TroutCron

These moves by Eppler are all about giving Sosh options. Chances are that none of these turds will produce enough in spring to make the 25 man roster except maybe Choi. It's the old throw a bunch of poop against the wall and see what sticks method. I expect Eppler to pick up more of these types as the spring progresses.

Not a chance of this happening when it would put the Angels over the tax limit, which we know by now will not happen.

Apparently, every deal that Arte made in the outdoor advertising business was a winner. Unfortunately, baseball is not like that. He signed Albert and the Addict on name reputation only. They were marquee names that would look great on a billboard and help propel the Angels to win the LA market. If he listened to his baseball people perhaps he wouldn't be so disillusioned now. Now he is gun shy when it comes to free agency which is the only way he has to put a decent team on the field absent a quality farm system. I think that the lack of a new stadium plan along with the burdensome contracts of Albert and the Addict has negatively affected the operation of the ball club. It will be interesting to see if he decides to sell in the near future.

I agree that Arte is totally disillusioned with free agents demanding huge contracts. I think he is burdened with the uncertainty about the stadium situation. He needs to decide if he wants to pay for talent or settle for mediocrity.

Save this post and put it up every day until you are correct.

Eppler was safe signing Albuquerque. They stayed off Monty Montana because he would have put them over the 189 mil.

He is in charge of the buffet and the beer runs!

While I am suspect of any Colorado player, trading a fifth starter for a controlled OF is pretty tempting.

Street's stuff should play well for several more years. It is not like he throws 95.

The Yankees will try to trade Miller now for a starter.

The dumpster diving for the pen also indicates that they didn't have any worthy arms in the system that they felt needed to be added to the 40 man roster. That is the bigger indictment.

It is a real catch 22 at this point. It is hard to build a franchise without a strong farm. It is hard to build a farm if you finish out of the bottom ten. Signing one of the three top LF doesn't make the Angels an instant contender. The rotation is still very iffy and the pen is a major weakness as it stands. The Pujols and Hanilton signings will hamstring the FO until they are off the books. Should they sign one of the LF, sure, but don't expect the post season just because they do.

Wilson has value for a contending team if healthy. He won't be traded until the end of March or at the deadline. If healthy he would still be our # 2 or 3 starter. You don't give away a player like that just for salary relief. Let him start the season and see how he does.

Escobar Nava Trout Pujols Calhoun Cron Simmons Perez Giovatella With good starting pitching and a mediocre bullpen this is a 78-84 win team. Arte doesn't have to worry about the product on the field because he is guaranteed TV money every year. The value of the franchise is now tripled since he bought it. It is just painful to us fans who love the game and the team. It looks like another long season ahead.

One of the potential starters could be used in the pen. My problem with loding Gott is that he was the only one eho could come out of the pen when a strikeout is needed. It is definitely necessary to sign a lefthander like Bastardo.

Arte doesn't like to negotiate in the press. If the Angels are getting Heyward there won't be any leaks beforehand.

How about Jonathan Schoop for Santiago?

I wouldn't trade Gott. He is the only hard thrower amongst soft tossers in the pen. If anything Eppler should be looking for another plus arm for the pen. What good is a short term fix for left field if there is no one in the system ready for 2017. I would take Howie back but not for more than 3 years. I would wait until the spring or July to trade Wilson, trading kim now would be another salary dump.

If some owner is willing to pay the exorbitant price for Heyward then he is worth it. The industry is flush with TV money thus the inflated contracts. It is all telative to the industry at large. This is tge biggest argument for building the farm and dealing from there. That is the only way to avoid the huge contracts. The downside is that prospects ate unproven until they do it at the ML level. My theory with FA is to only go after a player that can be the difference between losing and contending or actually winning

Wilson will not be traded until he pitches in the spring. If he is healthy he could be good for at least 15 wins. Santiago, Shoemaker and Tropeano are back of rotation starters eho would not return much. I would like to see Gordon or Cespedes for left field, sign Bastardo for the pen, and trade one of the back end starters for a young second baseman.

I would rather have Cron than an overweight 32 year old Ramirez. There is still a need for a left handed bat for the middle of the order and an above average on base guy for the top of the order. Heyward is the latter which not worth the 200+ mil that his agent will demand.

I am not sure that Heyward is even an all star level player. I can't see signing a guy like that for over 200 mil. Having said that I am not a big fan of Cespedes either.

No one will trade for Wilson until they see him throw invthe spring. At best he will return a bad contract. The Angels have to hope he has a good first half then maybe get something for him at the deadline.

Unless a team puts more value on Santiago, Shoe or Tropeano the Angels have nothing to trade. I think the only additions will be through FA.

This is why the deal for Simmons was so good. A franchise shortstop with five years of club control. Those kind of players are rarely available. It was wise for Eppler to pounce on it. The only bad part is it didn't fill a hole in the lineup.