AngelsHilo

This is cool.  Like the idea of versatility on our roster.  

I'm not going to cull up all the data I looked through last year, but there were some encouraging signs with Ward. If I'm remembering correctly, he tended to watch a lot of strikes go by and wound up behind in the count quite often, but still had good contact/power numbers despite the measly slash. 

Being that he was always a patient hitter in the minors with good discipline, the evidence tended to suggest he brought that approach to the bigs - but unlike the minors, MLB pitchers had no problem whatsoever attacking the rookie hitter while painting the corners much more consistently than what he was accustomed to. As a result, he'd try the same approach that lifted him in the minors, but instead of working the count he'd be in the hole quickly. Kaleb Cowart had the same problem - but Kaleb Cowart was swinging at everything to lead to an 0-2 or 1-2 count, whereas Taylor was watching them go by and then having to fight back. His meager slash wasn't the result of him being overmatched in my eyes, but a player simply adjusting to the bigs and learning on the spot.

I'm optimistic that having another season away from catcher, and the obvious work he's been doing in the cage, is going to lead to a much improved Ward, and while I'd prefer he go to AAA and get some reps at a couple other positions to increase his versatility, he shouldn't be ruled out as having a real shot at the Opening Day 3B. He could quickly turn into a .265/.325/.425/.750 guy, and if that comes with decent defense, a few stolen bases, and 10-15 HRs in his rookie campaign, it'd be a big win for a guy who was almost written off going into 2018.

I've been one of the biggest David Fletcher fans here for years, but I realize his upside is limited. Ward brings a significantly higher ceiling, and if he's showing any signs of realizing that this spring, he needs to get the first shot at regular playing time.

No.  Eppler has done a great job of not succumbing to overpaying this off season.  

Two of the 9 guys expected to be mostly their everyday lineup are coming off surgery. That’s why I listed two.
Also, Pujols is one of the greatest players in the history of baseball and he’s at a career tipping point. I think that’s worth keeping an eye on. 
 

At least two players will go to the 60 day DL (Ramirez and Middleton)  This will open up two spots. 
I could almost see Ohtani opening on the 60 day DL too....
Herm will be better served in Triple A getting regular AB's.  With Trout (140 GP), Upton (145 GP) and Calhoun (137 GP)...That leaves about 64 games across three positions to be filled....I cant see Herm playing one or twice a week.....Not when you can run out PB for those few games.

Think Hermosillo makes the Opening Day Roster only because picking up Bourjos messes with the 40 Man.  

Hey, hey, hey, its Fat ______!

Simmons may be one of the more underrated stars in baseball. His 10.6 fWAR over the last two years is 12th among position players.
That said, he's not a generational talent like Trout, so I'm OK if the Angels let him play out his current contract before extending him. I suspect that Simmons will age well and still be very good for at least another 4-5 years after 2020, so his age 31-34/35 seasons. He might swap out some of his defensive value for slightly better hitting and still be a 3-5 WAR player.
But the Angels have some solid--and much cheaper--options in Fletcher and Rengifo, and eventually Jackson. None of these guys are likely to be as good as Simmons, but do you want to a 4-5 WAR guy for $20 million or a 2-3 WAR guy for a few million? Regardless of the answer, it doesn't hurt to see how the next couple years pan out.
It is worth nothing that Simmons has improved offensively in each of the last four years. Check out his wRC+ over the last five years: 71, 81, 90, 103, 109. If the trend continues, he could have his best two years in 2019-20. 

Not sure why this is such a hard concept to understand.  Eppler was focused enough to try to build the Angels without trading prospects.  He continues to sign low priced, with hopefully high upside FA for short contracts.   Some have been almost successful but really haven't gotten us to the playoffs.  Meanwhile, the farm keeps accumulating 55+ players.  As they start to accumulate, the 50's, 45's, start dropping off the Top 30.  Eventually tie stature of the Farm goes up.  But here in lies the problem. 
How many of these guys actually produce once they hit the Bigs?  Ward?  Fletcher?  Thaiss?  Canning?  Are they the new Superstars?
Yeah it's great to have a great farm.  But how many Brandon Wood's and Kaleb Cowart's do we have to go through to get a Trout?  Ok he is the GOAT.  So, an Anderson, Salmon, Edmonds, or Erstad?
 

Fletcher may not have been considered a top prospect, but of the group, he was first to make his MLB debut.  He will be relied on heavily this coming Season at least as a versatile backup.  He's the best we got in terms of off the farm infielders, that are MLB ready.  Unfortunately, he is no Gleybar Torres. 
I would think there is an expectation early on that Thaiss (16th Overall) and Ward (26th Overall) would have evolved into Top Prospects.  Canning has, as a 2nd Rounder.  Our last Top Prospect was 25th Overall in the 2009 Draft.  He was drafted after another Angel Draftee who hasn't shared the same success as the 25th Overall.   Speaking of the 2009 Draft, 2 to 5 Overall were Dustin Ackley, Donovan Tate, Jorge Sanchez, and Matthew Hobgood (Strasberg was #1).  I would consider them all to be Brandon Woods.  Guess a top 5 pick can completely bomb now days.  Oh and Cowart was drafted 18th Overall in 2010.  Somehow his Angel career seems similar to Woods.  What do you think?  
How many Superstars do I expect on one Team.  More than 1.  How many do you think the Angels have currently?
The Farm has vastly improved under Eppler.  That is for certain and I am grateful this has evolved.  But we have not seen anything out of the farm come to fruition yet.  While I am hopeful that Ward, Thaiss, and Canning can make an impact in the very near future, I am more certain that the next group led by Adell will make a larger impact.  If Eppler decides to not use the Farm as trade bait, the Farm will continue to bring in 50+ players, thus eliminating the below 50's players off the Top 30 List. 
Meanwhile, we need to be hopeful that players like Pujols, Cozart, Calhoun, Lucroy, and the Other Infielder (Ward, Fletcher, Refigo), can at least be at replacement level.  That will get us 3-4 more games and get us in the Wild Card hunt.

