Dmenace9

I honestly think the best thing the Angels could do for the major league team money wise is put an end to the Albert Pujols nightmare.  Eat the 70 million or whatever and be done with it.  If that causes them to not sign anyone next year so be it.  Let some of the younger players (Thaiss, Ward, Fletcher, Rengifo) get a half season or more of AB’s and reassess what we need externally.  The idea that we’ll have to deal with another entire season or more of Albert Pujols clogging the base paths, occupying a middle of the order spot in the line up.  I mean, it makes me sick.  That’s sort of hyperbole.  But also it’s not.  Enough is enough.  Let him be a cheer leader or a coach or whatever.   But get him out of the line up. 
That’s sort of my dream and I know it won’t happen.  Since it won’t, I think they have to pump money into the lineup.  Machado is unrealistic but a nice fit if he’ll play 3B.  DJ LeMaheiu is an almost perfect fit.  
 

I am happy we will be seeing the end of guys like Kinsler and Valbuena, as well as a guy like Jim Johnson, that will free up $25 million more in salary.  Here is what I worry about, where do we spend the money.  We know we have holes at 1st, 2nd and 3rd.  We also have to decide to re-sign Maldonado or sign a Grandall type to catch.  We also have holes in the rotation and the bullpen so what are we going to do?  
On the offensive side, we could probably handle it in house, and promote Ward, Rengifo and give every day at bats to Fletcher like we are now.  We could bring up Thiass, or JMF, to handle 1st base along with Albert.  Then we could go out and get a quality 4th outfielder.  We could do all this and it would take on very little money.  
Here in lies the problem, next year, assuming we have health from Ohtani, we will have another short bench.  So if Fletcher is the 3rd baseman, and Rengifo is the 2nd baseman.  Cozart is the utility (for the sake of creating this line up).  So now we have Albert and Ohtani and DH and 1st, who gets the other two spots?  Ward and Briceno?  Thiass?  
The bigger question is if those new guys are major league average at their positions, is it enough?  Should we sign a LeMahieu to play 2nd, if so who gets third, who do we trade to fill other needs?  Is that offense enough to just go for it?  Would we be better off signing someone to play 3rd and use Fletcher and Rengifo at 2nd?  Or do we simply run with our in house solutions for the infield, and spend all of our resources on pitching in the offseason?  Do we sign a big bat for 3rd or 2nd and trade for a starter and a bullpen?  So many damn decisions and so many different ways to go.  In a weird way we have a lot of options.  Maybe the answer is making a move for a solid infield piece for the future at the deadline, someone like a Scooter Gennet.  I really don’t know what we are going to do, but it is going to be interesting.  In a weird way, I have more faith in Eppler making a trade than I do in him signing a free agent.  

Best comment on here! 

I'd love to see Bedrosian help sabotage teams like Boston/NY/Sea
Let's do it

I'd trade Bedrosian for a rosin bag and a fungo bat if someone were willing to take him.
now if only someone was willing to take on Valbuena...

Eppler, you need to trade Badrosian to whatever team has expressed interest before they come to their senses.

well its official, weve become the corpse everyone is trying to pick apart for scraps.  

I hate to say it but I agree about Trout. Hes been the best player in baseball for what now, 7 years in a row? And hes been to the playoffs one time? Obviously we all want him to stay but I think it's time to get realistic and think why would he stay? The man deserves to win and at the very least should be playing in the playoffs every year...

The team just isn't very good. Eppler needs to accept this and rebuild as much as possible: shed anything he can: dump Valbuena, try to get something for Kinsler, trade the middle relievers, even field offers for Calhoun and Upton. Then play Fletcher, Fernandez, Thaiss, Rengifo and Ward. Give them some experience. 
I know people want the team to compete during the Trout window, but I'd rather see the focus be on building for long-term success. Trout is more likely to stay if he sees a team on the cusp of being really good and getting better. Floating year to year with crappy patch jobs is just not cutting it. 

Then bat Simmons 2nd and Trout 3rd...problem is finding someone who can lead off.  There is no one.  Even with his post-DL surge, Calhoun has an OBP of .320 and Fletcher has an OBP of .284.  We still have the issue of no one being on base for Trout when he's up.  They need a legit lead-off hitter and they don't have one...Simmons is the closest.  Alternatively, besides Pujols, the run producers aren't "run producing" when men (er, Trout) are on base.  A more radical idea would be to have Ohtani lead off and have Trout hit 2nd with Simmons, Upton, Pujols, and Calhoun to follow.  7-9 would still be a wasteland but Ohtani can get on base and has speed.

Because Simba prefers to not lead off: 
Vs. RHP:
1) Calhoun (red hot since returning)
2) Simba
3) Trout
4) Ohtani
5) Pujols
6) Upton  
Vs. LHP:
1) Fletcher
2) Simba
3) Trout
4) Upton
5) Pujols
6) Calhoun

Valbuena is playing to try to increase his trade value. That's the only thing I can think of. I am not daring to try to figure out Scioscia's reasoning though.