angelsnationtalk

Love the Angels but i'm hoping for a top 10 draft pick. That way we still have a top prospect once we make some trades and our team will be better so we won't have a top 15 pick anymore.

Really? Adell for Betts? Betts has one more year left on his contract for at least $20,000,000. You're going to give away AT LEAST 6 years of control with Adell for one year of Betts hoping he signs an extension? For what? $30+M/yr? Really? Out of the 144 games we have played this season we have scored 4 or more runs in 90 of them. We've also given up 4 or more runs in 96 of them! I think the only people we trade should be for starting pitching. We don't need another $25M+ Outfielder until we figure out the rotation. We have Adell and Marsh coming up for that exact reason of young, cost controlled talent with upside.

Absolutely. But i'd take that chance more than anyone else on our team who hasn't experienced that.

Great article.

I think Cole will sign for around $28M/yr. So let’s assume Arte open up the books knowing for the next 3 years that a lot of money comes off (Calhoun, Cozart, maybe Simmons, Pujols then Upton in that order). Cole/Wheeler is a great combo, but maybe they’d look at Bumgarner for a few reasons. He’s a decently good hitting pitcher that could play for a WS run. He’s a solid pitcher that generally sits around 200ip when healthy. And he’s the type of guy that can lead an entire team when it comes to the postseason and especially the World Series. That’s experience that any clubhouse would love to have. Plus we haven’t had anyone on our rotation that has had that Jared Weaver attitude and Bumgarner has that flare. Just a side thought.

So what type of money are you going to pay for Cole and Bumgarner? That’s a Hefty price

Was just thinking the same thing

And they probably won’t. Specially with the Dodgers, Astros and Yankees being powerhouse teams. Which is why the Angels aren’t going to go all in for the next two years. It would be a waste if they did. Once they figure out pitching this offseason and next then they can look for that power bat for 2022 to put them over the edge. The farm is getting stronger and the payroll is becoming more and more flexible. We maybe very well be in talks of being one of those dominant teams in 2022.

I hear your point but signing a high profile bat right now really strangles us for a few years. It limits our ability to contend for 2 years. You’re right, maybe they trade Simmons and that offsets the cost a bit, but the focus should only be on pitching. The Angels will likely make it with a WC spot for the next two years. Angels should focus the next two years on solidifying the rotation and making it a juggernaut. We’ve got the bats developing in the minors which should come together by 2022. Pair that with the rotation we’ve built and it’s show time for awhile. I do understand that we shouldn’t be waiting till then since we’re wasting Trout’s years. But there’s two factors that play into this. 1: we want to contend for more than 1-2 years 2: when Trout signed his contract Eppler probably told him our window is dynasty team for at least 5-7 years. WITH chances of making a run a few years before and after. He could’ve said “in 2020-2021 we should be in the WC and push our way in the postseason. Come 2022-2028 we should be division winners and World Series favorites because of this this this this and this with money for this and this and this.” It’s been 10 years since we won a playoff game. I know we’ve been saying it, but this time it actually can be said: we’re finally back in it.

Yeah I think this thread is basing it off of players capable of consistently hitting it over the fence. And I 100% agree there’s no real room for it. Obviously we have an infield logjam with Simmons, Rengifo, Fletcher, LaStella, Thaiss, Pujols and maybe even Ward/Walsh looking for playing time in 2020. Let’s say Ward/Walsh are in AAA. But at some point one of these 8 names will have to be traded for pitching of some form. The main focus should and will be strictly on pitching. I personally don’t think the Angels add a solidified solid bat (if they do) until they are in strong contention for the division which will be MAYBE 2021 and likely 2022.

Trout is out of the game... wonder if maybe he got the sickness Pujols had.... best case scenario

Exactly why singing a major bat would be a complete waste of finances and opportunity for the Angels.

Let me know when Felix Hernandez and the Bartolo cologne are in

To your main post @Chuckster70 I’d say yes. This year alone (with Upton not existing, Ohtani missing the power and LaStella being injured), this team would have been in contention for the 2nd WC spot if our pitching was better. Main bats are Trout, Ohatani, Upton, Adell (maybe) and then the rest is in the air for 2020. So that’s almost 4. The Angels shouldn’t sign a top bat this year to be serious in 2020. They should solidify pitching during 2020 and 2021 so we can make a strong push for the WC in 2020 and maybe division in 2021, then once Pujols come off the books for 2022 then the Angels might look to drastically improve the offensive side.

Sign Rendon on a 4 year deal, draft Blaze Jordan, then Jordan will replace the bat in 2024. Thaiss and Ward become moveable

Give me a 2021 lineup

I put D because majority of people would go with C. I'm not a fan at all of the early hooks of the starting pitching. Thy are managing workloads now, but earlier on they should have let them pitch. We have a really good bullpen, but they have been over worked. I also hate that MLB now is wayyyy to stat and tech driven. It's America's past time for god sake. PLAY THE FREAKING GAME.

Until we pick up Calhoun's $14M option and sign Felix Hernandez to an $18M deal hoping he can get back to his prime days..... ?

Cole will go where he wants at the end of the day

Totally agree, which is why I think a trade like that doesn't come this offseason, but rather to 2020 trade deadline. From there, we will have a better picture of what prospect have raised their value. If Adams breaks out then it becomes much easier to let Marsh be traded for that solid #2 piece.

Okay but what do you think is more likely in your opinion...

I think the results of bullpen are due to complete overuse. Signing some FA starters next year that get us into the 6th and 7th inning will really help. Bullpen is just gassed out. Plus that was Buttrey's first full season. He showed us how dominant he can be so I'd expect him to grow on that.

Okay, So let's say this does work out and he's an Angel. Maybe even for a discount (which won't happen with Boras). What's a likely move next? signing a FA to fit in the #2 rr #3 spot? Or the Angels trading for it?

whatever it takes for a higher draft pick. Have to have some good out of this mess

yup totally agree. I'd trade Marsh for Thor in a heartbeat (obviously there would be more involved). It'd be especially nice to do so knowing we can get him signed to an extension. I'd relax my Marsh/Upton fears with something like that.