angelsnationtalk

1 hour ago, popo85 said:

If they do sign Kikuchi does one of the other 5 guys become a spot starter/ bullpen help?

Likely. Just think of the depth for 2020 with our pitchers making affordable amounts. There could be more than enough funding to even add someone like Cole to lead the rotation and then possibly Arenado at 3b 

14 minutes ago, jessecrall said:

Ideally, most of the Canning-Suarez-Jones-Rengifo-Fletcher-Sandoval-Adell-Marsh prospect collection come up and show an ability to be big league regulars by the end of 2020, at which point, you have enough contributors under team control that you CAN break the bank for multiple people (Trout and Simmons extensions, signing Gerrit Cole or Arenado, trading surplus talent for a catcher, etc). I'm sure Eppler's just waiting for the farm to really come to fruition at a big league level before he risks long-term expenditures. Cole and Arenado are both OC products who would presumably show an interest playing for the Angels if they're competitive both on the field and in salary negotiations. You win 85 games this year and have minor leaguers coming up and making noise in the 2nd half, you're gonna appear real enticing for guys looking for 5+ year deals. 

Completely agree. Having the young cost-controlled talent really allows us to, as Eppler puts it, grow from within and use our financial might to supplement the holes. Arenado is someone to keep an eye on if he becomes a FA. Trading for a catcher would work with whoever is moveable between Fletcher, Rengifo, Jones, Ward and likely a starter.

34 minutes ago, Dochalo said:

@Jeff Fletcher mentioned that it's not (and I think he said it's never been) about the lux tax number but about the true payroll number.  With benefits, we are still about $40m below the tax threshold. 

Arte has said in the past that he'd go over the threshold for the 'right player', but I've always interpreted that as the 'right situation'.  Meaning that if the team ever gets to the point where one or two more players make us championship caliber, then he'll go for it.  

I agree we were never going to sign Corbin, Eovaldi and Ramos.   It could easily have been Corbin, Cahill, Ramos, Bour.  Corbin is actually making 13m in 2019.  Cahill 9m, Ramos 7m and bour 2.5m.  That's 31.5.  We'd still potentially have some dough left if we had done this.  

Fletch has also said that he thinks it's more important to Trout that the team will good during his extension than before it and I agree with this.  

I have maintained that they are positioning for a run starting in 2021/22.  I think Albert's last year will be 2020 (just a hunch) and his 2021 money will get deferred in order to clear some space.  Trout and Simmons will sign extensions and 2022 will be Upton's final year.  

Arte has spent to keep the team competitive the last three years and entering year four of the master plan.  Some of the reasoning behind that is multi-factorial is my guess.  To keep Trout happy.  To maintain fan interest and support.  To make at least a small to modest effort to win because he likes to win.  

Our true shortcomings the last three years have been pitching injuries.  We've never had enough talent to win the division, but we have had enough to grab a wild card spot and we do again for 2019.    

I agree. Personally I think it starts in 2020. I think this could be Pujols' last season as well as Cozart. I think Calhoun, if not traded before the season, Could be delt at the deadline once we realize we won't make the playoffs and Adell (hopefully) gets called up.

Come 2020 the Cozart trade makes sense because we will have Rengifo and Fletcher as well as Jones knocking on the door. They will all compete for a second base spot if we strike a deal with Simba.

Clearing up the salary of Pujols, Cozart and Calhoun leaves up with cash to spend.

4 hours ago, Chuckster70 said:

Has Arte or Eppler publicly said this is all they will spend or is this assumed from his spending the past 2-3 offseasons?  #YachtFuel

If we really offered Corbin, Eovaldi and Ramos competitive offers but they elected to stay on the east coast, wouldn't that have put us over the 30 million mark if we signed all 3, including Bour?

Is Arte adamant about not exceeding the luxury tax, even if it means signing or trading for the right players in an effort to win NOW and long term? 

How does Trout's future contract come into play here? Is Arte back loading that after Pujols' contract is up?

In earlier posts from this off-season I've been pushing for Arte to bust out the bank and win now. I'm starting to think that with all these 1 year deals, that the Angels want to have a low-risk mediocre season with a small chance of picking up a wildcard spot. As much as I hate to see this for Trout (and gosh I think it's so sad), I do believe that 2020 could be the year of the beginning of a dynasty team.

With that said, Trout could be looking for how the Angels will look for the next 10 seasons and not for the next two. That will make him want to sign a new deal.

1 minute ago, Stradling said:

I am sure we will present to him, Eppler is always prepared for that type of stuff and even stated there was some interest early in the off season.  As for the Ohtani part I just think he is a competitor and likes the challenge of facing a guy.  

