ThisismineScios

I don't really care if people say, "Arte doesn't care." This is what I mean when I say the team is directionless. Why do we have to do a "masked" rebuild? Why not just do one? The most telling part to me, the way I know without a doubt Arte is exactly as I imagine him, is that Trout is constantly going to him and telling him to sign guys. Don't you think Arte would say, "Mike we're taking it easy this year. Not going to spend." The fact that Trout keeps going to him tells me that Arte isn't telling him the direction of the team. And look, I'm a loser fan on my computer. Trout is the franchise's greatest player ever. And Arte isn't telling HIM the direction of the team? And please don't tell me that he is, Mike would make these public statements and tell Heyman the quotes he did unless he too thought they would go after good players. This, to me, is what makes him baseball's worst owner: not even the franchise GOAT knows what the direction of the team is, to the point that he is now, for the first time ever, putting public pressure on the owner to sign players. And still no response from the owner and no moves made. Not a single move made since signing...Hicks? These are the times I wish this was the Yankees. I'd love for local media to ask Perry why he spent only on the bullpen. And I'd love a follow up with Mike about how happy he is with the offseason. We know our owner won't ever share with the fans what's going on.

Heyman said the Angels have an offer out to Martinez but it seems like it wasn't enough.

Its sounds like @Jeff Fletcher doesn't see them trading Adell. I just have a hard time picturing them carrying 5 OF just because of options. Unless Adell is going to DH? How do they rotate that when it's clear Hicks deserves the majority of ABs in RF? And are they really going to keep Suarez as a LRP?

That same article said Arte decided they were the closest they had been in years and told Perry no trade, we're going for it. I am now almost certain Perry would not only have traded Ohtani, but would not have given up our #2, 3, 8, and 28 prospects for rentals. I just don't know if Arte chose the pitcher to trade for or told Perry he wanted a difference making starter.

One of my coworkers went to ST last weekend with his family. His son (10-11) went and talked to Arte. Arte literally talked to this kid for 5-10 minutes, some in English some in Spanish. The dad told my boss that even though he doesn't like the guy, he was impressed at how open and friendly he was and willing to talk to him. My aunt is at Spring Training and sat close to Arte. She said him and Carpino were watching together and gave each other a big high five when Sano knocked in Rendon yesterday. (My response was, "Great, he probably told Carpino, 'Who needs JD???'.") Obviously this guy still loves baseball and the atmosphere. Again, why are you not going out and spending $ so your team is better and more competitive? Just an impossible guy to figure out.

Fair point, but I think JD sees the most opportunity here and it's a near perfect fit because we don't have a slugger to fill that role. Makes sense to everyone, and I hope Arte approves.

I think the thing that bothers me the most is that we never know--and I mean never--what we're going to get. I truly thought Perry had a good offseason last year. Renfroe was a really solid slugger, Urshela was great depth, and Anderson just had a great year in 2022. He was allowed to navigate freely and did so with both trades and signings. This year, we had money to spend and holes to fill. And haven't at all, instead sitting $45 million under last year. But are we pushing hard to compete and win, or are we reloading and restocking the minors? There's just never any clarity. We have key guys on 1-year deals, 5 outfielders, the exact same rotation as last year, and didn't add a single hitter to our lineup. What's the plan? It seems like it's been this way mostly since 2016. Pitchers only to 1 year deals...just kidding Tyler Anderson, Iglesias, Aaron Loup, Tepera! Traded for Renfroe's contract, went all in at the deadline despite Trout and Rendon being hurt and a very unlikely chance at getting in. Not knowing what to expect is the most frustrating part. Even now. Trout and Washington have very clearly stated they want more guys. Perry too? Trout has been really, really vocal. JD Martinez apparently wants to be here. He has almost no other suitors. Why not sign him? Why not get another starter on a 1 year to have some depth, then possibly move someone at the deadline? It just doesn't ever follow any sort of pattern, and to be a fan with an owner like that makes it really hard when we are guessing all the time, and almost always end up doing a lot less than we hope for.

In the end I’m glad they didn’t get Snell with an opt out. Even thought I’m the first to say pick 45 rarely hits, until that guy doesn’t hit he’s likely a top 10 team prospect. Which just helps you make moves at the very least. I hope they do something. Having an offer out to Snell or at least being willing to hear offers is a molecule of positivity. Lorenzen and Clevinger at least provide a better #4-5 option. Martinez Pham or Belt help the lineup. I truly hope we are not trying to get excited about Sano or Soto. I am also starting to feel that Adell gets traded in the next 10 days. Hicks and Moniak are clearly ahead of him, and you don’t keep him as a DH.

I am also pessimistic about the offense. Last year with Ohtani they were a top 5 AL offense before the ASB, bottom 5 after. You lose Ohtani and you don't add a single hitter to the lineup? Not any single one of significance. And the rotation, which was not good, didn't have any additions either. Just not sure why we couldn't go after a $5-8 million dollar player to play OF or 2B. Maybe they really, really, really like Drury and Rengifo. And no DH? I think without Ohtani, they are at best a middle of the road offense, especially without a single addition.

If the Angels give him a contract like this, I'd hope fan reaction would be just as angry as they are at Arte for seemingly not giving him one. We should not be giving out at contract like this. It does not fit our team. I would be ok with anything 4-6 years or 4-5 with an opt out after 2. 2 years guaranteed allows for some real growth and impact.

I don't think that's the best idea, because if he's pitching at a 4.50 ERA or he's only pitched 10 games at the deadline, you're out a pick and stuck with him on what could be a "rebuilding" one year season. I think they have to get 2 years guaranteed, bare minimum. You can trade him this deadline, this offseason, or next deadline. That's 3 chances. Or, if he has a good season and the team finishes around .500, it's attractive to FAs to see a team on the rise with Snell coming back.

