Torridd

Rengifo is a good player. His defense needs work but remember he has been bounced around all INF spots. He is the halos super sub and is cheap. why trade him I do not understand?

I feel the need to say it again.
Let Washington work with Rengifo on his defense, as a really good defense instructor.
Let EY Sr. work with Rengifo on his baserunning, as a really good baserunning instructor.
Rengifo has shown enough offense the past two seasons as it is, to warrant better than a middling prospect in trade.

And the Rangers are still a bottom of the AL West team in 2023. Except...oh....wait for it...teams can improve. 

I disagree, they absolutely can afford both. 

They can afford it, he just has to be willing to pay the tax. 
 

I get the feeling Arte is going to go all in this winter. Didn’t work out well the first time but this could be like the Albert Pujols and CJ Wilson winter meetings. 

Last year, we had Rendon, Urshela, Drury, Fletcher, Rengifo, and Walsh. Walsh and Rendon barely played. Urshela had a season ending injury. Fletcher is cooked. We ended the year with something like (I don't completely remember since I wasn't playing close attention by season's end) Rengifo, Drury, Neto (sometimes), Schanuel, and either Squid or Fletch. 
In other words, we absolutely should not assume that Rendon, Neto, Drury, Rengifo, and Schanuel will be enough. It's not like we have loads of great options in the minors. This is why I laugh when people say adding an infielder means we're trading somebody. Uh, no, we need depth because Rendon and Neto had significant injury issues last year and Neto and Schanuel may not be able to hold down a major league job all year. And Rengifo may or may not be a great option for a full time spot. 

Currently our next best defensive SS if Neto goes down is probably Soto or the guy we just signed, LeBlanc. Sure, Rengifo, Paris and Fletcher can spot it in a pinch, but it wouldn’t be a bad idea to find another infielder that has some true SS in him. Definitely not convinced it has to be Anderson though. We don’t have a true back-up SS on the team as of now though, and that’s somewhat unconventional, so there’s a slight need there.
I don’t think we need another infielder, but it definitely wouldn’t hurt to add another, much like when we signed Drury last year. The fact that neither Rengifo or Drury played 3B much last year (the latter not even one inning) despite ample playing time there leads me to think there’s genuine interest in adding a capable 3B, or that there’s at least hesitation if having either play 3B with any regularity. 
Matt Thaiss being out of options throws a whole additional wrinkle. He could spot 1B/3B and give them enough back-up coverage there, but then you’re limiting his time, focus, energy and perhaps appearances behind the plate more. Fletcher is still here too. 
Bringing in a more proven infielder could simply be beneficial in that it could break up this logjam. Could still trade Rengifo or Drury too.

This one was actually very tough to think about. I'll go with the "F-it response"
Who do you think will be the Angels first MLB free agent signing this off-season?
Shohei Ohtani. Before winter meetings. This is why they haven't been "aggressive" yet. They want to get Ohtani done and build around it. 
Who will be the biggest name free agent they sign this off season?
Ohtani for FA..... another top SP via trade.
I'm prepared for a dumpster fire season, however....

Ok, this is a two parter,:
Who do you think will be the Angels first MLB free agent signing this off-season?
Who will be the biggest name free agent they sign this off season?
My guesses:
Wade Miley
Shohei Ohtani
 
Feel free to spin this thread to include trade acquisitions you are predicting.  
 

I wouldn’t mind seeing them resign Urshela. I’d prefer him over someone like Fletcher. 

I think their priority is Ohtani. That's why they haven't picked anyone up yet. The Angels generally get someone in the early weeks of free agency. 

I think he's coming back and if he leaves I can't see him going to an AL West rival. I don't think he'll do that to the Angels. That would be a slap in the face. We know he's getting paid wherever he goes but I don't see what Houston (pretty much just won), Texas (who just won) and Seattle (who has never won) has over us. 

i think he signs with the angels.

I expect ohtani to be back 

At 15 to 1 I would put money on that. 
 

UL is the next Washington I want to see hired.

Comeback player of the year award, 150 games, 45 HR, 135 RBI.

I would put our chances at slightly above average. 

when loup went on the IL early last season, he talked/complained about how the pitching analytics team wanted the staff overall to throw more breaking pitches (IIRC). it didn't seem to work as hoped for, and we saw guys like sandoval and detmers have setbacks in their development and performance last year. it seems to me that if the philosophy isn't working, then it needs to be revised and updated, and really be a fluid approach. 
i'm not completely convinced yet that having an analytics team decide on how to pitch is the best approach, but i'm hopeful that it's something that can work better than it did last year.
i'm sure someone else can say it much better than me, but i hope the gist of this comes through clearly enough.

Thanks guys!!!
 

Good show guys! Actually this is one of the funnier shows! I loved Geoff's Angels Win remark! I was crying!

I remember hating the ending.