WeaverFever

I think the only part of this that concerns me is the Mariners acquiring even more money. There are only a few outcomes here, and someone's going to lose.
1. Jerry Dipoto is getting desperate and is willing to acquire any amount of international money and trade any prospects (a very Dipoto thing to do) he can to sweeten the offer.
2. Ohtani legitimately likes the Mariners and Dipoto is just getting more money to lock this deal in place.
3. Eppler is getting desperate and it just cost us Pearson who is a very intriguing bat. None of the prospects he can acquire at this point measure up to Pearson.
4. Eppler legitimately believes this extra million will finalize his deal with Ohtani.
5. The Twins were simply getting whatever they could get back for their excess money. We and the M's just happen to be there.
My experience tells me that Dipoto is a busy body and never stops moving, for better or worse. He felt 1 million is worth more than his Top catching prospect. He didn't know if it increases his chances, but it can't hurt. Meanwhile, Eppler is very purposeful in his moves. I'm guessing he legitimately feels this will be the difference between Ohtani and no Ohtani.
We'll find out who is right soon. 

I really hope we call the Phillies bluff. Sounds like their price point is through the roof. Once they realize all the options we have for second. The Phillies will realize we don’t “need him” and they will lower their price point. Even tho we all know we “want him.” 
 
Perosnally hes the guy I want most this year other then Ohtani. He fits the two biggest needs in one. Heck even three. 
Hits from the left side (switch), lead off guy, and second base. And yes, I know all of these things are well known. I’m excited for the next coming weeks. 

Respectfully this is what the entire Angelswin.com 2018 Primer Series was about and I think we did a pretty good job this year. We predicted serious interest in Ohtani (although we were really unsure if we could actually get him), we predicted interest for a trade on a veteran reliever with short term control and Jim Johnson was one of the small handful of names we listed and that happened. We were also predicting Upton back but that happened so damn fast it came before we published (and it was a pretty obvious deal).
Additionally we have predicted a move at 2B as @Jeff Fletcher mentioned above. It is probably THE most obvious prediction actually because there are several options in free agency and trade, it is the position we received the worst production out of in 2017, and the price to acquire can be as low or as high as the Angels desire. On the low end you have names like Brad Miller and Dee Gordon for example and on the higher end you have names like Ozhaino Albies and Cesar Hernandez for instance. Here is the link if you really want to see all of the options likely available: http://thesportsdaily.com/angels-win/angelswin-com-2018-primer-series-middle-infield/
We also predicted a potential front line starter or at least, at the minimum, a multi-innings reliever this year as well.
When you look at the team's finances, current roster construction, players remaining years of control, production at each position, and splits for both hitters and pitchers it gives you a really good picture of the Angels needs and wants and what they can realistically accomplish. That is what the whole Primer Series was about and I recommend you go back and read the whole series to get an appreciation of what the Angels can and cannot do in the 2017-2018 off-season.

Just think Upton, and Maitan on top of that. Hopefully our Bullpen will hold up again this year. Either Billy got really lucky last year, or he has a real eye for bullpen pieces. If it is the ladder he really is one of the best GM’s in the game.

Just think Upton, and Maitan on top of that. Hopefully our Bullpen will hold up again this year. Either Billy got really lucky last year, or he has a real eye for bullpen pieces. If it is the ladder he really is one of the best GM’s in the game.

Upton
Ohtani
Moustakas
New 2B
That would be one hell of an off-season for the Angels.  Though, I wouldn't mind them signing Chatwood for the rotation on top of that.

Second base is the only position at which I am 100 percent sure the Angels are going to get someone. I think fans don't talk about it because they're mostly enamored with sexy names who hit a lot of HRs. I think who they get at 2B is somewhat related to Ohtani, because it affects whether they have pitching to trade.

My guess....
If they sign Ohtani, they will sign a 3B (Moustakas seems to be the only fit), if they don't, they will sign a 1B.

And because #16 is available. 
 

I don’t see the Angels confirming they’re a finalist. Arte seems to be very tight lipped in terms of what kind of deals he’s working on.  Which is also why I’m shocked Eppler actually came out and said the Angels were even interested. 

it would be amazing for the angels to get stanton, but i literally haven't read a single word that we are even considering the move, mush less talking to the marlins about it.

Nothing to worry about.
 

I'm still pissed that I went out to the kitchen to make a sandwich when he hit that walk-off home run in Game 7 of the 2003 ALCS, and missed it.
 

Lots being discussed about how unfit we are for Ohtani from a hitting perspective. But what many people are failing to realize in my opinion is what we can give him from a pitching perspective. Yes, he is going to be the face of a lot of things, but what the Halos can give him is what a lot of other teams can’t,  and that is Ace status. Ohtani can become the face of our rotation right off the get go, and hopefully for many years to come. 

Lots being discussed about how unfit we are for Ohtani from a hitting perspective. But what many people are failing to realize in my opinion is what we can give him from a pitching perspective. Yes, he is going to be the face of a lot of things, but what the Halos can give him is what a lot of other teams can’t,  and that is Ace status. Ohtani can become the face of our rotation right off the get go, and hopefully for many years to come. 

