ksangel

It's tempting to want the Angels to sign FA's to fill the 2B and LF voids but....
 
From what's being posted Cespedes will honor his three year contract and not opt out after this year.
I get hard burn thinking of signing Ian Desmond (who rejected a $107M/7 year contract offer from the Nats a couple of years ago) knowing he'll be 31 in September and really slumped in 2015 with the Nats - both offensively(.238/19/62) and defensively - in his walk year.  He was quite productive from 2012 to 2014 (.299/25/73, .280/20/80 and .255/24/91 - notice the trending down of average...to .238 in 2015) plus he's on track for a .290/26/96 year in 2016. He'll want big bucks knowing he passed up $107M before and not sure he's worth the risk - Gary Matthew Jr. II???  Will be interesting to see if the Rangers try to sign him before the end of the season - that would say a lot about what they think of him.
Saunders is hitting .189 or so the second half of 2016 with little power (nice homer last night though) so not sold on him either.
Fowler is the most interesting and should demand a smaller contract than Desmond.  Plus he might make Escobar expendable by filling the lead off position allowing Cowart to take over at 3B and give the Angels a better overall defensive infield with Pennington/Petit rotation at 2B.  Signing Fowler basically would fill Escobar's offensive #'s with Fowler and replace LF hole with potential of Cowart...plus a ++ on improving LF and 3B defense.
Don't know enough about Reddick but would pass on Trumbo, Beltran, Bautista or Rasmus. 
Don't really want Angels to sign to be 31 year old Neil Walker either for $50M/4 years plus.
 
It will be an interesting off season for sure and so much regarding the pitching staff hinges on how Richards progresses.
 
 

Continue to play for the top five draft slot in 2017 draft and get a high end pitching prospect.  
Continue to develop minors by keeping top prospects like Thaiss, Jones, Marsh...etc.
Don't sign a high priced free agent for LF (Trumbo or Cespedes) or 2B (Walker).  Save $'s for 2018 FA class and also don't give up second round draft choice for 2017 (hopefully 1st round will be top 10 and protected).
In September of 2016 continue to see if Buss (he's older but has looked ok so far) could be a legit LF and also see if Marte and Cowart can be legit contributors in 2017/2018. 
Pitching staff of Richards (thinking positive vibes!), Shoe, Skaggs (he'll have another six or seven starts in 2016 plus winter to get ready for 2017) and Nolasco (#5) in 2017 is ok but need another back end starter and depth (Chacin? Lincecum? Meyers? Nate Smith?).
Bullpen should be ok with continued development of Bedrosian (groom him as the closer), Ramirez, Guerra, Valdez and others in minors (Alcantara and Middleton for example) and return of Street.
Trout, Calhoun, Simmons, Pujols, Cron, Bandy/Perez and Escobar is ok nucleus for 2017. 
If all goes well they could play .500 ball which would be acceptable knowing 2018 could be much better.
Then in 2018, with return of Heaney and Tropeano, sign a FA 2B and LF and go for it!
 
 
 
 

Tanaka and Santana for sure.  Read that Roy Halladay had a partial tear (didn't say how severe but Tommy John surgery had been recommended) and pitched another five years and made the All-Star team four times during that span.  Don't think he had a PRP though - just rehab.  David Aardsma did but his finally fully tore. Can't find any others.
Good article on PRP's below:
 
The biggest point in PRP's favor was a medical study published in the American Journal of Sports Medicine last July that offers a favorable opinion on PRP (emphasis mine):

The real downside of this deal is that I look at Meyer and think the most likely outcome is that we gave Santiago away for nothing. This is a very similar deal to the Callaspo for Grant Green trade. At the time we were excited to get a first rounder with a slick scouting report for an expiring contract. Unfortunately teams don't just give guys like Meyer away when everything is OK. Obviously they have decided that he is pushing 27 and can't stay healthy as a starter. 
I think the right move would've been to try and extend Santiago to a team friendly deal, say 4/$50m. Meyer's upside is probably not too far off from Santiago really.

Next years mantra - "Skaggs and Shoe and three days of blues"

Next years mantra - "Skaggs and Shoe and three days of blues"

Next years mantra - "Skaggs and Shoe and three days of blues"

Next years mantra - "Skaggs and Shoe and three days of blues"

Next years mantra - "Skaggs and Shoe and three days of blues"

Next years mantra - "Skaggs and Shoe and three days of blues"

Trout stays healthy and wins MVP
Cowart and Bandy get their chance and do well
Shoe, Trop, Santiago and Skaggs pitch well giving the Angels hope for 2017.
Richards actually doesn't need Tommy John and comes back giving the Angels more hope for 2017
Thaiss and Jones continue to put up awesome numbers giving the Angels farm system some hope
Arte falls off his yacht and new owner hires Bud Black
Weaver finishes off the season at home pitching a complete game shut out denying the Astros a playoff spot and fans give him an hour standing ovation thanking him for all the great years of being their Ace.
(reloads pipe, takes more puffs)  ....don't Bogart that....aw yes...the remedy to a long season
 
