Lazorko Saves

So once again, someone somewhere (a MLBTR writer) is taking seriously the idea that Middleton is not worth about $1m next year. Really? It's less than double the league minimum for a guy who has electric stuff and will be entering 2nd year after TJS. That's *exactly* the kind of guy you'd love to find in free agency for only $900k. As I said in the other thread, if Minasian non-tenders Key, then I will start the "It's Time to Fire Minasian" thread immediately after.

Some people just never going to get over than Jim Fregosi trade...

Who? Who is this James Mathis?

Wow, this was the longest episode of Gubie Tuesday ever.

Maybe we should wonder what they know about Francisco Lindor also.

For those wondering why the annoying thread topping... https://www.mlbtraderumors.com/2020/11/mike-clevinger-to-undergo-tommy-john-surgery.html

53. Frank Thomas 91 years, 159 days 06-11-1929 08-17-1951 05-30-1966 Frank lookin' pretty good for 91. Maybe I ought to order some of that Eugenix(TM) or whatever it's called.

Hearing this news makes me want to sing... "Kim Ng and I are getting old And we still haven't walked in the glow of each others majestic presence"

One thing I will be watching for is some indication of a boost to international amateur focus by the middle of next year. Excluding Ohtani (and he was a special case), the Angels have not done well in competing for latin talent in the Dipoto, Eppler eras. Dipoto gave us Suarez, Barria, Jose Rodriguez and...wait for it...Roberto Baldoqiun. A bit underwhelming. Ex-Ohtani, Eppler gave us....<crickets>...not much yet. We're still waiting on guys like Knowles, Vera. But I don't see anything elite on the way. Good teams are getting impact players through international amateur signings. We need to be in there getting some of that elite talent. The international draft *may* be coming for 2023, but there are going to be impact players out there for the taking before then.

Don't know much about the guy but got both things I really cared about: 1. Not Dombrowski. 2. A guy who came up through scouting/development and will value that aspect accordingly.

Well, the guys who finished 3-4-5 were free agents last year...so yeah.

Is it too late for us to give Jered Weaver a qualifying offer for 2021?

I only listen to Jim Healy.

Y'all need to get on the Odorizzi bandwagon. 2nd tier price, possibility of 1st tier upside. Doesn't cost a draft pick.

Rigged.

Completely agree with this. I just don't get why we'd try to shut down his pitching career. If Canning has elbow trouble again next year, do we release/non-tender him? Of course not. But some of ya'll want to "release" or "non-tender" Ohtani the pitcher already at age 25? Ohtani is like having two cost controlled players for the price of one, and going hitter-only with him is just like placing one of those players on irrevocable waivers.

Pfft, I'm way ahead of y'all. I'm already over Jared Walsh and Reid Detmers.

Well, okay, I guess we treat Ohtani's arm like Cameron's Dad's Ferrari. We can just rub it with a diaper. Keep it preserved. But never use it.

He could get injured as a hitter also, so the obvious move here is to just release him. Right?

Sorry, did I say Rob Deer clone? I meant Glenn Quagmire clone.

Yeah no thanks on that left-handed Rob Deer clone.

But this is exactly my point. #8 overall is a high end talent in any year. However, that #45-ish pick in the 2021 draft pool may be talent-equivalent to a top 25 pick in other years. And so on for the 3rd/4th pick, etc. Those "loseable" draft picks (the Angels 2nd through 4th picks can be forfeited for signing QO-rejecting free agents) have quite a bit higher value this year.

Hmm, I definitely think the opposite. 2020 draft was only 5 rounds. Such low turnover on college rosters will squeeze a lot of good high school graduate talent into going to juco and therefore they'll be draft eligible freshmen. Also there's close to two full years worth of 4 year guys eligible (3rd year sophomores plus all the undrafted/unsigned 4th year juniors). On a raw talent basis, the 2021 draft will be loaded in a way not seen in a long time. Yes development has slowed, of course, but the raw talent will be strong with the unusually large pool of players eligible. Not a time to give up any kind of early draft pick.