ksangel

You're right...thanks for clarifying. So the Rangers get two first round picks vs. Angels get 1. The Rangers should get a good draft choice with compensation pick which makes their $8M invested a very good one.

Shrewd deal and should really help the Nats overall offensively (another left handed bat) and defensively. Moving Eaton back to CF is for one year only and then he'll slide to LF to replace Werth (contract expires) and Robles (#1 prospect - killed AA as a 19 yr. old) will take over CF. Eaton replaces Ramos' bat and allows Trea Turner to slide to SS where he belongs and makes Espinosa a Super UT. And Norris/Servino then replace Espinosa's bat which isn't difficult. Plus they have a stocked rotation already for the near future and Giolito looked like Meyers did this year for the Angels...great stuff but wildly inconsistent. And they have 2 or 3 starting pitchers in the minors to replace Giolito so not really a huge loss.

What a WOW for the Rangers...pay Desmond about what the Angels are going to pay Maybin, get a solid season from him, finish in first in the division and have the next draft pick after the Angels and the 28th pick in 2017. So they stock up their farm system more than the Angels again.

Lot of quibbling here about Harrison's offensive abilities considering what the Angels ran out at 2B the last two years. Just like Maybin, he'd be a huge improvement over what the Angels have had and he's only signed to for two years. Escobar; Calhoun, Trout, Pujols, Cron, Maybin, Harrison, Simmons and Bandy/Perez. That's a much deeper hitting lineup then we've seen the past two years and Harrison adds another athletic player to go with Trout, Calhoun, Maybin and Simmons.

Is the average annual salary the # of years divided into total contract? if so his avg. annual salary would be $6.825M (4yrs/$27.3M) He averaged about .305/.350+ in minors but last two years were down and his walks at Mlb level are way lower than minors - so that may be a concern. Agree the Pirates may trade him for a promising low level projectable talent if Angels eat all his salary...Pirates are always looking to dump salary. Don't see him as a 3B but everyday 2B with Cowart and Pennington as backups at all three infield positions - especially since the cut Petit.

2B: Travis Demeritte (Braves' No. 9) Demeritte's name was all over the AFL leaderboard, as he led the league in triples (four), tied for the league lead in total bases (48), finished second in runs scored (23) and tied for second in home runs (four). Equally impressive was the 22-year-old's defense, as he received glowing reviews from scouts for his athleticism and glove work at both second and third base for Salt River. This guy was rated best 2B in AFL so he's probably above Peterson in the rankings?? So maybe the Braves would trade Peterson if they already have two 2B ahead of him? Or maybe the Angels should shoot higher and try to trade for Demeritte?

Reading the Rule V draft rules they state "teams must file their 40-man rosters by Nov. 21, and only those not at the full allotment of 40 may select players". The Angels are at 40 so are they ineligible to draft anyone?

Jones - Trout - Calhoun ?? Baseball America gave Angels 2020 starting lineup as: Ward, Thaiss, Fletcher, Simmons, Marte, Jones, Trout and Calhoun

Would Tropeano and Heaney be on the 40 man roster or if on the 60 day DL not count? If they don't count then the Angels would be down to 37 (with Ortega being DFA). I'd keep Middleton since those types of arm don't come along too often along with Smith and Banuelos. So if only those three then no one else would have to be removed.

Names came from article on MLB.com. Castillo is 21 and was signed at 16 and has been playing 5 seasons so I'd think he fits the eligibility requirements. Banuelos is 25 and was signed in 2008 and has been playing 8 seasons so I'd think he fits the eligibility also.

Teams have till this Friday to add certain players (won't go into the requirements) to their 40 man roster or expose them to the Rule V Draft. Out of the Angels top 30 prospects Nate Smith, Chad Hinshaw, Manny Banuelos, Kyle McGowin, Keynan Middleton and Jesus Castillo have to be added to 40 man roster or be exposed to draft. Angels 40 man roster stands at 39 now so of the above group who do they add and if they add more than one who gets dropped from the 40 man roster?

I agree with this. Howie and Utley are past their prime and the Angels need to get more athletic and solve 2B for longer than a year. Cesar would add youth, solid defense, good bat and speed to the lineup. Would make a dynamic up the middle defense with Bandy, Simmons and Trout. Maybe start with Marsh and build a trade around him. Especially with Jones, Hermosillo and possibly Thaiss as future OF's in the minors. Have problems including Ward...he just might turn out to be a full time catcher with good defense and bat. Maybe include Perez (is a gold glove candidate) and then sign a veteran catcher to back up Bandy.

Thanks for the info...but pass if it meant trading Cron, Thaiss or Jones. Could David Fletcher be a similar player in the future?

Would lose their 2nd round pick

Just out of curiosity why would the Phillies trade their 26yr old 2B who just hit .294 with .371 OBP? Appears their next 2B played part of the year at AA so isn't ready for MLB even though he appears to be their 2B of the future. And what do the Angels have to trade? Cron? Surely not Thaiss or Jones or Ward.

Someone we have no idea about will be the starting 2B. Believe Eppler will acquire a young 2B who plays good defense and has the potential to be a good bat with high OBP.

Wonder if Maybin could transform into a lead off hitter? In 2670 PA's he's lead off 100 times and 70 of those times were in 2010 and 2011. In the last three years he's led off 12 times. Unless the Angels are going to sign a top FA 3B I'd keep Escobar and let Marte develop so he's an option in 2018 when Angels will need a 3B. With Maybin and Escobar the order could be: Escobar, Calhoun, Trout, Pujols, Cron, Maybin, Simmons, Bandy/Perez, 2B Could flip Simmons and Maybin too.

