BTH

I think there was a little tension between both sides anyway, which might have been the main cause for trading him. But by trading him, they now have more money to spend and more innings to fill in their rotation. So I’d expect them to do something big.

I don’t see why Perry would set up 2024 as a “taking stock” year when he doesn’t have a guaranteed contract beyond this year. Let’s say they’re done, which would mean they’ve spent a total of $28.54M AAV this year. If you were given $28.54M to spend, why would you spend pretty much all of it on the bullpen with other holes elsewhere? I’m struggling to see why they’d spend $4.25M on Luis García, for example, if they aren’t going to continue to add elsewhere. Right now, a guy who didn’t play AT ALL in 2023 is projected to make the team because they only have 12 MLB-caliber position players. So I have to think there’s more coming, unless Perry is just that stupid or Arte just cut off spending out of nowhere after previously giving him a higher budget.

I think Chapman would be a good addition and obviously improve the team, but I don’t really love the idea of forfeiting a pick for him.

@Jeff Fletcher Anything more on this you can elaborate on? I know Cultice is in and Rowen is out. Not sure if Hinchcliffe worked with the game-planning staff, but he’s also out. Any other changes?

You probably could. You and Jon Morosi both yap about hundreds of players.

If they want Cody Bellinger, signing Aaron Hicks for the league minimum won't prevent them from doing so. Whether or not the Angels sign Bellinger (or any other top free agent) is totally dependent on Arte.

Unless the Angels add two more MLB position players, they have room to carry 5 outfielders on the active roster. So, at the moment, I don’t think this move means a trade is incoming. Moniak/Hicks platoon and Adell is stashed on the bench until someone inevitably gets hurt.

He can— and if I’m wrong, I’ll eat crow— but it doesn’t seem to be a priority or something that’ll happen.

He may not be done in general, but the catching market is pretty much picked through.

It’s kinda annoying how Perry cited a lack of a veteran catcher as a reason why the pitching was bad, then he trades away the one veteran catcher they have and doesn’t replace him. Like if you thought that was an issue, then why aren’t you fixing it? And why are you going out of your way to make the issue worse?

Duvall, Lorenzen, and Kiké. That feels underwhelming, but I’d rather underestimate and be wrong than overestimate and be wrong.

your post reads like they already signed Votto and they already said they'll use Schanuel in the outfield. Do you know something we don't?

They could also do way, way better than that.

I don’t think it’d be irresponsible, unless it prevents you from adding a more urgent need.

I don’t think Perry/Wash are into innings limits, even if they transition to a 5-man rotation. I think how deep they go will be purely performance based

I’d like another bat in addition to that. Give me two bats.

In that scenario, I’d rather leave him in AAA so he can stay stretched out and be SP depth. Remember, he was experiencing a velo drop in the pen. He seems better suited to starting.

lotta options still. I also wonder if Plesac could be an option, similar to Kolarek. Plesac doesn't have enough service time to reject an outright assignment and still keep the $1M, so they could likely just pass him through waivers and outright him like Kolarek.

Probably this. If Arte spends big, I think it'd be on Bellinger since his MO is to spend big on hitters.

Having Robertson and Robert Stephenson in the same bullpen would be confusing.

I feel like they might need to add someone who can play SS. Neto dealt with a few injuries and last year was his first full pro season + Rengifo isn’t great defensively at SS.

Yes. My bad.

He said “not rule out.” I mistyped it.

Yeah, they need another lefty. Not really a fan of any of the internal options (Ingram, Kolarek, Suarez). Anderson could end up there I guess if they add a SP. I think they want to keep Silseth in the rotation, whether in AAA or the majors. Sandy, Detmers, and Canning are locks, yes.