halosfan1970

What happens with LF in this scenario? Nava full-time? A platoon at three separate positions (C, 3B, & LF) is pretty hard to fit in to a 25 man roster.

It's about $200k above the midpoint between the two initial submissions, but it's also $300k below the mlbtraderumors arbitration estimate. Seems a fair agreement for both sides.

Trading Wilson now is a sell low proposition since he is coming off surgery. Every team is going to want the Angels to take on a majority of his salary. If the Angels move him at the August 1st trade deadline, that will mean the Angels are out of playoff contention. If they are in contention, and he is performing well, there is no reason to trade him. Trading Wilson during Spring Training after teams can see him throw is the only trade window that seems to make sense.

Garrett Richards, Andrew Heaney, Kole Calhoun, and Andrelton Simmons each have real (in some cases significant) trade value. The Angels may not be willing to trade any those assets, or they may not line-up well with a prospective trade partner. However, "hard pressed" is hyperbole.

If Freese is ready to take a reasonable one-year deal (or one and an option), this makes perfect sense. Freese projects to give you exactly what he gave you last season at 3B. Escobar is an offensive improvement over Giavotella, and he can't be any worse defensively at 2B.

David De Jesus and Shane Victorino are both still available too.

No other team is in a rush to sign him that's for sure.

Can we please also remember Luis Jimenez , Grant Green, and Daniel Robertson while our thoughts go out to Colin Cowgill and Efren Navarro? There's always room for one more AAAA player on the 25 man roster.

David Murphy is an OK left-handed bat at this point in his career. His power is gone, and the Big A further kills that. His defense is not something you want in LF on a regular basis. For the $7m option. I see why the Angel's passed. I'd like to see a legitimate LF brought in via free agency or trade. We'll see if it happens. Colin Cowgill is a perfectly reasonable fourth outfielder, but Craig Gentry is a better fielder and a superior base runner. Gentry at $1m non-guaranteed is an upgrade at 4OF. Efren Navarro is a light hitting, low OBP player. He is a brilliant defensive 1B at a position where defense isn't critical. I like him, but he just doesn't offer a skillset that justifies a spot on the 25 man roster.

I've seen complaints on here today about losing David Murphy, Colin Cowgill, and Efren Navarro. All three appear to be really good guys. Not one of them belongs on the Angels' 25 man roster if they are going to contend in 2016.

David Murphy hit .265/.281/.400 in 162 plate appearances for the Angels in 2015. His 2016 option was for $7m. You are remembering his time here far more kindly than it deserves.

His defense isn't "meh." Alvarez's 1B defense is an abomination beyond anything we've seen with Cron. Cron's defense is at least improving with innings to below average. Alvarez's defense is clearly in the awful range. Morneau, while older, seems like a better depth move than Alvarez.

Skoal for everyone.

For once AO is mildly amusing. Thank you AO. That's better than being willfully obtuse.

I lived in DC for 13 years. I too have seen Washington National's games at RFK. RFK is a crumbling relic. It hasn't seen use as an MLB stadium in nearly a decade, but, in 2005... The bathrooms were non-existent. The concourses were significantly narrower than Angel's Stadium. The food service was a far cry from even Angel Stadium's limited offerings. The stadium seating was a multi-use football bowl. The stadium's infrastructure has not been maintained to Anaheim's level. The surrounding neighborhood does not provide adequate post-game safety even compared to the area surrounding Angel's Stadium. RFK is wholly unsuited to hosting any modern sport. It is in no way an appropriate comparison to Angel's Stadium.

You survived RFK without falling concrete landing on your head? Good Day!

Matt Joyce is still available. I sense a regression to the mean.

The churros are stiff and the brisket sandwich gave me the poos.

One for one? Yes. Four years of control and better upside than Blackmon.

I like Morneau as a depth piece too. Obviously, he doesn't address either need at LF or 2B, but I think he's probably a more capable 1B back-up to Pujols than Cron. Soto - C, Morneau - 1B/DH, Pennington - IF, and Nava - OF would be a very solid bench.

David Murphy was a marginal upgrade over Matt Joyce, but that doesn't justify bringing him back. His average dropped once getting here, his power is gone, and his defense in LF made Joyce's routes look solid. If you want a 35 year old left hander on a one year deal, Justin Morneau in a 1B/DH rotation probably provides more impact for the cost.

santorum

All those years of Schofield and DiSarcina and we're complaining about Simmons before he even takes his first at bat as an Angel.

I still think "santorum" is underused.

Matt Joyce was impressive in the DR winter league. Possible AL Comeback PLayer of the Year in 2016.