Hubs

1 minute ago, BTH said:

Yeah, they need another lefty.

Not really a fan of any of the internal options (Ingram, Kolarek, Suarez).

Anderson could end up there I guess if they add a SP. I think they want to keep Silseth in the pen, whether in AAA or the majors. Sandy, Detmers, and Canning are locks, yes.

You mean rotation, for Silseth, right?

Estevez (R)

Stephenson (R)

Garcia (R)

Soriano (R)

Joyce (R)

Cimber (R)

Suarez (L)

Looks like they need another lefty...Moore come on down. Or perhaps they have confidence in Ingram to be a lefty option in the pen? Or if they sign a starter one of their lefty rotation arms likely goes to the pen. Does Anderson end up there? Sandoval / Detmers / Canning and Silseth are in the rotation, right?

On 1/20/2024 at 9:22 AM, Stradling said:

It’ll be interesting to see who gets removed from the 40 man.  

There are a lot of junk names on the 40. The first three candidates in my opinion are all relievers, in Quijada, Warren, and Herget. Two of these guys are out for 2024 with TJ, and havent been that successful in their major league careers so probably would clear waivers.

If they add another reliever, they could also lose another one of these three or go with guys like Suarez or Rosenberg...who may be why they haven't signed another lefty pen arm, they could be envisioning one of them in that role. Suarez is out of options, so he is either cut or makes the major league team. 

They can shift guys to the 60-Day IL as soon as pitchers and catchers report, though the 60 days don't start until Opening Day.

3 minutes ago, Erstad Grit said:

Yes on all of that. I also like Moose on the bench, but I know I'm mostly alone.

No Moose fits for a low impact low dollar contract. They could sign Bellinger, Anderson, and Moose for instance. Adding a guy like Hoskins or JD AND Bellinger is gonna be tough financially. 

The only issue with Moustakas as a platoon bat at 1st and 3rd is that he is a lefty and while they need a lefty power bat, Schanuel is also a lefty.

Remember this is if they intend on being competitive, I doubt Arte will spend this much. But the key is the same, adding a vet Infielder preferably one who can play the corners, adding a power lefty bat for the middle of the lineup, and possibly a second vet infielder if they plan on having Rendon on a short leash or trading a guy like Rengifo. 

After listening to the Angelswin.com Podcast this past weekend, I know the Angels haven't done much and aren't expected to, but then they signed Stephenson, so maybe they're still in the mix for some other free agents?  Some of this is indeed Boras' mouthpiece, Heyman spouting random "rumors" but then Passan this AM echoed him.

So I wondered what the Angels need to add to be in the playoff mix, if they're gonna add. Losing Ohtani hurts the pitching staff and saps some power from the middle of the lineup, and replacing him does need to happen. But this doesn't have to be a DH.

The Angels have a few young guys that need to develop in O'Hoppe, Moniak, Neto, Schanuel and Adell. They have some younger role player veterans in Rengifo, Thaiss, and Ward. They have Drury, Rendon and Trout. So it's a good mix not great, if healthy, but if not, they are looking at unproven AAA guys or former major league guys on minor league deals like Marisnick, Calhoun, Dozier, Wallach, Mejia, Rivas, and White. Other AAA Depth includes Stefanic, Adams and Cabbage. 

With 13 hitters and likely 13 pitchers on the team, now that Ohtani is gone. They're gonna need two more hitters in addition to the guys above. They seem to have 4 OF, 5 INF, and 2 C with spots locked on the team, barring trades. So realistically, they need two more guys. They can add any sort of OF, corner or CF...with the four OF they have don't need a defensive first backup who can play CF as all of them likely are ok there. They need pop. At 1st, you have Schanuel and Drury, likely, but Drury is also your likely starter at DH or 2nd. At 2nd, you have Drury and Rengifo, and at SS it's Neto and Rengifo, and at 3rd it's Rendon and Rengifo. So they might add a guy who can play SS (as Rengifo is not a great SS) or a power guy who can play 1st as Schanuel doesn't have much power yet. 

They can add a DH type, but it's better if they add a guy who can play 1st and 3rd if needed.

They also are very very right handed, as only Schanuel, Moniak, Thaiss and Rengifo have lefty or switch hitting bats, and only one of those guys is a "Starter" right now. I expect Thaiss to play mostly catcher, and only have a few AB's here and there at 1st. 