Totally agree on 2 year limit. I like that he's got that "don't mess with me attitude" which seems to be missing from the Angels. Escobar, Calhoun, Trout, Bautista, Pujols, Simmons, Cron, Bandy/Perez, New 2B. Plus having another bat like his deepens the lineup and would make it easier having a defense first 2B. But can see Boston signing him as their DH too.

Reading Eppler's comments made me wonder if he would go after Jose Bautista - if Toronto doesn't offer him or if they do offer him a QO and he would reject it since it seemed pretty clear Eppler wants to keep draft picks - on a two year contract and move Calhoun to LF (like Eppler said it's easier to move an OF from left to right or right to left than a 3B to 2B). Yes he is 36 but he'd sure give the Angels a more than adequate outfielder for a couple of years and offer good OBP and another legit middle of the order bat. His defensive ability will probably continue to drop with age but with Trout in CF it would help. But maybe Bautista is stuck on a longer contract?? Can't see Fowler leaving the Cubs considering they'll be in contention for a number of years. Why leave such a good situation? Or Walker leaving the Mets. They'd be losing one of their top bats and can't afford to do that, especially if they do lose Cespedes. Reddick seems like a legit RF/LF candidate...the others all have their issues and the Angels need to stop going down that road. Also wonder if they want to play Marte in the infield more to groom him for 2018 when Escobar will for sure be gone. With Cowart's bat really lagging behind his glove it appears the Angels will need a 3B in 2018. 2B is just a hole for the Angels and potential replacements. Maybe Eppler can get a young 2B from another team who can defensively play there and see if the bat will come around. Just not sold on Cowart playing there full time or a platoon like they used after letting Johnny G go. And still believe Meyers will be in the bull pen next year especially with Eppler saying he would have to earn a SP slot in spring training. He's got legit back end of the bull pen stuff and if Eppler wants to sign a couple of FA SP's it would make sense Meyers is now more regarded as a RP. Plus I'd guess that Eppler never saw a resurgence from Nolasco coming in that trade.

Yankees have their LF of the future in Clint Frazier who they acquired from Cleveland in the Miller trade so maybe the Yankees would move him. He was Cleveland's #1 prospect and in AA/AAA last year. Gardner would be a good stop gap in LF for a couple of years...better than a Jon Jay type IMO. Maybe Thaiss could be a LF and in the majors in 2019? Wasn't there talk of moving him to the outfield after playing 1B this year? But the reality is the Yankees would want a couple of Angels top prospects to do that deal. Pass on Ellsbury...

Post Season - Mariano Rivera 141ip's .70 era Regular Season - Roger Clemens, Greg Maddux, Bob Feller, Steve Carlton, Bob Gibson....many great ones to choose from If I was starting a team today and could select any current pitchers - Clayton Kershaw or Mad Bum...couldn't lose choosing either of them as your #1

Cleveland can slide Miller, Allen and Shaw around because they all have "closer" type stuff...like Shields, FRod and Percival did (yes - they weren't used as relievers are being used today but could have been). It's a new stat driven game and having starting pitchers that can toe the rubber for 6+ innings is becoming rare. Why not bring in a pitcher with closer like stuff in the 6th inning to shut down the other teams best hitters when you have two or more that can follow up in the next three innings? Relief pitchers will adapt to the routine and it will probably change their pay structure too for it would seem if the money is for closure/saves why would a closer like pitching other than in a save situation? Watching Cleveland it's easy to see that relief pitching and defense do win games...both which the current Angels lack but need to address this off season if they want to be competitive. It's apparent that the Angels need better defense at 3B and part ways with Escobar and not use Marte in LF (he would never have made the two plays Coco did last night). Also need to part ways with Street and go after a couple of hard throwing top relief pitchers (hopefully one of them is a lefty) to pair with Bedrosian.

Cespedes or Desmond? Really need to have a legit LF and not another maybe they'll pan out LF. Marte's defense was brutal in the OF.

Trade Escobar for relief pitcher (that's what Nat's got for him from Angels) and let Marte play 3B where he belongs. Saw enough of Escobar and his one dimensional skill set this year. Resign Weaver as #5 (how many other #5's had their team go 16-14?). He looked better at end of year. Stats don't tell the whole story either. Move Meyer to bullpen where his stuff would be dynamic. RP's would be Street (he's going to be there no matter what until he fails), Bedrosian, Meyer and Bailey. With Morin, Chacin (ok long man) and others. Need to keep building the pen. Really weak area this past year compared to the years when the Angels competed. Richards, Shoe, Skaggs, Nolasco and Weaver. Got to believe Richards will be ok (will see more after instructional league) and Shoe will recover. Need more starting and relief pitching depth but would be ok with above as a start and see how season develops. Sign Ian Desmond - LF solved. Brings offense and defense and 20+ steals. Batting order of Calhoun, Desmond, Trout, Pujols, Marte, Cron, Simmons, Bandy and Cowart (2B). And don't trade any top minor leaguers either. Let Thaiss, Ward, Jones, Williams, Marsh and whoever they draft #10 next June develop into the next wave of Angels. Go Angels in 2017!

Success of a teams 1st and 2nd round picks are important to a teams success? At least that's why I'm interested/worried about Cowart's success. Already have had 1st round picks Brandon Wood, Chevy Clark, Taylor Lindsey and Ryan Bolden fail. 2nd round pick Hunter Green retire. And traded 1st round picks Newcomb and Grichuk and 2nd round picks Corbin and Chatwood.