Cosmo_Kramer

1 minute ago, Warfarin said:

I disagree on that one.  I think the Dodgers will let him go unless he takes a significant hometown discount.  That FO is good about separating sentiment from business.  If Kershaw, at age 31 and a recent history of back injuries, demands a 7+ year deal from them, they'll let him go.  I am almost positive of this.  

I think it depends on the type of year he has. I could see them being hesitant if he has continued back issues.

3 minutes ago, Jeff Fletcher said:

I am guessing Maldonado either signs for one year and about $3M, or something like 3 years and $15M. You have to ask, what kind of deal can he expect as a free agent next winter and go from there.

I'd be happy with 3/15.

13 minutes ago, Warfarin said:

If we're going to spend money on an ace, we might as well go for the biggest fish of all!  Kershaw, Richards, Ohtani, Heaney, Skaggs.  Pretty awesome rotation, I'd say.  

That said though, his back problems are definitely very concerning.

Back issues, and I just don't see him leaving the Dodgers. He's their Trout.

I'd be fine with Darvish at a reasonable price, but I don't want any of the other options (e.g. Cobb, Lynn). I think that would mean no more Richards in 2019 though...

The problem with the 2019 FA market is that it's also pretty thin on elite pitching. You'll have Kershaw at the top, but who else? Keuchel? Meh. Pomeranz? Meh. Gio? Meh. I like Darvish more than all those guys.

Surprising move, but I'm not complaining. Rivera is probably a small step up from Perez and Graterol both offensively and defensively.

Edit: deal is apparently for $2.8m

On 1/5/2018 at 4:40 PM, Jeff Fletcher said:

If Kinsler gets hurt, Cozart plays 2B, Valbuena plays 3B and Cron plays 1B.

If Cozart gets hurt, Valbuena plays 3B and Cron plays 1B.

And if Simmons gets hurt, Cozart plays SS, Valbuena plays 3B, and Cron plays 1B.

I don't mind this move since it's only a minor league deal. EYJ had a hot start when filling in for Trout last year, but he was pretty terrible otherwise.

 I hope they have a better 4th OF in mind.

3 hours ago, tdawg87 said:

I feel like 99% of the posters who introduce themselves in here make like 2-3 posts then disappear forever. I think they get scared off.

I blame Lou.

I'll likely keep reading, with minimal posting, but we'll see.

Grew up near the stadium. Jim Edmonds was my first favorite player.

6 hours ago, Stradling said:

In and of itself it isn’t.  But he will need fresh legs to pitch.  This isn’t a station to station team and he isn’t a station to station runner.  

If he has ace potential and he’s also really good with the bat, wouldn’t you rather protect his pitch ability rather than get an extra DH start from him?  

I think the day before will allow him to focus/prepare better. Also, rest the legs.

I think the day after is 100% about rest. His legs and arm will be tired/sore the day after he pitches.

Seinfeld fan. Angel fan. Been lurking around here for a while, but just now decided to make an account. I also used to post on the Angels mlb board - not sure if anyone else jumped here after it got shut down.

 

2 hours ago, Stradling said:

AnaheimBob won’t disappear.  He will be pissed it took the Angels 6 games to win the WS, that they would have swept the Cubs if he wasn’t outmanaged by Madden and that they won in-spite of Sosh.  

 

Ohtani wins ROY.

Ohtani is top 5 in CY.

Trout wins MVP.

5 players receive MVP votes.

Angels win division.

1 hour ago, Hubs said:

I don't think Cowart has options remaining. Maybe I missed it. Also, with the 6th starter basically coming up and down, I'd say that he'll be up most of the time anyway.

I also don't think Shoemaker has 2 options, nor do Heaney or Skaggs. Remember that these last two guys also pitched in other teams organizations, so they could have been added and used an option year in the minors with that club.

Bridwell and Tropeano do. Trout definitely doesn't have options. The Veteran's consent rule applies. Calhoun is also very close to this, but he was added to the major league roster before the 2012 season anyway, so he ran out of options last year. Scribner was up last year, so that counts, and unless he qualifies for a fourth year, I doubt he has more than two left.