The free agent power guys left are DH types like Soler or Martinez, who are not positionally versatile or Hoskins, who is a bit more versatile but is also Right Handed. I don't mind one of these types, but it is not preferred. If they sign Hoskins, which is a good fit for a platoon guy in Left and at first... they still are very right handed. 

And if you're really trying to compete, one of these guys isn't really gonna make the competitive difference over Evan White (R) or Rivas (L)...Problem is there is not any really solid lefty veteran power bats except Bellinger. And even Bellinger doesn't make this team a contender by himself. So maybe you add Bellinger and Hoskins, and even a veteran infielder like Anderson or Merrifield too? But if they added a three different guys, they'd have a depth problem, as none of their 11 listed above have options except the young guys (O'Hoppe, Neto, and Schanuel). 

Still, I believe two bats is the way to go, three if they are planning on moving someone out via trade (or releasing a malcontent), and then adding one front of the line starter. If they want to be competitive this year and not hugely hamper their upcoming younger core.. 

And that's a big if.

Bellinger 200/9 = 22 M per. Option after year 3 to leave. 

Snell or Montgomery = 200/8 = 24 per with club option / buyout year at 9... Slightly more than Aaron Nola got.

Hoskins or Turner = 2/25 = 12.5 per. 

And Finally Anderson = 1/7.5. Bounce Back 1 year deal.

Probably puts them just over the tax. So if they are over, then go get Moore too at 3/28.

10 minutes ago, Chuck said:

What time is that game? Afternoon or Evening?

12:05. We'll be done in plenty of time to head over to Four Peaks.

42 minutes ago, Chuck said:

and long walks on the beach....

You're funny! LMAO. 

Also, are you taking my extra ticket for Saturday and joining @katie @BaseballMom and I at the Angels Guardians game on Sat or should I offer it up to whomever wants it?

14 hours ago, katie said:

As someone who likes to plan AND hates big menus, I love that this was posted. 

I also like to plan and hate big menus. 

Just now, Inside Pitch said:

fWAR since 2020

Blake Snell 10.4 94 starts and a CY season.
P Sandoval  7.4  75 starts

"Light years better"

 

19 starts, 70 more innings, ERA a point lower at least. He's significantly better. But Sandoval in the FA Market probably commands 16-20M per right now. And So for $5-7M more per year you get the reigning NL Cy Young winner. 

53 minutes ago, totdprods said:

Look beyond last year plz.

2022: 10 of 24 starts were 5 IP or less.
2021: 19 (!!!) of 27 starts were 5 IP or less.
2020: obviously a weird year, never pitched more than 5.2 IP
2019: 11 of 23 starts were 5 IP less.

Discounting 2020, 40 of his 74 starts were 5 IP or less. More than half. The track record of him being a ~5 IP pitcher is much lengthier than 2023. 

No one is denying that when Blake Snell is on, he's one of the best pitchers in baseball. The problem is he really has been on for two seasons, and the rest of the time he's just another decent to solid SP, another Patrick Sandoval, and I don't know how long you can expect him to maintain that going forward. If the Angels were built to contend in '24, I'd feel a little differently, but odds are the likeliest years we get GOOD Blake Snell are the next two years, when we're not likely to contend.  He is, in my opinion, the perfect guy for a team to sign that already has a clear #1 and a path to the playoffs. Not a staff ace. If they definitely think they'll sign Fried or Burnes or Bieber or Buehler next year, then I'd be a little more open to signing Snell this year, but hard to ensure that'll happen.

He's light years better than Sandoval. 

11 hours ago, Second Base said:

For me, what would make this offseason a success would be if one of the more impactful free agents saw their market disappear and ended up landing in the Angels lap on a one year contract so they could flip him at the deadline for a good prospect. Someone like Rhys Hoskins or JD Martinez. 

I find that unlikely though. 

The other thing that would make it a success would be someone offering up a significant prospect package for Rengifo/Ward. Again, unlikely. 

The likely outcome here is....

A. The Angels continue to round out the edges of the roster with inexpensive vets like Kike or Tim Anderson, start to rebuild their farm and save their money, and then rotate the DH spot for Rendon and Trout. 

B. Overspend on Bellinger and Snell, hope for the best, surrender their draft picks and figuratively kick the can down the road. 

Disappointing as it is, I'm hoping for option A. I loved watching Snell in San Diego. When he's right he's an ace, no doubt about it. But I want the Angels to have no part of him just because I think they need 7 inning quality starts more than 5 frame shutouts. 

