Angels_Fan

Yea, Donaldson is just getting worse and worse, while Rendon is still in his prime and probably will be better in 5 years than Donaldson is right now.

Donaldson is 5 years older and - while still very productive - is on the decline. Pass on him. There’s also no way he gets anything less than 4 years, anyway.

100% agreed. If Arte wants to make the postseason, Rendon + two starters a la Darvish and Ryu is what it’s going to take.

I hope not. But Darvish wouldn’t be a bad get, tbh.

The goal should be to make the postseason, and I’m sure that’s Arte’s goal also. Trout won’t forever be in his prime. Ryu and Darvish alone won’t be enough. Rendon, Ryu and Darvish would give the Angels a chance.

So if the Angels can improve 4 wins at 3B, you would pass on Rendon just because starting pitching is more of a need? The Angels need all the wins they can find at this point. The Cole ship has sailed already. Now the Angels need a Rendon in addition to two starting pitchers a la Ryu and Darvish if they want to be legit contenders.

Wins are wins, and if the Angels can improve 4 wins at 3B, it still counts in the standings. What’s the alternative?

None of those guys will provide 6 WAR or anywhere close like a Rendon would, though.

If the Angels also sign Rendon in addition to that, then sure. Otherwise those two won’t be enough to make the postseason.

The Angels offered him far less $ than the Yankees did. Boras clients generally follow the $.

Definitely. But would a package built around someone like Marsh really be enough?

Then Eppler needs to get creative, I guess. Or Arte just has to accept that he will need to increase the payroll for a chance at the postseason.

If Eppler signs Rendon, acquires someone like Price (at a much reduced salary) or Darvish via trade, signs Ryu, and gets a catcher, the Angels would still be in the postseason hunt, no? All Arte has to do is open his checkbook. Yea, the Angels would need to hope that these starters actually stay healthy. But that's what happens for missing out on Cole.

None of those options are ideal. But that's why Eppler needs to sign Rendon (who will provide 5-6 WAR) and sign or acquire via trade another two starters plus upgrade at catcher. Maybe Ohtani can be that ace we need, even with only 25 starts per year...

They're not giving away Syndergaard for just that. Besides, that would create another hole (who replaces Fletcher?). Eppler should sign Rendon, sign a starter like Ryu, maybe look to acquire Price at a reduced salary, and upgrade at catcher. It wasn't the dream scenario, but it would at least give the Angels a decent chance at the postseason. There aren't many good options remaining, unless the Angels want to deplete their farm system.

Eppler needs to sign Rendon and acquire another two good starters (they won't be on Cole's level, but they don't need to be). It would at least still give the Angels a fighting chance for the postseason. If he whiffs on Rendon, he may as well just start thinking about his next job already.

At what cost, though? Cole cost only $$$. Syndergaard would deplete the farm system.

I don't see any SP options out there that would alone turn the Angels into a legit contender. Bumgarner cannot pitch on the road (5+ ERA the last two seasons). Also, had his name not been Bumgarner, he wouldn't be looking at anywhere near $100 million (not even half of that, probably)..Ryu is injury prone and had his career year right when he's about to get his contract. Is this a guy you trust to stay healthy for a full season? I wouldn't.David Price was a star a millennia ago. He's also old, injury prone, and expensive. Would you trust him to stay healthy? While it is true that many of these options would be way better than what the Angels had in the rotation last season, the ultimate goal should be to get to the postseason. I don't think that any of these options will be anywhere near enough