Along with a fantastic defensive catcher and one of the best defensive SS in baseball history behind him. And maybe, before the offseason, a pretty good defensive 2B.

Maybe they want to use him as a starter... If they can stretch him and he can pitch 6-7 strong innings, he'll be a valuable trade chip!

He is going to like the atmosphere of the Oakland clubhouse. Hope he remembers to bring quarters.

Why not sign the 1st or 3rd addition ad a free agent and not have to give up a boatload if prospects at the trade deadline?
Upton was fairly cheap because he had the opt out and the Angels were only really paying for half a season.
That's fine to do where you need a boost  midseason but you dont want to go into a season with an obvious need with a plan to let it ride tik the trade deadline then give up prospects. . .
You just sign the answer to the problem in free agency if you have the money and the Angels have the money.

Jose Reyes would mean the Halos would have a platoon type situation for 2B/ 3B --- is that what we want?
Sometimes platoons work -- more often they don't.
Reyes is not the all around player he once was - he's probably lost a step or two in speed which is a real performance issue for speedster players like Reyes. Live by the wheels, and deteriorate by the wheels........
where did Reyes wind up last year? Colorado? Coors Field -- I have to check to see.......he did ok as a part time guy, spent some time on the DL.
Depending on what the Halos would pay for him -- I could see him filling that Mark McLemore, Chone Figgins type role being versatile and while not a starter per se - getting 300 ABs or so and helping the team.........what is Reyes these days ? 35/36 years old?   When he first came up (with the Mets?) he was quite the ballplayer -- even had some decent power in addition to speed, hit for an average, stole bases and was better than average with the glove at 2B (more so than 3B).

No way do you let Upton opt out in hopes of trading for Stanton, especially when you’ll be giving up talent to get Stanton.  Upton is a lot better than you give him credit for and it wasn’t an overpay to get him.  
Just curious, when was the last time the Angels did something right in your eyes?  

While I don't really think Stanton is the best way to spend money, I wouldn't turn down a trade for him and Gordon.  If that was too happen, I would just put Cowart at third base and roll with great defense.  I would assume that Calhoun would have to go to Miami or to someone else to make room in the outfield for Stanton.  You would have the best outfield in baseball and probably the best defensive infield in baseball.  You would have a leadoff hitter in Gordon, Trout batting 2nd, Upton, then Stanton.  That moves Albert to at least 5th in this scenario.  I guess Cron would play first although as has been mentioned, bringing on Gordon and Stanton don't really kill the luxury tax figure, so you could technically go out and get the guy that goes for closer to value, than someone that will be overpaid.  

Totally agree.
Im probably repeating what ive said in other posts here. But looking at the last decade or so, we signed vlad, torii, pujols and hamilton. Obviously 2 great, one good to bad, one horrible. Its easy to look at the most recent two and shy away from any other big contract.
But in doing so, it ignores what to me were the two biggest FA mistakes in the last 10 or so years. Balking at beltran, and balking at beltre, both for the price tag. 
Beltran wanted and got 105 for 6 years or so (of the top of my head). We said fuck off (even though the team coveted him since KC), when he was a perfect fit. Could slot second in front of vlad and GA, was a sosh type (conact hitter and baserunner). Anyway, we said no...then gave finley 14 mill over 2 years. Then gmj 50 mill over 5. Then torii 90 over 5. Torii was great...but the "vlad window" passed (and we were honestly one bat away from likely another WS appearence in the lackey/vlad/franky era). So we paid roughly 150 million for the same position (CF) spread around 3 guys, in the same time frame (06-13).
Beltre same thing. We said no, went baragain hunting, and stupidly paid wells roughly 15 or so less than beltre wanted.
The mistake in both moves is simple. And its the same now. Both beltre and beltran, and now stanton (but to a lesser extent to be fair) represented something we really needed, AND HAD NO REALISTIC ALTERNATIVE IN OUR SYSTEM. So you have to look at FA....all 3 of those guys were/are hot commodities. Its not going to get any cheaper going forward.  
Like you said, stanton is expensive as hell, but weve seen the results of mediocrity. At least when we balked at beltran, the team top to bottom was solid, and we had very interesting prospects. With beltre, the team was still better balanced than now, with some interesting prospects (trumbo, bourjos, etc). Now, and for the near and maybe 3 year timeframe, we have trout, upton (who i think slows by 2020 to good, not star), and probably too much faith in simmons (who im not knocking, i love the guy) and calhoun. The rest is ugly.
We can maybe tidy it up with a decent 2B and 3B. But the last several years, when weve penny pinched, the results have been pretty terrible. Were theowing around names like kinsler and morrison...that just screams matt joyce to me. Moustakas might be a nice suprise. But he may also be david freese..and thats not gonna be enough either, i think.

No he was the guy..... nothing you can’t fix or has been fixed tho. 

I love when the name Kipnis comes up.  I would love to get that guy.