SpunnOne

If the Angels signed Harper, he wouldn't hit a single HR in April, and would be batting .210 with a .690 OPS through May.

Might as well just have the full 200,000 mile overhaul done all at once.

Odrisamer Despaigne, come on down, you are the newest pitcher in the Angels rotation! 

Absolutely NOTHING, say it again......................

Also in Trout's defense he never gets to hit against Angels pitching

Hi all, came across this article today on The Ringer on how Kole came back from the dead.  Pretty good read:
https://www.theringer.com/mlb/2018/8/9/17666160/kole-calhoun-los-angeles-angels-cold-start-hot-hitting
 

No Valbuena
No Marte
No McGuire (hopefully)
No Pena (hopefully)
No Blash
No Chris Young
No Scioscia
See, the team is already better!
(Did I miss anyone?)

He traded Jett Bandy (-0.9 WAR so far with Milwaukee) for Martin Maldonado (2.4 WAR with the Angels), who in turn was traded for a nice LHP SP prospect in Patrick Sandoval who just threw 4.2 IP 3 H 0 ER 2 BB 9 K in his first start at Inland Empire
He traded two scrub minor leaguers for Ian Kinsler (2.5 WAR) and then flipped them for two young relief pitchers with options and 6 years of control, both of whom have high K/9 rates
Albert Pujols wasn't his and there is really nothing he can do about it.
He traded Sean Newcomb (3.2 WAR since trade) for Andrelton Simmons, the best defensive shortstop in the game who has provided a 15.8 WAR in 2 1/2 seasons
He signed Kole Calhoun to a 3 year extension which, at 3/$26 mil,  was good at the time and is still not prohibitive despite his offensive struggles this year.  
Trout was under contract when he got here.
Traded prospect Grayson Long, who hasn't had a start in 2018 so far, and Elvin Rodriguez, who is still in A ball, for Justin Upton who has put up 3.0 WAR in 133 games in a Angels uniform
He convinced Shohei Ohtani, the most coveted international prospect in baseball last offseason, to come to Angels for less money offered by Dipoto's M's.
He signed Cozart to a 3 year deal that looks "meh" right now but we'll see.  Still, not a long term commitment while the prospects are developing.
Chris Young was a 1 year deal
As for pitching, he started out Richards, Ohtani, Skaggs, Heaney, Tropeano, JC Ramirez, Matt Shoemaker, Parker Bridwell, and Jamie Barria as starting pitching depth...9 guys that had a reasonable chance at not sucking every 6th day...now he's down to four of those guys due to injury.
The BP was less certain at the beginning of the season, made even more so by the injuries to Middleton and Wood.  All I know is he could have signed Holland, Davis, or some other high priced talent that has underperformed this season and he would still would have gotten crap.  Even a solid performer like Morrow is on the DL right now.
The moves he's made have been productive despite what he's had to work with...
 

Sosh Free.  

To answer your question,they have more wins.

The A.I. is learning...it takes time

You're the grease monkey?

well your'e certainly in the right place for that. welcome!

Tropeano has almost as many HR as Pujols.

They have 116.5 Million committed to 6 players: Trout, Pujols, Upton, Cozart, Simmons and Calhoun.
That leaves roughly $50 Million to fill out the roster, if they target the same opening day payroll they did the last three year, at around $166M. That doesn't account for the additional $20M spent to acquire Ohtani, or the additional payroll expenses for 40 man roster, etc.
Richards going down with TJ saves them from having to commit or not commit money to a guy whose injuries have hurt his success over the last three years. Yet, he could be brought back on a low cost 2 year deal as some TJ bound players going into FA have done.
Club Control guys will be maybe as many as 6-8 roster spots not including bullpen guys. (Ohtani, Meyer, Barria, Briceno, Bridwell, Fletcher, Etc.)
So that gives you half to 2/3 of a roster.
The Angels do have 10 guys eligible for arbitration: (Shoemaker, Ramirez, Skaggs, Parker, Bedrosian, Alvarez, Robles, Heaney, Marte, Tropeano). Only Skaggs, Parker, Bedrosian, Heaney and Tropeano are virtually guaranteed to be back, if they are not traded at a cost of around $25M total. Shoemaker, Ramirez, and Marte are likely to be non-tendered, and Robles and Alvarez are up in the air.
So with my math there, you have at least 20 spots filled at a cost of around $140-145M.
The positions that are "filled" are: CF, 1B/DH, RF, SS, 2B/3B, LF, DH/SP, 5-6 SP candidates, 4-5 relief arms.
You do not have a Starting Catcher. You do not have a clear starting 2B unless it's Fletcher or Cozart. You do not have a clear leadoff hitter unless it's Calhoun or Cozart. You need a late inning bullpen arm. You need another 1B/3B guy.
They actually can fill all of these needs from the farm except Catcher. Grandal is my pick, but they could easily bring back Maldonado,  or go for Ramos.
If they break the bank, they could go for Machado at 3B (moving Cozart to 2nd and Fletcher to util), Grandal, and Keuchel.
 
 

Tell the scouts that Noe is Manny's nephew.