 

Trout stays healthy and wins MVP
Cowart and Bandy get their chance and do well
Shoe, Trop, Santiago and Skaggs pitch well giving the Angels hope for 2017.
Richards actually doesn't need Tommy John and comes back giving the Angels more hope for 2017
Thaiss and Jones continue to put up awesome numbers giving the Angels farm system some hope
Arte falls off his yacht and new owner hires Bud Black
Weaver finishes off the season at home pitching a complete game shut out denying the Astros a playoff spot and fans give him an hour standing ovation thanking him for all the great years of being their Ace.
(reloads pipe, takes more puffs)  ....don't Bogart that....aw yes...the remedy to a long season
 
 

Arroyo is an elite bat...he's 3.5 years younger than the AA average age and 2.5 years younger than any Angel at AA (Caleb Adams)  so yes his average should be a little lower at this stage of his development.  He hit .304/.344/..459/.803 at A+ last year and .333 at A the year before.  He's gained 30 pounds of muscle and is now 6'-2" 215lbs.  But reading stats doesn't tell the whole picture.  He makes solid contact with each at bat - a line drive machine and has very advanced plate awareness.  He has good speed...not great - but good and he hustles his butt off on every play whether fielding or running.  Won't be surprised if he's their 3B or LF sometime next year or in 2018 considering Panik and Crawford are at SS and 2B. 
Again, the Giants won't trade him...that's why they have a home grown infield.  They draft smart and develop/keep their top prospects. 
We can debate Parker all day.  Yes, he does have power but do the Angels need another HR hitter?  Trout, Pujols and Cron supply the power and they're not going anywhere - especially Trout and Pujols and with Cron hitting better he won't be either.  Parker strikes out around 28-30% of the time.  Angel fans rail about Cron and he only K's about 16% this year and in the minors was around 13-15%.  A LF who grind out AB's and gets on base would be preferable.  Parkers AAA stats - in the same league as the Bees - this year align with Nick Buss and Cal Towey's with Parker having a bit higher OPS and SLG because of HR's.    

Angels trade LHP Hector Santiago, 3B Yunel Escobar, and C Geovany Soto to the Giants in exchange for AA 2B Christian Arroyo, AA LHP Andrew Suarez, and AA RHR Ray Black

- Angels absorb Santiago’s, Escobar’s, and Soto’s remaining $2.5MM, $2.7MM, and $1.4MM 2016 salaries
- Arroyo, the Giants #1 prospect, could best be described as the ‘Kole Calhoun’ of middle infielders meaning he does everything above average but nothing spectacularly well
- Suarez is a solid left-handed starter with good control and mid rotation upside
- Black is a flame throwing right-handed reliever with elite closer written all over him         The Giants will NEVER trade Christian Arroyo...he's not average but an elite bat with developing defensive skills at 2B and 3B (no longer at SS).  I live in Richmond, Va. (home of Giants AA team) and have watched his development this year.  Dream on if you'd think they'd trade him for both Santiago and Escobar.    And I don't get why anyone wants Jarred Parker....he's failed time and again to get a foot hold at the major league level...if you think Cron looks lost at the plate and K's a lot...just trade for Parker.   Santiago has to be kept or the Angels have ZERO pitching to replace him. 

Angels trade LHP Hector Santiago, 3B Yunel Escobar, and C Geovany Soto to the Giants in exchange for AA 2B Christian Arroyo, AA LHP Andrew Suarez, and AA RHR Ray Black

- Angels absorb Santiago’s, Escobar’s, and Soto’s remaining $2.5MM, $2.7MM, and $1.4MM 2016 salaries
- Arroyo, the Giants #1 prospect, could best be described as the ‘Kole Calhoun’ of middle infielders meaning he does everything above average but nothing spectacularly well
- Suarez is a solid left-handed starter with good control and mid rotation upside
- Black is a flame throwing right-handed reliever with elite closer written all over him         The Giants will NEVER trade Christian Arroyo...he's not average but an elite bat with developing defensive skills at 2B and 3B (no longer at SS).  I live in Richmond, Va. (home of Giants AA team) and have watched his development this year.  Dream on if you'd think they'd trade him for both Santiago and Escobar.    And I don't get why anyone wants Jarred Parker....he's failed time and again to get a foot hold at the major league level...if you think Cron looks lost at the plate and K's a lot...just trade for Parker.   Santiago has to be kept or the Angels have ZERO pitching to replace him. 

If they trade an Escobar, Simmons, Street or Calhoun how do they replace them for next year and stay competitive?  There's nothing at AAA or AA and little in the 2017 free agent market.
 
The way Scioscia likes Martes' bat right now if he stays hot, can see Cron going on the trade block and maybe Smith and some other spare parts like Nava, Gentry...etc.  They won't get much back for any of them.
 
Pitching wise how can they trade anyone including Santiago with all the injuries?  Who replaces them?  Huff ? Kendrick? Nate Smith? Not much pitching help at AAA or AA.
 