Agreed. I remember writing down teams of why Ohtani would and wouldn’t want to sign with the Angels, mariners etc... and I do remember feeling like he wanted to create the Japanese name on a team and not fill the shoes. 

Either way, Kikuchi would great insane depth for 2020:

(In no order) Ohtani, Skaggs, Kikuchi, Heaney, Barria, Suarez, Ramirez, Canning. 

9 hours ago, Sean-Regan said:

Kikuchi is a touchdown? 

Ohtani was a touchdown. Kikuchi....is more like a 1st down. 

Let’s be honest, if we were to judge the acquisitions we’ve made for this season, Kikuchi would be considered the touchdown. I agree it’s like a field goal from the 40 yard line, but adding him does create insane pitching depth for the 2020 season. Plus, his contract wouldn’t be ridiculous either. 

28 minutes ago, Stradling said:

I’ve heard we haven’t made our “formal” presentation to him yet.  

I’m not challenging you to state where you’ve heard that, but I am overall curious since I haven’t heard anything. I would be shocked if we don’t present to him. 

To be honest, ever since I’ve heard Ohtani state that he can’t wait to face him next season, I wonder if he doesn’t want him on the team haha. 

Kicking it off with a new post. Kikuchi has a few more days until he has to sign so let’s post all the rumors we know about him here. 

Eppler has yet to throw a “touchdown” and this could be it. Angels have about 11million left to spend (if we’re being cheap). 

If anyone sees the latest rumors on him then let’s post it here so we’re all in the loop! 

On 12/11/2018 at 5:53 PM, True Grich said:

None of the Angels prospects ever pan out

Mike Trout panned out....

On 12/4/2018 at 4:52 PM, ten ocho recon scout said:

The other thing to consider is the lefty/lefty thing.

Id probably go trout(2), harper, upton, ohtani....which i know some will mock. But i remember reading years ago 5th leads off an inning second only to 1st, so Ohtani would make some sense there.

I wouldn’t worry about the lefty/lefty problem. Here’s what I think....

Fletcher, Harper, Trout, Ohtani, Upton. 

Mr. small ball leads off since he’s got speed and bunting ability and he’s a contact hitter. Then the big boys come in who also all have speed. Not to mention it goes lefty, righty, left, righty (2-4). Plus they all hit for power and Trout FINALLY has people on base ahead of him. 

So yes, my Christmas list is Harper with 2 opt outs so all the “omg it’s too expensive” people can shut it. Like I’ve said... there’s a big difference with giving someone a massive contract entering their prime (Harper, 26), as opposed to giving someone a massive contract exiting their prime (Pujols, 32). That’s 5 or 6 years of a prime Harper which by then the contract is  on its back end.

 It’s a lot of money, but a way better risk. Plus Trout will look at it and go ooooooo I want to re-sign! 

2 hours ago, floplag said:

Thats actually not necessarily true at all. 
What people want is for this team to win in the Trout era and hopefully keep Trout.   
No one is asking for stupidity, no one is asking for a ton of trades, all any of us that are pro making moves are asking is an effort to win on the short term to go along with the long term plan. 
It doesn't have to be DiPoto-esque at all. It doesn't have to be a choice between now and then.  It will have to be spending more than the stated budget limits though to achieve it.  
This is literally all anyone who has suggested taking action for 19 has said.  
It isnt accurate to characterize is as dipoto or any other exaggeration designed to belittle and dismiss it.  

Exactly. If I wanted to sign Trout long term then I’d do everything in my power to sign extreme talent around him to make a serious push for 2019 and 2020 which will convince Trout the team is in it to win it. No more filling potholes.

To me, a Dipoto signing is a 10 year contract to someone at the end of their prime (Pujols). Or a contract of someone older like Wilson and Hamilton were. Dishing out money for someone entering their prime is a better risk than someone exiting it. What I’m asking for is a solid starter as well as a mid rotation arm like a Kikuchi. Then a solid bat to fill RF/1B that will be on base for Trout to bat in. For the last few seasons we’ve all complained about pitching and no one ever being on base for Trout. If we don’t want to thin out our system then free agency and spending money is what you do. And when you’re in a market like the Angels are, it’s doable. You can only get so many rule 5 players and betting luck that a cheap arm turns out to be solid so many times....

I think what all of us Angels fans want is for the Angels to do everything they can to get Trout in the playoffs. We finished 80-82. Haven’t smelt the postseason since 2014. To make it worse? We haven’t won a playoff game since 2009. Trout has never won a playoff game and the front office owes him that. I don’t think Trout is the kind of player to chase money. He wants a ring and he will go somewhere else if that makes his chances better. 

Angels need to make it sweet. Realllllll sweet.

