KevinStockerIsGod

I've seen you raise this issue in other topics, and I understand what you're saying, but again, it's not like the Angels are being cheap and not giving him a raise, it's the system that was agreed to by players and owners. Trout deserves a whole lot more than what his salary is, but the system dictates the scale. He should know that, his agent should know that. I'm sure everyone involved is well aware he will be paid soon and the Angels most likely will do so after Opening Day or later this season when they can extend him without the luxury tax ramifications.

I realize this is not one single move, but if both trades merged and looked like this... Angels trade Mark Trumbo, Peter Bourjos, and Randall Grichuk for David Freese, Tyler Skaggs, Hector Santiago, and Fernando Salas ...would you have been satisfied? I think the end result is the same, we used our tradeable assets for areas of need.

Everyone can have an opinion on this matter, and Bourjos' value was on the low end since he hasn't been healthy or hasn't had a starting position since 2011. However, with our roster, at the time of the trade, he was a bench player. When you are able to upgrade another position on the field, bringing stability to a position that has been in flux since 2009, there is a benefit there. While there is definitely more potential in Bourjos and prospect potential in Grichuk, you have a roster that needs to win now and right now adding Freese is more valuable to this team. If we weren't able to make a move for young controllable pitching like we did in the Trumbo trade, I'd feel the offseason would have been incomplete. In terms of the long view of the offseason, Dipoto has upgraded the areas we set out to address, and we may still get more.

Jeff Fletcher ‏@JeffFletcherOCR 1m #Angels remain focused on Garza, Tanaka for pitching. If they fail on both, will likely wait for bargains in late January.

Jeff Fletcher ‏@JeffFletcherOCR 19s Ibanez deal leaves #Angels about $15M under the CBT. Definitely still in play for Garza or Tanaka. Willing to go over by a little if necc.

Unless Hamilton completely falls on his face, he will be the left fielder for the next 4 years.

The lineup, with Ibanez, especially against RHP would probably look like this: Calhoun L Trout R Pujols R Hamilton L Freese/Kendrick R Ibanez L Kendrick/Freese R Conger L Aybar S Splits through the entire lineup

Raul Ibanez in 2013: .242/.306/.793 with 29 HRs, 65 RBIs Mark Trumbo in 2013: .234/.294/.747 with 34 HRs and 100 RBIs I'm not saying Ibanez is better, but at least for next season, if signed, Ibanez could present similar production to the lineup, while we added Skaggs and Santiago.

Santiago said yesterday he is fine shifting from bullpen to rotation and is happy to do both. I can see the Angels getting Garza, inserting Skaggs as 5th, with Santiago as swingman that can start and spell Richards and Skaggs if needed to balance out innings workload.

Again, I don't think this is a stopping point, but the Angels haven't paid over the 5/85 that Weaver got and I'm sure they would see the CJ Wilson contract as the highpoint at 5/77.5. So if it escalates over 5/75, I don't think they do it, nor should they. The best would be 4/60 plus a vesting option...make him earn the 5th year. Based on the moves we've made, outside of maybe a DH type and another bullpen arm, the team is pretty set, so we should be an attractive option for the California native.

Who says the Angels are the one waiting? It seems clear the D'Backs are trying for Choo, as well, and most likely are waiting to see which route they go.

Steve Gilbert ‏@SteveGilbertMLB 46m #Dbacks continue to work hard with #Angels on deal for Trumbo. Also remain in mix for Choo. Steve Gilbert ‏@SteveGilbertMLB 25m To answer question that's been asked. Yes, it would be either Trumbo or Choo for #Dbacks not both. Long shot on Choo. This is the D'Backs beat writer...

At the end of the day, Choo is getting over 100 mil from someone, which is a little crazy. If the D'Backs can and will do that, fine, but I really think their best play is a Trumbo deal with Cahill/Skaggs coming back, where they actual save payroll space and can still go out and get David Price and extend him.

Yeah, we already tried to Kennedy, but he went to the Padres...

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

He's the best and cheapest power option available right now, so if a team needs power, i'm sure they are interested, despite BA and OBP numbers.

Ken Rosenthal ‏@Ken_Rosenthal 3m Sources: #Angels' Trumbo in play. Club officials view him as difficult to lose, but also as the piece who might bring them most in return.

I wouldn't be surprised if the Angels moved on Garza quickly to fill the #3 spot. I can see them waiting on a trade or potential lower tier FA to see what develops. I think it's imperative to make a move for either Garza/Tanaka (if posted) as quickly as possible, so they have a little more wiggle room with waiting out other FA SP or trades once teams get a little more needy. This could play out for awhile.

I bet their next move is either a trade for Matt Kemp or Price...but I wouldn't give up Walker, he has the chance to be good. The M's need a lot more offense to be competitive though.

Damned if you do, damned if you don't. If the Angels got Mujica in addition to Smith, fans would be outraged at using our small available funds for only bullpen. I think he would have helped, without question, but any further bullpen additions should be lower priority than starting pitching.

Mark Feinsand ‏@FeinsandNYDN 1m Source said Angels were also in the mix for Phil Hughes, offering the SoCal native a "nice one-year deal."

This actually hurts teams against the luxury tax if they won't go above. The Yankees are spending, but they don't want to go above the tax. This may hurt them actually, now that the player salary may be higher than previously thought.

I'm sure the agents and GMs know if Trumbo is really available or not b/c I'm sure there has been talk with him involved. No one is off limits, save for Trout Weaver, and Wilson most likely. In fact, Dipoto's last quote is "You never know what can happen when you start talking," Dipoto said, acknowledging there is always a chance a deal for Trumbo could materialize, "but Mark is valuable to us for the same reason other teams value him." Basically, Dipoto is saying if all things were equal and we didn't have void for pitching, we'd keep Trumbo. However, I'm sure if a team ponies up a 2/3 SP, he'd talk.

Both Hudson and D-Backs have expressed hope that they can still retain him.

I would be concerned if the moves made today were for targets we had and missed. Gregerson would nice, but it would have costed us Calhoun, as the Padres wanted a LH OF bat.