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The Rockies released him because at that time in November 2012, they had some players coming off of the 60-day DL and really didn't have a position (SS) open for him (who is really going to replace Tulowitski?). The Twins jumped on him (and Josh Roenicke, son of Ron Roenicke) and then tried to sneak him through waivers to provide depth at AAA and that is when the Angels grabbed him. I don't think there is anything wrong with that waiver claim as we are trying to do the same thing other teams are, which is building depth. I'd certainly rather have Tommy Field as a potential backup/regular in addition to all defensive glove Romine than not have anyone ready at all if Aybar got hurt.

That's quite possible Rageous, as Aybar could easily still be here (and that would be my preferred choice). I'm just saying that we have a player here who has NOT been given real consistent playing time at the Major League level and who has an above average reputation defensively combined with a reasonably solid career .788 OPS in the Minors. For a shortstop that isn't bad and he could be a stop gap to one of our developing prospects on the farm. It is simply an option which is all that I am really saying if we found a good trade package for Aybar.

Yes 75 plate appearances split across three Major League seasons will usually limit what you can show at the Major League level.

I know it's the PCL but an .875 OPS this year is nothing to sneeze at Chuck.

Disagree with this statement, the rest is accurate. We have a good core of players we just need to make a couple of trades and free agent signing to improve our rotation and bullpen and we are right back in it next season in my opinion. Trout, Pujols, Aybar, Weaver, Wilson, et. al. is nothing to sneeze at as the basis for a contending team. Other players like Conger, Bourjos, Calhoun, et. al. can certainly add value and support to that main group.

http://gradingonthecurve.com/2013/09/09/angels-shortstop-tommy-field-breaking/ Well Jason Mast just stole my thunder as I was working on a "Case for Tommy Field" article for AW.com. However Jason pretty much summarizes my feelings that Field could be a reasonable replacement for Aybar if we chose to trade him. One thing I would point out is that Mast talks about Field's poor 2012 which I think was definitely BABIP driven as Field posted a pretty low number which I'm sure helped to depress his slash line. Ringolsby, in early 2011, was the one who called Field the best defensive infielder in his Rockies prospect report and later in December Sickel's called Field "a scrapper who shouldn't be underestimated." The point being is that I think we have a serviceable replacement for Erick if we were to trade him this off season. I've always like Aybar but Field has a Minor league career .364 OBP and what he may lack in overall speed or contact ability he makes up for in being able to get on base. Finally, throughout Field's Minor league career, he has hit pretty well from both sides of the plate which is a bonus. He probably won't hit for high average but he has some pop that could translate into low double digit HR's.

It is hard to do your job when you have someone micro-managing you. If that is really the case with Moreno and Dipoto, then Arte needs to take responsibility and give free rein to Jerry to build the team his way.

I would agree with this. Aybar still has above average defense at SS, above average speed, and can put the ball in play on a regular basis. The thing that I am concerned about is how much longer can he continue to give us above average value? It seems like he slipped slightly on the defensive and base stealing side this year and part of that might be BABIP related but overall now might be a good time to move him if possible if the trade really improved the team enough to balance out his loss at SS. Many of you talk about Andrew Romine being a possible replacement but I would also suggest Tommy Field. Both are above average defensive options with Field's bat being a bit better while Romine probably has a touch more speed. If losing Aybar and replacing them with one of these nets us a young, cost-controlled starting pitcher plus ? I think you'd have to seriously consider it.

Sorry DMVol I wasn't trying to be snarky, I was just merely suggesting that one man's junk is another man's treasure and I think even you would agree that the mere fact we traded Vernon and moved as much salary as we did was a surprise. I'm not saying it would be easy to move either Hamilton's or Pujols' contracts but it is possible to the right team.

I definitely agree about Jepsen he has had plenty of opportunities to show us what he can do and he has just not lived up to his potential. Coello is a keeper too.

Yet someone helped us with Vernon Wells....

To put Doc's words in mathematical terms: 1) You start with situation A. 2) Subtract B from A (A- 3) Add C to the remainder (A-B+C) which gives a final value of D 4) If D is greater than A, you make the trade. 5) If you didn't follow that logic train add another D and you will have ADD.

What would be great is to have a starting outfield of Trout, Bourjos, and Calhoun.

This a thousand times over. I know some of Jerry's moves didn't pan out but if this is the kind of message being sent I'd never accept a GM position with the Angels if I couldn't run the show.

I though you liked Zach Lee Chuck?

Guys they are facing a left handed pitcher tonight and Calhoun has hit .313 at the Major League level in 2013 and when he was in the Minors for most of this year he was hitting .411 against lefties? Edit: Oh never mind I misread where you were going with your original statement.

I agree that we need to invest money and/or trades to bolster and improve the pen. However, we do have other pitchers such as Coello, Roth, and Rasmus who could provide (especially Coello) some of those arms we need and they should have a shot during Spring Training to make the team. In the worst case scenario they are depth. Whatever happens we need to bring in at least one bullpen arm that is closer worthy, preferably two.

I'm looking forward to your ideas but please make sure to not mix "trade porn" with your "normal porn" when you post them.

I'd rather see us trade for an excellent young starter than spend more money on free agent pitchers. Nolasco is a definite no for me and Garza will probably cost to much anyway. Trades are the highly preferred route in my opinion. But we do agree that an upgrade is needed.

Soft-tossing lefty with a decently effective cutter.

Yep! We had our shot and we blew it with Kendrick. If it really was Zach Lee and Chris Withrow we may regret it even more. Now we will have to deal with the Blue Jays and Orioles in the off season if we want to make something happen.

I know that in my article, "Four True Outcomes", I speculated that Mike Scioscia might have been part of those trade discussions, so Gammons article lends a small amount of credence to probably three different scenarios: 1) Arte didn't want to do business with his cross-town rivals (which I had been potentially worried about when I suggested it in my other article, "Trade Candidate: Howie Kendrick?", 2) Moreno is too involved in the actual trade negotiations for his own good, or 3) that S-C-I-O-S-C-I-A was a part of that trade package and Arte couldn't bring himself to let him go. Of course the former two are the more probable scenarios. Moreno was quoted recently as saying, "I have to look in the mirror and say, 'Am I making the right call?'" He may have been referring to those very trade negotiations.

When I first saw the title of the article I thought it had to do with some strange rookie initiation involving underwear.

Just read it and Heyman made an error since Kendrick has two years of control left, not one as the article mentions.

Heyman article: http://www.cbssports.com/mlb/writer/jon-heyman/23512000/howie-kendrick-seen-as-the-angels-main-highend-winter-trade-chip