Not sure why this is such a hard concept to understand.  Eppler was focused enough to try to build the Angels without trading prospects.  He continues to sign low priced, with hopefully high upside FA for short contracts.   Some have been almost successful but really haven't gotten us to the playoffs.  Meanwhile, the farm keeps accumulating 55+ players.  As they start to accumulate, the 50's, 45's, start dropping off the Top 30.  Eventually tie stature of the Farm goes up.  But here in lies the problem. 
How many of these guys actually produce once they hit the Bigs?  Ward?  Fletcher?  Thaiss?  Canning?  Are they the new Superstars?
Yeah it's great to have a great farm.  But how many Brandon Wood's and Kaleb Cowart's do we have to go through to get a Trout?  Ok he is the GOAT.  So, an Anderson, Salmon, Edmonds, or Erstad?
 

Not sure why this is such a hard concept to understand.  Eppler was focused enough to try to build the Angels without trading prospects.  He continues to sign low priced, with hopefully high upside FA for short contracts.   Some have been almost successful but really haven't gotten us to the playoffs.  Meanwhile, the farm keeps accumulating 55+ players.  As they start to accumulate, the 50's, 45's, start dropping off the Top 30.  Eventually tie stature of the Farm goes up.  But here in lies the problem. 
How many of these guys actually produce once they hit the Bigs?  Ward?  Fletcher?  Thaiss?  Canning?  Are they the new Superstars?
Yeah it's great to have a great farm.  But how many Brandon Wood's and Kaleb Cowart's do we have to go through to get a Trout?  Ok he is the GOAT.  So, an Anderson, Salmon, Edmonds, or Erstad?
 

Nice interview.  Hope he stays a back of the pen arm for years to come.

Nice interview.  Hope he stays a back of the pen arm for years to come.

Cozart gets off to a great start,  Has .850 OPS at the trade deadline.  He's flipped to the injury laden Rox along with Jam Jones, and Marsh for......Nolan Arenado!
Pujols hits game winning, pinch hit single in the bottom of the 9th off Zack Britton to score starting 2B Luis Rengifo to win Game 7 of the World Series.  Pujols promptly announces his retirement.  
Trout signs 10 year extension.  Arenado signs 8 year, $240MM contract with money freed up from Albert's retirement.  Arenado happy to be back living in Newport Beach.  

We'll need to carry 13 position players.  Especially when Ohtani becomes available.  That being said, we have the 3 starting OF's, two catchers, and Cozart, Simmons, Pujols, and Bour who are guaranteed spots.  LaStella wouldn't have been acquired if they didn't want his versatility and left handed bat.  That leaves 3 spots open.  So the battle will be between Fletcher, Ward, Rengifo, Hermosillo, and Bourjos.  Fletcher makes the most sense for one spot, because of his versatility to play 3 infield positions and RF.  It's going to come down to who ends up winning the 2B and 3B job and the 4th OF spot. 
Marwin Gonzalez solves some of the issues if he gets signed.  He can platoon with Calhoun and start at 2B and 3B or even SS when needed.  Plus he' a switch hitter.  He would eliminate the need to have a 4th OF when Ohtani comes back.

Do we try to get him?

Do we try to get him?

Do we try to get him?

The Angels trade Zack Cozart and Kole Calhoun for Wil Myers.....hear me out.
The Angels don't need Cozart. With Fletcher, Ward, Jones and Rengifo all close to ready, the future of the infield won't require Zack's presence. And Calhoun? It should not be difficult to upgrade over him, and regardless, 2019 would be his last in an Angels uniform. Wil Myers is coming off a down season, but is smack dab in the middle of his prime and is an annual 30 HR 20 SB candidate and middle of the order presence, so long as he's healthy. In 2019, he could play RF, and 2020 and beyond, he could slide over to 1B to make room for Jo Adell. 
Now let's look at the numbers. Myers is owed 73 million over the next four years. By trading Zack Cozart, who is owed 25 million across the next two, and Kole Calhoun, who is owed 11.5 (includes buyout), Myers would cost the Angels around 4 years, 37 million. Extremely reasonable given his upside. And here is perhaps the best part, Myers only makes 5 million in 2019, which means the Angels would be shaving 18 million off the 2019 payroll. They could very easily sign Mike Moustakas to a one year deal (you know Eppler loves those) and a decent reliever at that rate. 
SS Simmons, CF Trout DH Ohtani, LF Upton, 3B Moustakas, RF Myers
The top and middle portion of the lineup would be very dangerous.
And why would the Padres do this? They need a 3B or SS, which Cozart fills, they could flip Calhoun at the deadline, which only further clarifies their OF log jam, and total, they save 37 million in the long run. Cozart serves as a bridge until Tatis arrives and Urias is fully developed. And for a cash strapped team like San Diego, an extra 37 million can go a very long way. 
I know, it sounds a little crazy, but it could work out for both sides. 

Fletcher: Killing our boners one post at a time.

Eppler should be targeting Marwin Gonzalez.  He can offer versatility with a switch hitting bat.  He could be the starter at 3B, as well as being the backup at SS, 2B, 1B, and the OF Corners.  He would be of help now as well as the future when the kids start making an impact.

Even if he’s not an all star Gonzalez is a solid everyday major league player.  Potentially more than can be said for 3-4 of the Angels guys right now in a worst case scenario.