ScottM

Yeah pretty much. Probably just gives the Angels the flexibility to trade one of the backend arms for a bat without sweating it too much.

He hung out with Ippei's dad in Costa Mesa the other day https://www.sanspo.com/article/20240107-JDYNCSJOWZINXNVSTAEC3PYTH4/

This would be a solid upside signing. Not wipeout stuff but he knows how to pitch.

And when was the last time the Angels had a SP with a BB/9 under 2 consistently?

Fully agree with the sentiment but I think the people who think Imanaga is a #4 are dead wrong. Put him in a pitcher's park (with a lil marine layer) and I think he's going to be good and maybe even Very Good for a couple of years. I've been wrong before but I think his stuff plays really well. My only big concern is that he already has 1100 IP on his arm.

Been on the Imanaga train all offseason. It's the best idea out of all the starting pitching options (depending on Montgomery's price...) Silseth's stuff plays better out of the bullpen anyway, even though he was a bit better as a starter last year. Or you could gamble and deal Sandoval for a bat or another RH SP.

Whenever I see these shiny peanut signings of relief pitchers for some reason my brain goes to that one season when Dane De La Rosa kicked ass.

Plan? You're talking about the Angels.

MAGA Arte loves this guy

"The Mets and Angels are eying top free agent DH J.D. Martinez. His old Diamondbacks team also seeks a hitter. Justin Tuner is another who fits all those teams." https://nypost.com/2023/12/28/sports/will-mets-pursue-blake-snell-jordan-montgomery-in-free-agency/

thoughts on Montgomery?

I disagree with your analysis but your posts have been very well thought out. Maybe Enright will have a different formula but the Angels have been horrible with pitchers who issue too many walks. I can legitimately see a 100 BB season for Snell (if he pitches enough innings). I don't think he's as horrible as some have suggested here but he's my 3rd of 3 on this list for me. Imanaga makes the most sense, which is why the Angels won't do it. 3 years in a row of 150 innings (4 if you want to disregard 2020). Doesn't walk a ton of guys. Has big strikeout potential and would do well in Angel Stadium.

Hernandez isn't a great fielder, but neither is Moniak. It would depend on the return but swapping Hernandez for Moniak or Ward doesn't make the team better

I mean, this is nonsense, right? He could spend 10% of his net worth and still be a gazillionaire. He just doesn't want to (most billionaires don't)

$285M payroll and counting. This will be the highest payroll team ever. NLCS exit.

$1.075 billion on two players is an interesting strategy.

And probably $50M cheaper, at least according to MLBTR.

Montgomery and Imanaga are both better options than Snell

It's fine, the Angels have a great track record of keeping injury-prone players on the field.

Stroman would've been fun when he left the Jays 4 1/2 years ago.

Increasingly convinced that they have to go for the higher risk/higher reward guys this offseason if they want any chance to compete in 2024. Hoskins/Imanaga/Hader/Stephenson/Yariel Rodriguez.

Wowza, more than double what MLBTR predicted.

Montgomery and/or Imanaga are the best path forward. You'd have to flip Sandoval or Detmers for a RHH but it would work.

The commitment to mediocrity is impressive.

Imanaga is smart money. Opens the door to trade Sandoval or Detmers in a deal for another right-hander like Bieber.