Gil

Ausmus sure seems to be a big believer in a "proven closer" which is interesting because that seems to be at odds with Eppler's bullpen strategy. It'll be interesting to see if they go out and get a closer this offseason. I'd put my $ on David Robertson since he has excelled in multiple roles in a bullpen (including closer) and has the NYY connections to Eppler. 

Ausmus sure seems to be a big believer in a "proven closer" which is interesting because that seems to be at odds with Eppler's bullpen strategy. It'll be interesting to see if they go out and get a closer this offseason. I'd put my $ on David Robertson since he has excelled in multiple roles in a bullpen (including closer) and has the NYY connections to Eppler. 

He's starting in LF tonight. If he can play 2b/3b and the corner outfield, that could go a long way in finding him a place on a team with a 6 man rotation and 3 man bench.

Weaver:
https://www.fangraphs.com/pitchfxg.aspx?playerid=4235&position=P&season=2017&date=0&dh=0&data=pi

Ohtani:
https://www.fangraphs.com/pitchfxg.aspx?playerid=19755&position=P&season=2018&date=0&dh=0&data=pi

Its not clear to me weather or not they share the same datum, though. If (0,0) is the top center of the rubber, then it looks like they are close to the same height (with weaver about 3"-6" higher), but Weaver centers around 3.5 feet off the rubber, while Ohtani has averaged closer to 2.25 feet off. Given how angles work, I would guess that's too much of a difference for a similar deception.

Rahul Setty‏ @RahulSetty_ 4m4 minutes ago More In three innings of work, Griffin Canning sat 95-96 T97 with the FB, 79-81 CU. Sequenced very well, threw breaking balls for strikes, good command in outing. Plus fastball, plus curveball, above average slider. Spots the corners, hits the glove. Very advanced #Angels
 

Moustakas should fire Boras if this is true. 
http://www.kansascity.com/sports/spt-columns-blogs/sam-mellinger/article204259794.html
"Early in the offseason, according to league sources, he and his agent Scott Boras turned down a three-year deal from the Angels worth around $45 million."

Players can voice opinions. I think the notion to STFU is f-ing stupid!
Why the anger and hate? I happen to see his point, and don't necessarily agree with all of it, but he is allowed to voice his opinion. Just because he is talented and has made a fortune doing that, he's not allowed to discuss it? I hate that this country has devolved into a place where people criticize athletes and entertainers as being good at one thing and they should only do one thing? We're all human beings and we all are multi-talented with varying interests and have the capability to speak out about any number of issues. This forum is great because I get to voice my opinion about the Angels.
I voice my opinions about politics or yoga or other things I enjoy on different forums or to friends and colleagues. My job is in sales, so I should just shut the F up and sell? Really? You've never complained about your boss? Or how things are going at your work?
 

I think Eppler already has stockpiled some of them (Bard, Pena, Diaz, Noe Ramirez, Kroll, Blake Wood) and I'd assume he will be looking closely at who gets squeezed out of other team's roster crunches. Relievers are so volatile that targeting stuff over past performance has worked out well so far for Eppler and crew. Ettin started a good thread that talked about some options:
 

Holland seems like the total anti-Eppler move. Holland has already reportedly turned down a 3 year $52 million offer and declined the qualifying offer, meaning not only would he push the Angels up against the luxury tax but he would also cost their 2nd highest pick in the draft and $500,000 in international spending. 
All of this for a pitcher who had a 6.38 ERA and 1.333 WHIP in the second half? The Halos already have a roster crunch problem with pitchers who are either out of options/Rule 5, so giving Holland a roster spot also pushes one guy off the roster. So it hurts the farm system, depth, and prevents further in-season moves staying under the luxury tax. I don't think that is worth $50 million+ to Holland. 
Eppler passed on Addison Reed at 2 years and $16.75 million with no qualifying offer implications, so I have a hard time seeing him going after Holland now. 