"If a player has 5 years of major-league service, he may not be assigned to a minor-league team without his consent. This exclusion applies regardless of whether he has not yet been outrighted once, has remaining options, or has cleared waivers. If the player withholds consent, the team must either release him or keep him on the major league roster. In either case, the player must continue to be paid under the terms of his contract. If he is released and signs with a new team, his previous team must pay the difference in salary between the two contracts if the previous contract called for a greater salary."

The only kind of pen arm I want is a guy with options. Relievers are getting way overpaid in the free agent market, meaning a guy with control is even more valuable via trade.

In short, I'd say Cowart and Skaggs will have to be with the major league club to start the season, whereas, Bridwell does not, so I'd say he starts in AAA and Skaggs is with the major league club.

Also, I doubt they are going with a 13 man staff. 12 man staff is more likely until they need a 6th starter (mid-April), so I could see them sending down a pen arm (Middleton) to grab him or putting a guy on the DL.

 

I pulled the remaining options from roster resource. Perhaps the info there is a season behind.

1 hour ago, Erstad Grit said:

Welcome to AW, and great post.

I think Dyson gets a starting gig somewhere. I'd like Raja Davis as the 4th OF who could also PR some. Ben Revere I thought did well too. 

 

Agreed on Dyson. My only problem with Davis is his age. He's 37. I'd prefer a younger option.

I agree with Jeff. I think we'll mostly have a 5 man rotation, with a 6th spot occasionally. I think we'll see a lot of shuffling between AAA and MLB this year.

 

Here's my guess at the depth chart, with remaining options in parenthesis.

 

C

Maldonado (0)

Perez (0)

Graterol (2)

 

1B

Valbuena (0)

Pujols (0)

Cron (0)

 

2B

Kinsler (0)

Cozart (0)

Cowart (1)

 

3B

Cozart (0)

Valbuena (0)

Cowart (1)

 

SS

Simmons (0)

Cozart (0)

 

LF

Upton (0)

4th OF

 

CF

Trout (2)

4th OF

 

RF

Calhoun (1)

4th OF

 

DH

Pujols (0)

Ohtani (3)

 

SP

Richards (0)

Ohtani (3)

Heaney (1)

Shoemaker (2)

Skaggs (1)

Bridwell (1)

Tropeano (2)

JC (0)

Scribner (3)

 

RP

Parker (0)

Bedrosian (0)

Alvarez (0)

Johnson (0)

Middleton (2)

Wood (0)

Paredes (2)

Noe (0)

Bard (0)

 

To start the year, I think we'll see the following:

MLB position player starters:

C - Maldonado

1B - Valbuena

2B - Kinsler

3B - Cozart

SS - Simmons

LF - Upton

CF - Trout

RF - Calhoun

DH - Pujols

That's 9. Now, MLB starting pitchers:

Richards

Ohtani

Heaney

Shoemaker

Bridwell

That's 14. Now, MLB relief pitchers:

Parker

Bedrosian

Alvarez

Middleton

Wood

Johnson

Bard

JC (long relief)

That's 22. Now, MLB bench:

C - Perez

1B/DH - Cron

OF - ??

That's 25. That leaves the following players in AAA:

Graterol

Cowart

Skaggs

Tropeano

Scribner

Paredes

 

All of our staters have options remaining except JC and Richards. JC is well suited in long relief, but I could see him making spot starts. Tropeano is still working his way back from surgery, so no real rush with him. Skaggs and Scribner can make spot starts or relieve as needed.

 

As far as future moves.. We still need a 4th OF. I'd like another bullpen piece. I could also see Cron flipped for a pitcher with options, with Cowart then used as a utility infielder.

 

My target for 4th OF would be someone like Jarrod Dyson. Might be tough to convince him to take a bench role though. Perhaps a Peter Bourjos reunion instead.