angelsnationtalk

Eppler is going to sign a waiver guy and then trade a bag of peanuts for a #7 starter.

Agreed with @Second Base. If we’re thinking about making a run deep in the playoffs it’ll take Cole, Wheeler and a good arm via trade. If the Syndergaard idea is a real possibility then that would be solid. Angels could roll with Cole, Thor, Ohtani, Heaney, Canning, Suarez/Sandoval. But I’d like the see them not be afraid to sign Cole and Wheeler then maybe mid season looks to acquire someone like Thor. That would give us the solid rotation needed for the playoffs. You look at all these teams that win a World Series and what do they have in common? An absolute solid rotation. If we think signing Cole and then going for a #4-#5 guy will do it then we’re not ready for a deep playoff run and Eppler/Arte need to get the hell out. I wouldn’t mind trading Marsh ONLY IF that gives us our third solid arm of the rotation. Don’t be afraid to give money to Cole and Wheeler then make a trade for that third piece.

juicy POP time for Contreras

Which means no trade chips for solid #2 pitcher

The question would be if Eppler and Arte are willing to go this direction. Backloading Castellanos' contract by that much I don't like. I think what the Angels could end up doing is signing Castellanos, Cole then a #5 guy. They will attempt to trade for a #2 guy but will either fall short or they completely overpay for it. If it's true that Castellanos is even on the Angels' radar means they have some form of trade plan going on. Or the fact that they worry a lot about LF, 1B, LaStella as well as DH and don't feel comfortable with the current lineup. The only way I'd accept this trade is if it doesn't hurt throwing money at Cole and still pushing for a #2 guy be it via FA or trade. They need a Cole/#2 punch in order to compete in the playoffs. Hopefully Marsh has his value high enough where he can centerpiece. If they don't plan on getting a #2 guy after Cole (assuming they sign Cole), then it will be a year where they just miss the playoffs or lose in WC game.

You can't make a judgment if you don't drink..... ^^^^^^

If Pujols accepts it or not it won't matter. He can't control his playing time.

The Angels won't have salary room for Cole, Castellanos, #4-#5 guy and then trade for a #2 or #3. Cole and Castellanos alone would put us around $190M. You'd have to trade a serious piece on our side to clear room. Upton, Pujols, Cozart, all either have NTC or 0 value. Simmons is the only option, which i'm not against, but then depth takes a hit. LaStella is only making around $2.9M so that's no relief. If Kluber was the option then we'd probably have to give up way to much for them to eat a big chunk of his contract. That goes for the majority of the guys like Darvish, Price, Thor, Hendricks, Stroman, Ray....

I just worry about that arm you're trading for. If you're trading away Marsh, who's raised his value, then it should be a good pitcher. I know he and a package would work for Clevinger so I'd be okay with that. Clevinger will make around $4.5M this year which is a great add for the Angels financially. We need for sure 2 good arms. Not Cole and some #5 guy to fill the rotation. Two starters that fit into the #1 and #2 spots will get it going and I'd be okay with Cole/Clevinger. Open payroll to $190M; current payroll at $146M: Cole: $25M (backloaded) Castellanos: $15M (slightly backloaded) Clevinger: $4.5M Payroll at $190.5M

If they moved Simmons (Which they won't) it'd be straight salary dump probably so don't count on anything good in return.

Love this piece but i've got a few things: Wheeler, Bumgarner and Wheeler all have QO's so if they're worried about that with Odorizzi then they'd be worried about that with Wheeler/Bumgarner as well. Also, we'd have to assume Wheeler/Bumgarner would get interest from other teams so of could price goes up. That's how you win. I like what you're saying with trading Marsh and other pieces for an affordable impact arm. Marsh with other pieces can line up with Mike Clevinger, but it'd have to be a good arm. Not someone that has potential in the future if we are talking about winning next year. Believing Sandoval, Suarez, Soriano and Yan will all reach potential is a far stretch. Realistically I only see Canning, Soriano and Sandoval becoming legit rotation pieces. Yan will be in bullpen and Suarez won't. Rotation of: Cole, Clevinger, Ohtani, Heaney, Canning, Sandoval might work, but I think another solid pieces is needed for deep playoff runs. They need a Wheeler/Bumgarner to really make that push still. Rotation for playoff push: Cole, Clevinger, Wheeler, Ohtani, Heaney, Canning. lineup of: Fletcher, Castellanos, Trout, Ohtani, Upton, Simmons, Adell, LaStella, Sassi is a step up, but pitching is most crucial.

I don't mind if he sticks with 1b/DH. But he's not proven at 1B yet so who knows. He's mainly a hitter and if Eppler plans to have him in the outfield then something crazy is about to happen. Either Marsh is going to be in a trade to get us someone like Clevinger or Upton kicked to only DH or learning 1B (which is never going to happen). One thing I guarantee is that if they sign Castellanos then there's going to be a major shakeup in the outfield or infield. This would push Eppler to make a significant trade for a solid #2-#3 starter.

Agreed. We really only need to spend for pitching since our farm lacks good starters. Either way, it finally might be a good year.

I'm 50/50, but when it comes to these players entering age 31-32 asking for 7+ years over $33-$35M AAV then I throw the flag in favor of the owners. I understand the talent you're getting for the first few years but contracts need to be incentive based at that point. Let's take Trout for example since he's big money at say $36M AAV. Granted he's worth every penny, but let's say he hit .240 with 20hr and 67RBI. His salary should be less than $36M at say $25M. It will never happen, but major contracts should be performance based on anything with an AAV of $30M or more. Let's say the owner offers a max contract of say 10yr/$400M. If the player can reach the certain type of numbers detailed in contract like .300BA, 40HR, 120RBI, etc. then he should make the $40M that season. If he falls short, then there should be a detailed document breaking down the salary numbers. Players never truly live up to their contract when it extends into their late 30's. They earn that those big contracts based off of their prime years and then in screws the team over financially. Just look at Albert Pujols... I'm not opposed for big contracts. If you want to own a baseball team and be competitive then these risks need to be taken. The thing i'm saying is mandate contracts over $30M AAV and allow more club options in those contracts so players when they fall off the train (Pujols), don't screw a team financially.

Maybe he should so we can see Brandon Marsh

Yes, we should find ourselves in the playoff race this year, bu ti'm not sacrificing everything to go "all in" for 2020. Trust me I want the team to get stupid good this season, but even better next season so we can go back-to-back-to-back. Cuz F*ck the Dodgers.

I've never said 2020. Trout just entered his prime (ages 28-32), so the next 5 years are the years to win it.

Absolutely. Specially coming off a WS win two years ago. To me, the Angels need to hold on to Adell and Marsh. Their window to win is 2021-2024. Not 2020.

Good piece by Bill Shaikin. https://www.latimes.com/sports/angels/story/2019-11-06/anaheim-angels-lease-stadium-negotiations Let the games begin!

As much as I agree with you on this, we have no idea how Adell will be in the majors. Trust me I don't want this to happen. I think Adell is the future, but then again Betts is a proven stud in the majors.

If he's healthy then he should hit decently fine. His fielding on the other hand.... oh boy...

Arte Moreno?

Honestly, no. Definitely not from a pitcher who isn't playing every day.

These please

$36M AAV is a flipping joke. That's near Trout territory. No one is near Trout territory, not even Cole.