Tony Two Bags

I don't think getting Joc opens a trade for Adell or Marsh. Joc is a FA next season, Marsh will be ready then. Adell still has room on this roster.

One in the hand is better than two in the bush...

I think Adell for Clevinger is a perfect trade in that I could see both the Angels and Indians saying no. While it would hurt to move Adell, such a great home grown prospect, I would do it for Clevinger. 3 years of control of a likely top 5 SP in baseball is exactly what this team needs right now. Having Rendon in the lineup for the next 7 years and Marsh right behind Adell makes the decision easier. I understand why the Angels FO and the fans on the other side of would say no to the trade (I would be content if they didn't make the trade) but I think Clevinger would put the Angels over the top this year and the near future.

I don't think Taylor Blake Ward would be the one to break any Angels news.

I think it is important to keep in mind that Eppler likely knows his job is on the line this year. If he had unlimited resources from Arte, then he likely would be happy to overpay to bring in Ryu or Keuchel to help save his job. That didn't happen for one reason or another. It is reasonable to assume that either Arte refused to shell out the extra money to bring one of those guys in or Eppler cares more about the long term health of the team despite his job being at risk which is admirable. Would an oft injured Ryu push this team over the top in 2020? Maybe...probably not. Would Keuchel? Even less likely. I know we all want to win now and we are tired of losing and having a shitty rotation but the fact is that the actual TOTR arms, that would have had a significant impact on the rotation, did not sign here at no fault to Arte or Eppler. The secondary arms we have missed out on, while would have helped, are not going to make or break the team and the arms we have added in their place are pretty comparable. The way I look at it, Teheran will be our Keuchel and Bundy will be our Kyle Gibson. They each have very similar projections and came cheaper leaving much more flexibility. I don't think it is ridiculous that so many fans are calling for Eppler's job but I do think it is irrational and I think it would be a mistake.

Cole was a Bruin ... could it be?

C) B. Molina 1B) Erstad 2B) Kendrick 3B) Glaus SS) Simmons LF) Anderson CF) Trout RF) Guerrero DH) Salmon SP) Ryan RP) Percival

I wouldn't say he was exactly fine. He missed the majority of spring training with knee tendinitis.

I don't think WAR is generally regarded as a great measurement for pitcher value. Taking the average of the player's 3 seasons more traditional stats prior to FA says Cole is worth the money his peer's received. Cole has more then proven he belongs on that list, and his greatest advantage is he is entering the market a year younger than Max and David did. A 7 year deal is much more palatable for a 29 year old than a 30 year old. If it's my money, I am spending $1 million more than the next highest bidder to make Cole a Halo.

The winner of the Sporting News MLB Player of the Year award has gone on to win the BBWAA MVP award, in their respective league, 12 of the last 13 years. The only exception was in 2016 when Altuve won the SN award and Trout was named AL MVP. History bodes well for Trout's chances of taking home his 3rd AL MVP award next month!

And what about his real family? His wife, mother, friends and relatives? Does this also "blow away" the myth that they were his family because they didn't know Tyler was an addict either? I hate hearing all the blame being placed on the Angels shoulders. If the Angels should have known then his real family should have as well. It is unfair to point the finger at the Angels and say they let this happen, when it is much deeper than that.

He had a stress fracture in his back his freshman year and a pre-draft MRI that showed "potential issues". "Canning was a workhorse for the Bruins, leading the team in innings pitched each of the past two years. His 119 innings this season were a career-high, and he started 17 games. He suffered a stress fracture in his back late during his freshman year, which caused him to miss the postseason when UCLA, the No. 1 overall seed, lost in the regional round". https://www.ocregister.com/2017/06/12/mlb-draft-uclas-griffin-canning-goes-47th-overall-to-angels/ "That is what appears to have happened with UCLA right-hander Griffin Canning. Ranked No. 17 on our Draft Top 200 list , Canning is a highly regarded college arm who was looking like a middle of the first round talent because of his extremely consistent season. But word was spreading as the final weekend before the Draft approached that there were some issues with his medical report that were causing teams to pause at the very least.According to sources from multiple teams, Canning's MRI returned some potential issues. Such reports are not uncommon and it will be up to each team's medical staff to interpret the results, but as of Friday night, some teams had already decided to pass on Canning, while others are waiting to hear back from their doctors on how to proceed". http://m.mlb.com/news/article/234660412/2017-draft-buzz-what-callis-mayo-are-hearing/

He won a Cy Young in the AL. I'm sure he will be fine.

You don't know that. He had an opt out and the Angels extended him to keep him from exercising it.

Billy has an option in his contract for 2020. I'd be willing to bet he will get an extension soon. https://www.ocregister.com/2019/02/18/angels-owner-arte-moreno-addresses-teams-payroll-stadium-and-gm-billy-eppler/