Holland seems like the total anti-Eppler move. Holland has already reportedly turned down a 3 year $52 million offer and declined the qualifying offer, meaning not only would he push the Angels up against the luxury tax but he would also cost their 2nd highest pick in the draft and $500,000 in international spending. 
All of this for a pitcher who had a 6.38 ERA and 1.333 WHIP in the second half? The Halos already have a roster crunch problem with pitchers who are either out of options/Rule 5, so giving Holland a roster spot also pushes one guy off the roster. So it hurts the farm system, depth, and prevents further in-season moves staying under the luxury tax. I don't think that is worth $50 million+ to Holland. 
Eppler passed on Addison Reed at 2 years and $16.75 million with no qualifying offer implications, so I have a hard time seeing him going after Holland now. 

I think Eppler already has stockpiled some of them (Bard, Pena, Diaz, Noe Ramirez, Kroll, Blake Wood) and I'd assume he will be looking closely at who gets squeezed out of other team's roster crunches. Relievers are so volatile that targeting stuff over past performance has worked out well so far for Eppler and crew. Ettin started a good thread that talked about some options:
 

His second half was mostly the result of a disastrous August where he gave up 14 earned runs in 9 and 1/3 innings across 11 games. To his credit he rebounded with a nice September. But most scouting reports I've seen have said that he now relies on sliders in the dirt to get K's rather than generating swings and misses in the zone. 
Bob Nightengale reported that Holland turned down the same 3 year $52 million deal that Wade Davis got from the Rockies, so I guess we should take it with a grain of salt given the source. But on the other hand, with Boras it wouldn't surprise me.
And I agree that the Angels bullpen could use some more help but I would expect to Eppler to target guys that he can shuttle between AAA and the MLB given the needs of a 6 man rotation. I could see him targeting more guys in the mold of Parker/Petit/Norris rather than a free agent that would cost a draft pick. 

By all accounts Reed specifically chose to go play in Minnesota (he supposedly wanted to play in the Central Division/Mid-West) so I am not sure the Angels ever had an opportunity to sign him in the first place.
However I do agree that signing Holland seems like something Eppler wouldn't do particularly when you take into account the loss of the 2nd round draft pick which would impact our farm system rebuild a bit.
Something to consider is how good is the 2nd round of the draft shaping up from the Angels point of view? I'm sure there are guys they would want to take and it is still a long way off but perhaps the upcoming draft is looking weaker than normal, particularly after the 1st round and the Angels might consider the loss of the pick worthwhile (or vice-versa).
There are always factors outside of our view as fans that contribute to the decision-making process.

Holland seems like the total anti-Eppler move. Holland has already reportedly turned down a 3 year $52 million offer and declined the qualifying offer, meaning not only would he push the Angels up against the luxury tax but he would also cost their 2nd highest pick in the draft and $500,000 in international spending. 
All of this for a pitcher who had a 6.38 ERA and 1.333 WHIP in the second half? The Halos already have a roster crunch problem with pitchers who are either out of options/Rule 5, so giving Holland a roster spot also pushes one guy off the roster. So it hurts the farm system, depth, and prevents further in-season moves staying under the luxury tax. I don't think that is worth $50 million+ to Holland. 
Eppler passed on Addison Reed at 2 years and $16.75 million with no qualifying offer implications, so I have a hard time seeing him going after Holland now. 

Holland seems like the total anti-Eppler move. Holland has already reportedly turned down a 3 year $52 million offer and declined the qualifying offer, meaning not only would he push the Angels up against the luxury tax but he would also cost their 2nd highest pick in the draft and $500,000 in international spending. 
All of this for a pitcher who had a 6.38 ERA and 1.333 WHIP in the second half? The Halos already have a roster crunch problem with pitchers who are either out of options/Rule 5, so giving Holland a roster spot also pushes one guy off the roster. So it hurts the farm system, depth, and prevents further in-season moves staying under the luxury tax. I don't think that is worth $50 million+ to Holland. 
Eppler passed on Addison Reed at 2 years and $16.75 million with no qualifying offer implications, so I have a hard time seeing him going after Holland now. 