The 5.0 inning thing for Snell is overblown because he pitched 180 innings in 32 starts that's 5 2/3 innings average. 17 of his 32 starts last year were 6 inning starts, and 3 were 7 innings. In the other 12, he was pulled early from three. All early season starts. They were being cautious. 

He pitched 5 innings 9 times. Does he go deep into games? No, but he's not a 5 inning guy usually either. 2/3 of his starts were longer than 5 innings. 

Also his 2023, he allowed 0 runs in 13 starts. 1 run in 4. and 2 runs in 8 starts. He allowed 3 runs in 5 more. And more than 4 in just 2. 

He was the Cy Young winner and was flat out dominant. 

At the reported 9 years 270 I balk too, but 8 years at a 24-26 M a year average, is fine for your Ace. And you build up the pen and the rest of the rotation. 

Sign him.

2 minutes ago, Ochocinco! said:

I think in a scenario where we trade for Kim, Rengifo is probably in the deal going back to San Diego 

This is virtually certain. I do not know if they'd be trading for Kim or Cronenworth or even a pitcher like Musgrove, but the two teams do actually line up well in a package.

Can I humbly ask the mods to include the byline so we know who wrote each blog? I appreciate it.

4 minutes ago, Angels 1961 said:

Did Kolarek opt out?

No.

3 minutes ago, Blarg said:

I secured 15 tickets in row M aisle 4 on the third base side for Friday, March 8th. It was the best location with that many available. Stadium is filling up fast.

Please add your name to the list but try and keep it to no more than two per person. Tickets come to $60 each after the usual ticketmaster fleecing. If you don't want to be in please cross off your name.

Blarg -2

@Chuck -1

@Spirit -1

@James -1

@katie -1

@Brian Ilten -1

@CaliAngel -2

@Hubs -1

@Dave Saltzer -3

 

Oaky, Cali, I put you down for 2, Hubs for 2 as well and David with 3 so that leaves one ticket left. I'll come up with a money transfer link later. 

Sorry, just need 1.

I also bought two tickets for the game in Goodyear on Saturday, March 9th.

1 hour ago, Blarg said:

I secured 15 tickets in row M aisle 4 on the third base side for Friday, March 8th. It was the best location with that many available. Stadium is filling up fast.

Please add your name to the list but try and keep it to no more than two per person. Tickets come to $60 each after the usual ticketmaster fleecing. If you don't want to be in please cross off your name.

Blarg -2

@Chuck -1

@Spirit -1

@James -1

@katie -1

@Brian Ilten -1

@ScottT -1

@CaliAngel -2

Blarg, I'm in. +1

17 hours ago, Angels 1961 said:

Cleveland would not want Anderson and who replaces Rengifo?

Cleveland might want a lefty who is cost controlled for the back end of their rotation. We'd likely sign Anderson or Rosario to one year deals to replace Rengifo in 2024 and in 2025 hope Kyren Paris is ready to be a big leaguer.

6 hours ago, Angels 1961 said:

Why the rush to trade Rengifo? He has improved last 2 years. Can play all of INF and OF positions. This is type of player halos should sign too an extension. Bieber is one year rental just sign a FA pitcher to a deal. Like most teams Clevland would have zero interest in Anderson.

Gotta give to get. Getting rid of Anderson contract is more money for other players. Rengifo is a bad defender and very streaky. He has value cuz he hits. 

35 minutes ago, Hubs said:

 Rengifo and Anderson and Cash for Bieber? 

Really No @mmc? You really wouldn’t do that? Why? 

8 hours ago, Stradling said:

Tyler Anderson is tradeable if you pick up $3-5 million a season. 

 Rengifo and Anderson and Cash for Bieber? 

Just now, tdawg87 said:

I think we should be adding to the rotation, not making lateral moves. I only consider trading Sandoval or Detmers if we're getting a legit moto bat in return. 

But that's just my opinion.

I think trading one is ok if you sign two. Otherwise, no. I would trade Sandoval, but not Detmers. 

4 minutes ago, Ochocinco! said:

But to play along I’d Sign Imanaga and then send Sandoval & Evan White to the Red Sox for Jansen (+cash) and a couple of their top 20? prospects. 

Do they need a 1st Baseman/DH? Or depth?

34 minutes ago, Russell Feathers said:

I agree. I wouldn't mind 5 leftys in a rotation, if they were all good. I'm a big fan of lefty starters. Rightys are great when they have a power arm, but average rightys get rocked. I always hate seeing the Angels sign Joe Blanton types who are going to have a 4+ 5+ ERA.

Fixed