Dtwncbad

Show me anybody with any credibility that projected Cron to be a superstar.
And no, a mini feature on Cron as content filler for Fox Sports West yapping about his future doesnt count.

Show me anybody with any credibility that projected Cron to be a superstar.
And no, a mini feature on Cron as content filler for Fox Sports West yapping about his future doesnt count.

When was the last time the Angels traded top young prospects for a 35 year old?  Dante Bichette for Dave Parker?

California Angels.
I loved the red state logo.

Any team with Escobar starting at first base. . .needs a starting firstbaseman.
 

Any team with Escobar starting at first base. . .needs a starting firstbaseman.
 

California Angels.
I loved the red state logo.

California Angels.
I loved the red state logo.

Two equally pressing needs:
Left-handed power hitter to hit after Trout.  I don't care what position he plays.  The Angels certainly have plenty of positional "vacancies" to find a home for him.
A stable, #2 or better level starting pitcher that is a good bet to log 180 innings.
If they can do those two things, the "backfill" bodies at a couple of other positions may be adequate enough to not kill the team.
They could win 95 games by adding those two pieces.

California Angels.
I loved the red state logo.

Two equally pressing needs:
Left-handed power hitter to hit after Trout.  I don't care what position he plays.  The Angels certainly have plenty of positional "vacancies" to find a home for him.
A stable, #2 or better level starting pitcher that is a good bet to log 180 innings.
If they can do those two things, the "backfill" bodies at a couple of other positions may be adequate enough to not kill the team.
They could win 95 games by adding those two pieces.

California Angels.
I loved the red state logo.

Also Angels don't hit well off left handed pitching

The Angels need multiple starting position players and pitching and there is no real impact help coming from the farm very soon.
If the Angels want to compete soon, and not disturb what they are developing on the farm, they will have to spend money.
Hosmer in a vacuum at a high salary may not be very appealing, but in the big picture it improves 1B, and frees up another body (Cron) to be traded to address another position.
Pushing the point through imagine the Angels then use Cron to get better at 2B.
That's two positions improved.
The Angels are going to have to use free agency to get better.  So you have to pick from what is available and that might mean you sign a player at one position to create a surplus to address another position in trade (where there is no good answer innfree agency).
I would rather sign Hosmer at 28 years old and trade for a 2B still in their twenties than sign an older Neil Walker and have a right side infield of Cron and Walker.
 

When I said "Homer" I meant signing Ken Harrelson to an announcing contract.

The Angels need multiple starting position players and pitching and there is no real impact help coming from the farm very soon.
If the Angels want to compete soon, and not disturb what they are developing on the farm, they will have to spend money.
Hosmer in a vacuum at a high salary may not be very appealing, but in the big picture it improves 1B, and frees up another body (Cron) to be traded to address another position.
Pushing the point through imagine the Angels then use Cron to get better at 2B.
That's two positions improved.
The Angels are going to have to use free agency to get better.  So you have to pick from what is available and that might mean you sign a player at one position to create a surplus to address another position in trade (where there is no good answer innfree agency).
I would rather sign Hosmer at 28 years old and trade for a 2B still in their twenties than sign an older Neil Walker and have a right side infield of Cron and Walker.
 

When I said "Homer" I meant signing Ken Harrelson to an announcing contract.

Planned night off

Also Angels don't hit well off left handed pitching

When I said "Homer" I meant signing Ken Harrelson to an announcing contract.

Also Angels don't hit well off left handed pitching

Nobody wants to trade Trout to replenish the overall talent problem.
And everyone seems to see the "trade value might never be higher" angle on other players.
But nobody ever mentions the monster trade value window right now on Simmons?
The Angels could likely harvest more for Simmons now than they traded to get him.  He looks like he may be a far more complete player now with his bat.
I love the guy and I am not advocating getting rid of him.
But if we all routinely talk about what Trout would bring in a deal, where is the conversation on what Simmons would bring?
Trout is untouchable even if the offer was fair on paper.  You can't trade Mike Trout.  Most agree on that.  But for the right package, is Simmons untouchable?
I would say no.  I would take the call from other GMs and listen.
 

And to think how elevated and dangerous an offense can be if you have excellent bats at shortstop and centerfield. . .
This roster is so, so weird.
 

I love Simmons and would prefer he be at the core of this team for a long time.
They just have so few resources to trade to restock.  Because of that I would reluctantly listen.

Nobody wants to trade Trout to replenish the overall talent problem.
And everyone seems to see the "trade value might never be higher" angle on other players.
But nobody ever mentions the monster trade value window right now on Simmons?
The Angels could likely harvest more for Simmons now than they traded to get him.  He looks like he may be a far more complete player now with his bat.
I love the guy and I am not advocating getting rid of him.
But if we all routinely talk about what Trout would bring in a deal, where is the conversation on what Simmons would bring?
Trout is untouchable even if the offer was fair on paper.  You can't trade Mike Trout.  Most agree on that.  But for the right package, is Simmons untouchable?
I would say no.  I would take the call from other GMs and listen.