Holland seems like the total anti-Eppler move. Holland has already reportedly turned down a 3 year $52 million offer and declined the qualifying offer, meaning not only would he push the Angels up against the luxury tax but he would also cost their 2nd highest pick in the draft and $500,000 in international spending. 
All of this for a pitcher who had a 6.38 ERA and 1.333 WHIP in the second half? The Halos already have a roster crunch problem with pitchers who are either out of options/Rule 5, so giving Holland a roster spot also pushes one guy off the roster. So it hurts the farm system, depth, and prevents further in-season moves staying under the luxury tax. I don't think that is worth $50 million+ to Holland. 
Eppler passed on Addison Reed at 2 years and $16.75 million with no qualifying offer implications, so I have a hard time seeing him going after Holland now. 

https://www.mlbtraderumors.com/2017/10/angels-acquire-felix-pena-designate-jason-gurka.html
He was one of the first pick ups of the offseason in a trade with the Cubs. Has always had the strike outs, so if Eppler, Nagy, and crew can work their magic he could be a nice diamond in the rough. 

https://www.baseballamerica.com/majors/ex-big-leaguers-japan-ohtani-special-not-invincible-talent/#FFxEQJAl5EiUuRAI.97
"Sarfate, for example, has been able to keep Ohtani in check over the five seasons he's faced him.
"I think I faced him 11 times and I think I gave up a single and triple, and the single was actually a squiggler down the third-base line that he beat out." Sarfate said. "He's got decent plate awareness, the only problem I see him having issues with early on—and he can make the adjustment—is fastballs in. Japanese guys tend to stay away from him, I think it's a lot of respect and they don't want to throw a fastball in and break his arm or hit him in the elbow. I think he's aware of that, that no one pitches him in. I pitch him in and have had good success going in.
"Big league pitchers aren't afraid to go in, they don't care who you are. And that's going to be his one adjustment he's going to have to make."
Morel, from his vantage point playing the infield, sees the same potential shortcoming on fastballs in.
"He just has unbelievable pop to the opposite field, center field (but) it didn't seem like he pulled too many balls unless they were offspeed," Morel said. "I think he'll get pounded in like any young hitter going to the big leagues. He'll have to make the adjustment. He was so big and strong he didn't have to worry about it too much over there. I'm not saying he can't make the adjustment, he just hasn't had to yet."

 

I have been led to believe that the Angels can't do this. 
You have to say which pool you're using at the time of the deal, which I assume means the time of the agreement and not the physical. The fact that the Maitan and Soto deals became public leads to me to believe that MLB paperwork has already happened, and not just a handshake. 

I appreciate the sarcasm.   I don't appreciate the obligatory references to Pearl Harbor and Chinatown when mentioning someone who is Japanese.

it surprises me that people think the Angels are in a good position to acquire Stanton.  For me, I would assume that a taking on Stantons contract would basically rule out other significant acquisitions for the team.  Do we think that getting Stanton puts us into a position to be a serious world series contender ? IMO, considering Houston is in the division Stanton on his own doesn't push us to that level.  Though on paper the idea of putting him into the line up is fun. 
The other issue is what does this mean for the Angels as far as the development system.  If we end up having to trade like 2 or 3 of our best prospects that seems like a pretty massive roll of the dice.  The Angels are just finally starting to have some worthwhile players in the system.  So while certainly in the short term Stanton would be a nice boost for the team.  Something like this could end up being a net negative for the team, even in the mid term.  Stanton has back issues and is a large human.  Its worth considering.  The idea of gutting our farm system just seems ill advised.
Also, how would this impact our ability to resign Trout.  I have no interest in Stanton if he's going to end up costing us re signing Mike Trout.  Trout says he wants to win.  We cant win if we don't bring in more players.  Which, Stanton presumably makes tough. We still need to deal with several holes on the field.  We're gonna have to deal with getting another high end pitcher soon.  Whether its giving Richards a contract or going after someone else.  The Angels have to be able to spend money. 
Finally, if the Angels really want another super star to line up with Trout and money isn't a major concern why not just make a hard run at Bryce Harper next off season ?  He'll be more money but imagine being able to put Trout and Harper together.  I think we could make a compelling pitch to both Harper and Trout.  Its a unique opportunity I think.  Anyway, if the above points are issues, then this would be out the window as well.  In this scenario at least we aren't destroying the farm system.