TBailey

I mean I just imagine an opening day lineup of:
Fletcher
Trout
Rendon
Ohtani
Upton
Castellanos
Pujols
Castro
Simmons
Tell me that lineup isn't sick. And obviously Castellanos is just one option. I think we will make a trade for a SP, which will move our rotation closer to "middle-of-the-pack". But if we bring in Chirinos for catcher and another bat (Corey Dickerson?) our offense is starting to look like it can compete with any other in baseball. 
I think a middling pitching staff and an elite offense puts us right in contention.

I want Castellanos. Him being a doubles machine hitting behind Trout and Rendon would be stupid.

I want Castellanos. Him being a doubles machine hitting behind Trout and Rendon would be stupid.

Same

I know I'm in the minority here, but I'd be perfectly happy if we signed Rendon. He's a stud and gives us another big bat. I think we'd still have some capital -- through trades or FA -- to add to the staff. 

Rendon, Keuchel, trade for Darvish and Contreras.  Don’t give up Adell.  Look for value adds at first base.  

I have a theory on Eppler’s comments and Arte’s “All In” mentality:
WHAT IF, Arte and Eppler know they are getting Cole? Eppler stated we have room to add multiple players with $20+ mil a year contracts, due to the fact that Cozart is gone.
So they are now getting Cole, and are trying to Add Rendon/Donaldson and potentially Madbum/Price/Ryu etc. 
Basically, Cole gave them some type of acknowledgment that he’s ready for Anaheim. It then allowed the Angels to make that trade involving Cozart and our first round pick with confidence. 
 
They now have more flexibility PLUS Arte’s “All In” mentality to pursue the other top tier free agents. This is my hopeful Halo attitude speaking. 

Definitely very cryptic tweets. I think if they had really made a deal, Gammons would have written it more clearly and stronger, and it would have been followed up by a lot of other people.
I am not sure what he means.

Arte is a billionaire. The team’s value has gone up big time since he purchased the team. He can sell it for far more than he spent. Whether he’s overspending what the team takes in or not, if he’s serious about winning and not wasting Trout’s career, he needs to step up  and be willing to pass the luxury tax. This is a key window. If Arte waits, the Trout window will be gone. Spend less and make more later. 
Go big or quit talking about trying to win. He went out and got Maddon. He extended Trout. All of that is pointless if you’re going to be principled and cautious financially now. Don’t leave the job half done. Don’t be outbid on Cole. The Yankees don’t have our desperation. If you have to outspend them by 20m, do it. Then go and sign Rendon or Strasburg. It’s as simple as that. This is Arte’s shot, he needs to not blow it. It’s about legacy - which he supposedly used to care about. 

I actually think this is good news for the Angels. If they even had the hint that they’ll lose out on Cole to the Yankees, I think we see quick moves on other pitchers given our strong need of impact on the mound. The Yankees are trying to scare other teams away to get Cole into signing with them at THEIR price. The quieter it is on the Angels side, the better. 

Seems like things are going as planned for the Angels. Not a peep from the negotiations at this point for Cole.

The tweets could make sense due to the quietness on the Angels side. Working in silence. 

The other thing is: Heyman tweeted yesterday after the meeting that the Yankees had concerns. Did Cole just suddenly call them today and say, “I have no West Coast Bias btw” lol 

The other thing is: Heyman tweeted yesterday after the meeting that the Yankees had concerns. Did Cole just suddenly call them today and say, “I have no West Coast Bias btw” lol 

The other thing is: Heyman tweeted yesterday after the meeting that the Yankees had concerns. Did Cole just suddenly call them today and say, “I have no West Coast Bias btw” lol 

There is no way in hell Cole would tell them he has a West Coast bias.  He wants the highest offer he can get from them.  How else could he get the Angels to beat it?

From all reports though, the Angels won’t be outbid money wise, right? So if I’d chooses elsewhere...I don’t think it will come down to the extra $20 million. 

I’m not sure if this has been discussed but has anyone realized that Cole’s wife will probably play a huge part in the decision to come to LA? 
 
If you’ve seen her Instagram, it is nothing short of love for Newport Beach. All I’m saying in the short amount of time that I’ve been married, I’ve already learned a happy wife is a happy life. 
 
Just my two cents. 

He went to high school 10 minutes from Angel Stadium. If he wants to be in Anaheim, he will be. The money will likely be the same at the top 3-4 highest bidders. Its just a matter of where he wants to be for the next 6-8 years.

Would you have traded Trout for pitching in 2011?

Cool. 

SICK. 
I really hope this happens. I like more of the blue on the hat. 
Love the classic look. 

Yes. But Boras will do all he can to make owners think yanks are in. 

I know everyone thinks the Yankees will be involved in Gerrit Cole, pretty much every commenter on MLBTR says, "Yeah but the Yankees...." (Don't worry, I don't comment over there, but I am entertained and fascinated by how much people dislike the Angels).
But I also think people that keep referencing the Yankees are showing their own ignorance.
Their payroll is at 195 million after arbitration, but after players raises, minor league contacts, deferments, they are only 1.5 million under the luxury tax. They need one starting pitcher, maybe two, but have no untaxed money to spend.
Because this will be their third consecutive year above the tax thread, the eve taxes 30% of every dollar they spend. Meaning if Gerrit Cole earns 35 million a year as some believe he might, the Yankees will be paying him 45.5 million because of the tax penalties.
Combined with their expressed desire to drop below the tax thread one every 3-5 years to reset the penalties and not have them reach the 50% tax level (in which case Gerrit Cole would cost them over 50 million a year), does any one here believe that would be even remotely possible if they signed Gerrit Cole?
The Yankees won't sign Gerrit Cole. They will be connected through the media because it makes a good story but the Yankees have a snow balls chance in the land of the doomed in getting him and getting their finances properly aligned.
They'll trade for starting pitching, using Clint Frazier and Estevan Florial as their main bargaining chips, neither of which have room on their roster.