I reacted initially to the Arte reports, and now feel like Rosenthal's report came from Boras. Again, why would Arte tell Perry absolutely not on the big names whatsoever in free agency but yes to a RP for 3/33 who essentially had one good run in one season? That speaks to a level of autonomy, especially since it's a RP that will not have a bobblehead or sell tickets. Now, I get the scale of contract is bigger, but it doesn't seem like Arte is controlling every single decision. We have a primary source on this (him) that said, "I wanted Trea, Perry convinced me to spread the money around." My main gripe with Arte is that he is not clear with the direction of the team. I know he doesn't have to be, but this is a baseball team with very passionate fans. You can choose to run it how you want, but the better-run orgs in the league are open and honest, or at the very least have consistency. Arte pulled the team off the market, said a lot about wanting to do it right, win, unfinished business, but our main frustration is that we have no idea what that means. Do it right could mean finally let his GM hire his own staff, build a lab (we'll see), hire assistant pitching coaches at every level...who knows what he meant. We tend to think of things only in Free Agency money spent, as do I a lot of the time. But there HAS to be a reason Arte, at 77, decided not to take $3 billion and go live in Arizona or something. There has to be something he wants in these last few years before he can't do it anymore. It's just....annoying? that none of us, media, or anyone really besides probably Roger Lodge have any idea what that means AND what it means for the Angels.

Doesn't help that Trout has been absolutely awful, striking out in 47% (!!!) of his ABs, and Rendon and O'Hoppe have been really, really bad.

It was incredibly boring. And kind of pathetic to watch 14 K's and not a single hard hit ball. I think it'd be more fun to have a mini-futures game. Each team send 3-4 guys and you do an AL - NL showdown at Salt River. I would definitely watch Dana, Rada, and Joyce in a game like that.

By Boras? That's kind of where I'm at. Snell likes the idea of the Angels, and Boras is putting some pressure on them to see if Arte will give in. Again, we know Rosenthal's thing doesn't make any sense (Arte said yes to all bullpen but no to big names). Seems like a Boras leak, as does the Houston one and the "Giants and Astros were in attendance." This doesn't mean I think the Angels are about to sign him. But why would Olney and Heyman both say Snell is interested in the Angels unless it came from his camp?

I think there’s a chance if he’s pitching very well we are hanging around the 3rd WC. Then they wouldn’t trade him.

Guess I missed this but in the article about the Astros it says Snell is seeking a deal like Chapman and Bellinger’s—3 years with 2 opt outs. If that’s the truth, then I will still be irritated if he signs elsewhere but it’s probably wise. You can’t give up a high pick for essentially a 1-year deal so Snell can re enter the market next year when the Mets, Mariners, and Yankees will likely have a lot of money to spend. We’re not one player away or in position to truly contend. A QO forfeiture, high-value one year deal doesn’t really make sense for us, as much as I want good players to be added

These are stretches. And Rosenthal said “all offseason.” And you know as well as I do Perry wouldn’t do that. I said this earlier in the off-season, but if this is truly how things are, literally, there’s no reason for him to stay as a GM. I am hoping it is a power play by Boras. We will see. I believe Strad, bc why would he just lie?

There’s a few reasons I find Rosenthal’s report hard to believe. Something like that could’ve only come from Perry, Arte, or Boras. The Angels clearly don’t tolerate leaks from others, hence everything always being a surprise. It doesn’t benefit Perry to leak it at all. It greatly benefits Boras if he’s try to get Arte to agree to something or “prove” something. And why would Heyman, Olney, Murray, and Nightengale all suggest there is dialogue happening if Arte has been a flat no all offseason? Why would Snell/Boras leak to several guys that Snell wants to play in Anaheim? I think it’s more likely their offers are being rejected, and so that leak in addition to Houston is pursuing in addition to “He pitched today, the Giants and Astros watched and he looked good” is an effort to scare Arte because Anaheim is probably his first choice. Why didnt Feinsand and Heyman say the Angels were there? They got their info from Boras most likely. Rosenthal’s leak fits in with something Boras would want to share more than just sources reporting from someone in the Angels. One other point, Arte flat refused to even consider Snell or JDM, but when Perry called about Stephenson he said “Heck yeah give that reliever 3/33!!”

Now this is just bad faith. But it’s cool.

I'd encourage anyone on Twitter to look at @BTH 's post about the players selected in the range the lost draft pick would be. The draft is always a crap shoot, and beyond the Top 10-12 guys, I think you get into a range where the outcomes are so wildly random. I barely recognized any names on that list going back to 2014.

Obviously the whole thing is hypothetical. I have no idea what is going on now, and can't rightfully blame Arte. I am imagining a scenario where that happens. And I am basing this hypothetical on real proven stories of Arte's impatience. The Rengifo/Ward/Joc/Stripling trade veto was real. As was the Beltre ordeal. These are not apocryphal, and I think he is capable of something like this considering Beltre's agent was Boras.

With Snell posting eyes Sunday, Olney and other small timers saying he wants to go to the Angels or that they believed it would be, and the lack of suitors out there (Yanks seem to be a pretty firm no), it seems very odd that a deal hasn't gotten done. And I just have this sinking feeling that it's all going to come down to Arte, and that we will hear soon that Arte refused to give ___ or ____. And he won't ever have to answer for it, and Snell will wind up on the Mariners on a discount deal beating us 4 times a year. The guy loves Orange County and has been here all offseason for crying out loud. With a baby on the way. He has clearly leaked that he wants to play here. He fell right into their laps -- nobody else is in position to sign him. And they're still going to mess this up? Only an Arte-led team could manage to botch this so badly.

My mistake I meant as starters.