The Obvious: The Angels are sellers. While Maldonado isn't a star, he was an important part of the team's core and if Eppler thought the Angels had a viable chance at the postseason, they woudn't have traded him. 
But here's the thing. The fact that they traded Maldonado likely means that they're willing to trade any and all non-essential players. Meaning, anyone other than Trout, Simmons, Ohtani, Heaney, Skaggs, Barria, and the young guys (Fletcher, better prospects). Anyone else is fair game. 
The Probable: Get ready for more trades. Well, at least a shedding of spare parts. Kinsler should be gone as he has some usefulness to a contending team; several of the relievers could be gone; who knows, maybe Eppler finds someone who will take Valbuena for a fringe prospect. But there really is no reason not to trade these guys.
Unlikely, But You Never Know: Calhoun or Upton. Kole has been hitting well since revamping his swing, and would be a good pickup for a contender in need of an outfielder. Upton is less likely, but could also be delt. Finally, while I highly doubt that Eppler will trade Skaggs or Heaney, some contender might blow him away with an offer.
The Speculative: Two things could be extrapolated from this trade:
One, Eppler is not beholden to Scioscia--who would never have made this trade--and/or Scioscia is gone after this year. 
Two, the Angels might be going after a good free agent catcher: Yasmani Grandal or Wilson Ramos. Or maybe they take a flyer on a Devin Mesoraco or Jonathan Lucroy, hoping that they recapture former glory. My hope would be for Grandal. 
As for JT Realmuto, I highly doubt Eppler wants to spend the prospect currency it would take to take Realmuto. Better to wait and go for Grandal/Ramos.
Anyhow, I'm not saying that the Angels will trade all of Calhoun, Kinsler, Valbuena, and several relievers, but that they are likely to at least trade a few other players. I mean, why not?

I really enjoyed having a good defensive catcher... onward and upward I guess

We can always re-sign him in the off-season a la Aroldis Chapman.

I really enjoyed having a good defensive catcher... onward and upward I guess

I liked Maldo. Sucks to see him go, loved watching him throw out runners. But at least we got back what sounds to be a decent return. And good for Maldo, will get to go to the playoffs.

initial reaction is that i don't like getting rid of machete, and especially not to a division rival.hopefully this leads to something else good. 

it's basically three options
1.  Move all in and have the best team possible for the next two years
2.  Let the kids play and hope they develop so you can convince Trout to stay long term
3.  Somewhere in between.  
I'm gonna guess it will be #3.  
Agree 100% with the sentiment that we need to get a preview of Ward, JMF, Fletcher, Rengifo, Hermosillo and maybe even Thaiss and Walsh (will be R5 eligible this year like Ward).  JMF , Herm and Fletch are already on the 40.  Trade Kinsler, release LVB, Young, and Marte.  That's 4 roster spots open until sept call ups.  You can probably leave Herm down to get his work in for now and use Walsh as the 4th OFer.  When rosters expand, get a look at Suarez, Canning, and maybe even throw Luis Pena in the pen (he's also R5 after this year).  
Richards and Lamb are on the 10 day so you can move them to the 60.  Nolan Fontana and few others can be dropped in order to add some people to the 40 man as well.  
I would also trade Maldo.  Some teams are actually hurting at C like the skanks, indians, braves, and nats who could all use some defensive help.  
I would also trade Parker, Alvarez, and Cam if you can get a nice deal.  I wouldn't trade them just for the sake of trading them though.  
then you start forming your offseason plan
The 2019 FA class is turning out to be fairly disappointing imo.  
My first priority would be Grandal.  He's the best FA catcher available since Martin and Mcann who both signed for 80+m over 5.  Grandal won't get that.  Maybe 4/60.  I like him because he can hit, frame well and call a good game.  he doesn't hold the running game down like Martin, but who does.  Briceno stays your backup.   They both can play some 1b so you've got some flexibility there.  He's be the second best  hitter on the team this year.  
Then the rest comes from what you saw in the last two months.  
What I hope happens is that Rengifo impresses and wins the 2b job.  Then you keep Fletcher at super util and try to trade Cozart for some salary relief.  Even if you don't get anything.  
then you pull off a block buster and move Marsh, Suarez, Soriano, and Jones (anyone but Adell and Canning) for Eugenio Suarez.  Wanted him last year dammit and now he's really broken out.  6 more years of control at a little more than 10m aav.  They've got Senzel knocking on the door.  
I'd then sign Corbin or maybe another so so starter on the cheap or someone older for a short term like Charlie Morton.  
then I patch the holy hell out of the pen and hope to get the 2017 version as opposed to the 2018 version 
Lineup
Rengifo
Trout
Grandal
Suarez
Upton
Pujols
Ohtani
Simmons
Calhoun 
bench is Briceno, JMF, Fletcher
rotation - Ohtani (hopefully), Corbin/Morton, Skaggs, Barria, Heaney, Canning, (Trop, Shoe, Pena)
pen - Anderson, Robles, Mcguire, Cole plus a bunch of random dudes acquired for Cam, Parker and Alvarez at the deadline.  Or maybe a couple of minor FA signs.