 

I'm puzzled why the Angels think a player who never hit over .271 in the MINORS is the answer at 3B, 1B or LF.

I'm puzzled why the Angels think a player who never hit over .271 in the MINORS is the answer at 3B, 1B or LF.

Nolan (Nonie) Williams, SS, Turner (Kansas City, KS)
Ht/Wt: 6’2″/195 | B/T: R/R | Age (as of 2016 draft date): 18y, 0m
Nonie Williams elected to reclassify as a 2016 draft-eligible player last May and immediately increased his draft stock by virtue of upgrading from a 19-year old 2017 draftee to a 2016 draftee turning 18 just a couple weeks prior to the MLB Draft.  During his Super 60 workout, Williams showed athletic actions in the infield, and an arm that should easily play on the left side. He is comfortable and instinctual in his actions, giving him a good shot to stick at the six-spot at the next level. The LSU commit showed fluidity in his swings during his BP session, with a good feel for the barrel and compact cuts geared for contact. Though listed as a right-handed bat, he takes capable cuts from both sides of the dish with a hit tool that projects well.  Williams ran a 6.57 60-yard dash, which is consistent with the plus to double-plus speed he has shown previously in both showcase and game settings. It’s a versatile profile with first-division upside.
At one time he projected as a 1st rounder...maybe the LSU commitment scared teams away.
Now drafting Thaiss in 1st round makes more sense...more $'s to spend on lower draft choices.
All the reports I've read say he can stick at SS in the majors too.

Most excited I've been about Angels draft since 2010. Three athletic picks with upside.
BTW - Thaiss is not Cron.  I live in Richmond, Va and have seen him play at UVa.  Thaiss can flat out rake and is much more athletic than Cron.  Calhoun comparison much better though Thaiss is more of a singles / doubles hitter right now.

Most excited I've been about Angels draft since 2010. Three athletic picks with upside.
BTW - Thaiss is not Cron.  I live in Richmond, Va and have seen him play at UVa.  Thaiss can flat out rake and is much more athletic than Cron.  Calhoun comparison much better though Thaiss is more of a singles / doubles hitter right now.

Most excited I've been about Angels draft since 2010. Three athletic picks with upside.
BTW - Thaiss is not Cron.  I live in Richmond, Va and have seen him play at UVa.  Thaiss can flat out rake and is much more athletic than Cron.  Calhoun comparison much better though Thaiss is more of a singles / doubles hitter right now.

Nolan (Nonie) Williams, SS, Turner (Kansas City, KS)
Ht/Wt: 6’2″/195 | B/T: R/R | Age (as of 2016 draft date): 18y, 0m
Nonie Williams elected to reclassify as a 2016 draft-eligible player last May and immediately increased his draft stock by virtue of upgrading from a 19-year old 2017 draftee to a 2016 draftee turning 18 just a couple weeks prior to the MLB Draft.  During his Super 60 workout, Williams showed athletic actions in the infield, and an arm that should easily play on the left side. He is comfortable and instinctual in his actions, giving him a good shot to stick at the six-spot at the next level. The LSU commit showed fluidity in his swings during his BP session, with a good feel for the barrel and compact cuts geared for contact. Though listed as a right-handed bat, he takes capable cuts from both sides of the dish with a hit tool that projects well.  Williams ran a 6.57 60-yard dash, which is consistent with the plus to double-plus speed he has shown previously in both showcase and game settings. It’s a versatile profile with first-division upside.
At one time he projected as a 1st rounder...maybe the LSU commitment scared teams away.
Now drafting Thaiss in 1st round makes more sense...more $'s to spend on lower draft choices.
All the reports I've read say he can stick at SS in the majors too.

Nolan (Nonie) Williams, SS, Turner (Kansas City, KS)
Ht/Wt: 6’2″/195 | B/T: R/R | Age (as of 2016 draft date): 18y, 0m
Nonie Williams elected to reclassify as a 2016 draft-eligible player last May and immediately increased his draft stock by virtue of upgrading from a 19-year old 2017 draftee to a 2016 draftee turning 18 just a couple weeks prior to the MLB Draft.  During his Super 60 workout, Williams showed athletic actions in the infield, and an arm that should easily play on the left side. He is comfortable and instinctual in his actions, giving him a good shot to stick at the six-spot at the next level. The LSU commit showed fluidity in his swings during his BP session, with a good feel for the barrel and compact cuts geared for contact. Though listed as a right-handed bat, he takes capable cuts from both sides of the dish with a hit tool that projects well.  Williams ran a 6.57 60-yard dash, which is consistent with the plus to double-plus speed he has shown previously in both showcase and game settings. It’s a versatile profile with first-division upside.
At one time he projected as a 1st rounder...maybe the LSU commitment scared teams away.
Now drafting Thaiss in 1st round makes more sense...more $'s to spend on lower draft choices.
All the reports I've read say he can stick at SS in the majors too.

5"-11" First Baseman?  Maybe he'll turn out to be like this former Stro'