angelsnationtalk

I’d give Cole $300/9yr. Cole could care less about AAV it’s all about the total money he gets. 9 years will have his contract end when Strasburg’s does. Plus it’s better financially for the Angels I’m terms of AAV.

no. Honestly, I wouldn't even worry tonight

I think a selling point to Cole was the fact they made public that they were meeting with Maldonado. He caught Cole in 2019 and they both had great success. My prediction is they sign Cole and Maldonado. My pipe dream is they get Strasburg as well but that would put them in the $205M range of actual payroll (although it's still less AAV money so they can afford it without being taxed). The second option would be to sign Cole, Maldonado and then trade for a solid number 2 pitcher. The Angels better have been saving the money they have made from marketing Ohtani to push way past their typical $180M end of season budget. Arte now owns the entire lot the stadium sits in so he knows big money is coming in his pockets. He has the chance to really make the Angels the Yankees of the West and this is the year to stomp his foot on the ground.

Yup.

Good piece. It still baffles me to see how the Yankees could afford Cole if they wanted to get back under the tax. They’d need to make some serious moves to get under. Yankees seem extremely desperate if the rumors are true. With Arte in a place to spend big money and be able to match any offer, I still lean towards Cole going to Anaheim. I’m sure the Yankees sold them on the fact of their history and the fact that they’re basically one piece away from winning. Angels probably showed him more of their plan to be a dominant team and as well as being near family, philanthropy in his hometown, playing for one of the best coaches, best pitching coach, Ohtani (who he’s a big fan of), playing with Pujols who is the father of baseball and oh yeah some guy name Mike Trout. Just remember Gerrit Cole. When you’re ready to start a family would you rather do it in New York? Where you won’t see your wife and kids for the summer? Or start your family at home in Southern California where your extended family lives? You can be with your wife and kids during the season and they will have the support of your family.

Heyman is pissing me off. Joe Maddon is just as important as Andy is. Let alone Trout was probably on call just how he was when they recruited Ohtani. Trout alone just saying “here’s why I wanted to sign here and we’re a family oriented organization” could be enough for Cole to just say “cool, I’m in”. The Yankees would need to move some serious contracts if they really want to stay under. And if they really got Cole and blow past the tax then expect them to fire sale their entire team next year.

REMEMBER THE ANGELS WORK VERY QUIETLY. Obviously we only hear Yankees news since the Angels work very hush hush.

They can afford both Cole and Strasburg and still be under the tax. The tax is based off of AAV not actual payroll.

I don't believe that many reports when I see them, specially with Cole not preferring only west coast. Let's say the Angels and Cole know they are going to be together. That basically leaves us only to go heavily after one guy and that's Strasburg. Yes, his injury history is concerning, but there is about $85.67M coming off between 2021-2023. The MLB luxury tax will also keep going up i'm sure. If it's a "win-now" idea, then go for it. Give them opt-outs. If Arte is serious about winning then Cole alone can't do it at all. I think we can both agree on that.

I'd say utilize the money you'd spend on Rendon and give it to Strasburg. Make it a Cole/Strasburg pairing. Angels stadium would be PACKED when we have Cole/Strasburg/Ohtani and Adell and Trout.

If the Angels can pull another year where Arte just says F*** it and goes all in.... Current Angels' payroll sits at around $150.4M. If Arte has a screw it moment and invests heavily into pitching while back loading contracts then he could, in theory, afford both Cole and Strasburg. Let's say that he gets Cole and Strasburg and is able to have their first year at around $28 and Strasburg at around $25M. That would total payroll to around $203.4M. Obviously, that would be WAY more than he's ever spent, but it'd still be less on the AAV side and given he seems like he's in win now mode I wonder if this makes sense. Adding both of those players combined with Ohtani, Canning, Heaney and Bundy will easily make the best rotation in baseball. With $27.67 coming off the books in 2021, $30M in 2022 and $28M in 2023, this might finally be what Arte needs to go in "win now" mode and push the team over the edge. If we add the WAR numbers by what the rotation could look like it would add roughly 20 WAR. I know it's a pipe dream, but i'm hoping Arte just goes all in on the pitching side. All of our top prospects (Adell, Marsh, Rengifo, Thaiss, Jackson) replace the money coming off the books within the next few years. Now is the time for Arte to invest his money into the rotation.

What if hot stove gets hotter and this weekend we hear “Angels are said to be in on both Cole and Strasburg”. Imagine Angels’ world blowing up haha

The F is this guy?

Not to mention dishing out massive money for Trout and then recently buying the stadium and acres around it (even though Arte isn’t paying for it). if Arte wants to win then he should spend the same money he game to Pujols/Wilson/Hamilton and give it to Cole/Strasburg and just let it happen

My point is I’m not paying high dollar for Grandal until pitching is solved. Angels were smart to miss out on him

Arte does have the flair for the dramatic. If he could go balls out and get BOTH Cole and Strasburg then I’ll go nuts. Although extremely unlikely he will do that. My one major fear is he doesn’t get either and we’re still stuck without a true ace. sometimes I feel like he could go for it with Trout in his prime and top prospects getting ready to make their way. keep in mind the Angels will have $85.67M coming off the books between 2021-2023. All of those are positions that too prospects will fill. DO IT ARTE

He would be a big help if he was worth under $10M. I’d rather get a guy like Maldonado if that means getting Cole and another high end starter. Tired of us looking for offense upgrades before anything else.

You’re wrong for thinking Grandal and Moustakas fit well for the Angels.... too expensive and no need for infield help. Next....

Let’s have Zillow or Trulia show us the commute map and crime maps

Watch now they can’t afford major pitching changes this year

We don’t need infield help

They offered to Eovaldi and Corbin contracts....

Then don’t buy MLB At Bat and get cable...

Is that what you said before we signed Harvey and Cahill last year?

@floplag yeah, let’s have a wild play at this financially. Upton and Price both have NTC’s. So let’s assume they waive it. Upton would need to be told he will be the 4th option once Marsh is up and Boston will fit is defense better as he ages. Price, Betts, Eovaldi adds $76.7M to payroll $146M+$76.7M= $222.7M If the Angels can dump Cozart and Upton and maybe sweeten the deal by adding in a prospect and maybe Heaney then here’s the money change: Upton, Cozart and Heaney subtracts $38.7M $222.7M - $38.7M= $184M Payroll Angels still make a push for Cole and backload his contract so year one he’s making $26M $184M+$28M= $210M Obviously the $210M doesn’t reflect the AAV, just the actual payroll. Though this will likely never happen, I wouldn’t mind a complete rotation overhaul as well as an outfield of Adell/Trout/Betts. Definitely a massive risk but chance for good reward. it’s hard to see Upton and Cozart being taken by Boston when they are trying to shed salary, but they technically are still shedding tons of salary and contract commitment... ‪ Upton/Cozart alone compared to Price/Eovaldi/Betts saves Boston $90.03 total over 3 years. $43.03 in year one, $26M in year two and $21 in year 3. Maybe it’s not as crazy as people think it to be.‬ rotation: Cole/Ohtani/Price/Eovaldi/Canning Lineup: Fletcher/Betts/Trout/Ohtani/Adell/ Simmons/Pujols/Stassi/LaStella.