wells coming off the books at the end of the year.  There isn't any reason why this team can't offer Trout the insane money he deserves.  If this trade hasn't saved Dipoto's job than I'm not sure what will.  That looks like a playoff contender to me, and there's room to get get better too.    

So most of the people yapping about his mysterious drop in velocity either never saw him or just assumed when someone says a guy can touch 94, that it means he throws 94 MPH with every pitch.

Masterson is a FA after the season. This team has enough money tied up in players. They need cheap arms that they can control for years. Santiago and Skaggs fit that bill better than 1 season of MAsterson + having to hope to extend him to a pretty healthy contract

I am going to be bummed to see Trumbo go, but if we can get two young starting pitchers, you have to do it.
 
 
 
 

This is actually good news, the Angels don't have a pair of good prospects to give up, so they must be coming to AZ from the WhiteSox!

i would like to see the pundits on twitter stfu and let things happen before poo poo ing them... jsut a thought, lol

Likely won't feel a thing.

I always keep my expectations low. I'm expecting: "The Angels have traded Mark Trumbo for Taylor Skaggs and Joe Blanton. Yeah, we know they already have Blanton and no one knows who Taylor Skaggs is, but they fumbled up the paper work and the commish is drunk."

Please lord let Choo sign with some random ass team

Ken Rosenthal ‏@Ken_Rosenthal 22s
Sources: Chances of Trumbo trade increasing. #Angels more open. #Dbacks pushing. Other teams in, all with improving offers.

WTF?

This is more a function of teams realizing the extreme need for pitching throughout the game. The teams who have a surplus are holding out for maximum return. This has nothing to do with Howie Kendrick. According to multiple reports the Angels have fielded inquiries about Kendrick, but the other teams haven't offered enough in return for the Angels to pull the trigger on a deal.
 
I honestly don't follow your logic. The winter meetings don't open until tomorrow, yet since Kendrick hasn't been traded yet, there is no interest in him.

Sounds like the way many people get ahead in business.  Very few professions consistently promote or hire based exclusively on merit, achievement and leadership skills.  I am the exception and have earned every promotion and bonus.  The fact that my parents own the business is simply an interesting side note and has no bearing on this discussion.

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.

The lone given in this equation is Bourjos' defense, which is the best tool either offer but Calhoun's full season value has a slightly higher ceiling. If Calhoun can be the hitter between Trout and Pujols who can take pitches to allow Trout to run and still get on base while holding down RF then he's got value beyond WAR.

Ok so you are the kind of fan that thinks players, or in this case player, are/is great or they suck. Absolutely pathetic. I love those kinds of people where there is no middle ground. I'm surprised Trout got your praise last year, because well he got out about 60% of the time. So CJ did nothing worth praise last year? Yes negative fans like you bother me, try some balance in your fandom, I promise it's better. Hell, I'm not even asking you to be like me, where I side way on the side of optimism. Try being like Doc or Mt, where they are critical and praise.