Troll Daddy

Jon Gray very much fits with what Eppler prefers. High octane, prospect pedigree, and Eppler drafted him with he was AGM with the Yankees.
The Rockies won't be competing next year and are looking at a reload pretty soon. They have the bats they need, and even more in the way. But they're completely devoid of pitching in that system.
I think if the Angels offered a pitching-centric package like Jaime Barria, Pat Sandoval, Hector Yan and Kyle Bradish, that could be something the Rockies are interested in. It provides them with two MLB ready starters, another that will be ready in a year and a half and another that will be ready in two years. It provides that states with a wave of pitching depth they simply don't have.
And for the Angels, Jon Gray has top of the rotation stuff. Getting him out of Coors Field and he may start resembling Gerrit Cole.

According to Eppler on MLB TV today ... there’s seem to be a lot of interest in our prospects and has repeatedly talked about trade capital. 
Everyone knows the Angels need pitching badly. Now that Ordorizzi is off the table and possibly Strasburg resigning with the Nats ... there’s a lot of teams looking for top tier pitching not named Gerrit Cole or Strasburg. 
My point is there’s really not much postering for the Angels to do or trying to fool the agents into believing we’re not desperate ... because everyone knows WE ARE DESPERATE! 
This will be one of the most interesting off season the Angels have had in a long time. 😃 
 
 

I could totally see Eppler unloading the farm. The time is right. Trout is the MVP and we certainly can't afford to waste the last couple of seasons of Pujols and Upton. It's go time.

I didn’t realize Bregman was accused of sign stealing ... my bad

Eppler hasn’t been shy lately talking about our trade capital. I suspect Marsh will be packaged  in a trade for a immediate impact player. One would believe it will be a SP. I have zero clue who that player might be. 
Any thoughts on who it could be if? Possibly a position player? or I could be totally off base and maybe just be a small trade with upside possibilities. 

i don't know if mike fiers has a contract for next year already, but i'm guessing if he's a free agent, his chances of employment may not go terribly well this winter.

Right guy won the award. Unlike in 2011, the National League MVP went to the wrong guy. Everyone knows the biggest reason why. 

I always forget, is she the one with the areola popping out?

He's the only one of the six candidates to not play in the 2019 post season.

One sign stealing cheater down. Let’s make it 2/2. 

Marsh for Chris Davis, eh?

Markakis for 8 million less >>>>>>>> Calhoun

I can't say much, but there were no AGMs at our lunch meeting. 
It's fun to discuss with powerful people the pros and cons of natural gas vs. COAL over a plate of nachos.

Bregman was much better on the road last year. 

I think my only legitimate complaint about Eppler's draft strategy is that while he's added pitchers in volume, and has managed some decent value picks, (Kochanowicz, Hernandez, Bradish, Stallings) Billy has failed to properly invest in upside arms. Most arms like those guys make it to the majors, but rarely end up being impactful, at least not in a rotation.
The Angels have a few upside arms in their farm, which are Rodriguez, Soriano and Kochanowicz, and then a couple of guys to dream on, like Stiward Aquino and Hector Yan, but by and large, there aren't many sure things. They're all in the low minors and come with one question mark or another.
The best pitching prospect the Angels have had in several years is Griffin Canning, and the Griffin Cannings of the world leave the draft board in the first round usually, second round of you're lucky. 
But Eppler has not invested early round picks on pitching. He's used those early picks on Marsh, Adell, Adams etc... And those were all good picks, but this system is starved for elite pitching.
Eppler has done a good job trading for guys like Sandoval and developing Barria and Suarez, but these guys are back end starters. And without that type of impactful depth, the Angels are forced into a situation where they'll need to spend 50 million a year on two starters just to remain competitive.
It's just not a sustainable practice.
He needs to use a first or second round pick on some collegiate starting pitching with upside in the worst sort of way.

Cincinnati holds a Redsfest every winter that has become huge. Lots of fans treat it like the fanfest MLB puts on for the all star game or a memorabilia convention, except it’s focused on the Reds. Wish the Angels did something like this on a regular basis.

That’s correct. It also ups to 5m per if they win the WS, I believe. 

I think they gave Maddon $4 million a year. 

I know the Angels need a top tiered arm like Gerrit Cole or Stephen Strasburg and one of Wheeler/Odorizzi/Ryu ahead of Ohtani, but this is a friendly reminder of what Sandoval and Canning can contribute from the back end of the rotation. 
These two local kids from Mission Viejo have a chance to really shine after getting major league experience in 2019. 
Patrick Sandoval:

Griffin Canning:

Yeah everyone thinks the Yanks and Dogs are going to sit this one out and they are setup to do exactly the opposite.  Dogs are supposedly even trying to trade Pederson to open up more money.  If you think they arent players on the bog name arms I think youre kidding yourself.