8 minutes ago, Sean-Regan said:

The luxury tax isn't the threshold, per Fletcher. Could they spend to that point? Yes, but until they do, I wouldn't expect it. Realism helps with avoiding disappointment.

I wouldn’t expect it either. But its fun to dream.

14 minutes ago, Second Base said:

I'm just not a fan of Maria Guardardo, so I don't really ever quote her.  She's a fine writer, but her takes on Angels baseball lacked a basic understanding of the game, or the history of the organization, or even Billy Eppler's team building habits. I don't know if she was mailing it in, or we've simply been spoiled by the likes of Sam Miller, Fletch, Alden Gonzalez.... 

Personally, I don't think it's a huge loss she's going back to cover Bay Area sports. 

But anyway, as far as the Angels are concerned, everything I've seen from Eppler so far suggests that he's attempting to save money wherever he can. With the regular inflation of payroll and contracts coming off the books as well as letting go Parker and Shoe, I'm thinking the Angels are planning to spend 40 million. 

They need two starting pitchers as well as a catcher, so if I didn't know any better, I'd say Billy Eppler was preparing to surprise some people and spend big on a target or two. 

Yeah, I doubt the Angels blow it open to $206M. But I agree, Eppler has something up his sleeve and I still feel like Arte will push for something as well. I’m not saying Harper, but something big. Arte knows Trout is itching for a run in the playoffs. He’d be stupid not to have some fun and spoil the team for Trout. 

11 minutes ago, Angelsjunky said:

I'm really not sure where you're getting that number. Here's a quote from the article:

"The club's Opening Day payroll has hovered around $165 million in each of the past three seasons, so the Angels will have somewhere in the neighborhood of $30 million to spend if they want to maintain that level in 2019."

 

The sentence above states their totals are $132.15M. Which yes, leaves $30million to spend if they want to maintain their $165M budget. So basically the article states we’ve got money, and tons of it IF we wanted to go to the $206M mark. 

Has anyone seen the recent article written by the Angels beat writer? Read it HERE

Yes, I’ve read the articles and tax articles from MLBTR showing that we are really paying more than that. But, if our beat writer is reporting that then that means we’ve got about $73.85 million to spend. And if we’re rumored to have Calhoun open for a trade, then that’s a max of $83.85. That’s a lot of spending room. 

Again, I have read the articles that show otherwise. I’m just showing what is being said. 

18 hours ago, TroutTrumbo said:

No thanks on Harper. Who wants another 10 year contract at a ridiculous amount of money. That would leave you with four players making 120 mil. Kikuchi is a Boras client so that probably eliminates the Angels. 

Right now the Angels are playing for the second WC. They have too many holes to compete with Houston, Boston, New York and Cleveland. I think 2019 will be another .500 finish . 

If you include two opt-outs and given Pujols’ contract come off the books soon, it’s doable. Giving someone a 10 year contract at 26 is a better outcome than giving someone one at 32 like Pujols. You’re buying at least 5 years of someone’s prime years. 

Im not sure about you, but another .500 finish would push someone like Trout out of the door. He wants a ring. Period.

2 minutes ago, floplag said:

Or Eppler is about to pull a giant jack in the box and jump our and yell psyche and go ham with Artes checkbook.  
Has there ever been a team go thru a rebuild with one of the top TV deals in place?  just wondering   

I do like Eppler as a GM and I do think he has something up his sleeve. I also believe that Moreno likes to break bank himself and spend. Yes, Harper is expensive and has stats like a wave going up and down. But, if Eppler really is about his metrics then he'd love that fact that Harper is always on base despite periodic slumps. (more walks than Trout in 2018). That's someone to FINALLY be on base for Trout and Ohtani. 

Might be time we create "Go big or go home" posters and stand in front of the Angels' front office so Eppler and Moreno get the message. Forbes estimates we revenue over $330million per season. That's before we got Ohtani who is now marketing us in Japan. if we work a few trades to clear a little more salary room we can afford Harper and a Yusei Kikuchi and a lower end starter and still have money left over. 

1 minute ago, floplag said:

i absolutely think thats the case.  There are teams in baseball that could function without a manager right now, just a screen in the dugout showing the odds and someone to make the moves like a gopher in a stock room. 

All i'm going to say is trading Trout with two years of control left is way more valuable than one. If the Angels have no intentions on trading him then they need to step up. If I were them, I'd pay the tax while eating Pujols' contract. Show Trout what he's worth. 

Does anyone else think that diving TOO deep into the analytical side can hurt the team? (Circa 2017 and 2018 Dodgers World Series over coaching). The only benefit Luis Garcia has is a hard fastball....