totdprods

I'd imagine so. Also, as has been mentioned several times, there could be concern of having too many lefties in the rotation. With Wilson and Santiago here, you're already looking at having 4 potential lefties for the rotation in '16. 
 
Newcomb was very unlikely to see significant, if any, rotation time in '16 - so you're probably not seeing him contribute to the MLB team until 2017, and even then, it's unlikely he'd provide production equivalent to a #1 or #2 like we'd hope. It may not even be more than a September call up or a spot start.
 
So, realistically, Sean Newcomb probably wasn't going to impact this team on a daily basis until 2018, and even then, it would have been unlikely he'd be delivering his #1 or #2 upside right off the bat - probably more like a mid-rotation starter for his first year. And that's something both Skaggs and Heaney should be providing 2016, 2017, and 2018 already from the left side. 
 
We've got 5 more guaranteed years of Trout, and I'd hope the Angels are trying to win it all in all 5 of those, so I can see why flipping someone like Newcomb who may not make a high-impact everyday contribution for 2 or 3 of those years for someone like Simmons made sense. 
 
Santiago could be in the fold, and even Alvarez could be lefty starting depth if necessary.
Deloach and Smith also on the farm.

I'd imagine so. Also, as has been mentioned several times, there could be concern of having too many lefties in the rotation. With Wilson and Santiago here, you're already looking at having 4 potential lefties for the rotation in '16. 
 
Newcomb was very unlikely to see significant, if any, rotation time in '16 - so you're probably not seeing him contribute to the MLB team until 2017, and even then, it's unlikely he'd provide production equivalent to a #1 or #2 like we'd hope. It may not even be more than a September call up or a spot start.
 
So, realistically, Sean Newcomb probably wasn't going to impact this team on a daily basis until 2018, and even then, it would have been unlikely he'd be delivering his #1 or #2 upside right off the bat - probably more like a mid-rotation starter for his first year. And that's something both Skaggs and Heaney should be providing 2016, 2017, and 2018 already from the left side. 
 
We've got 5 more guaranteed years of Trout, and I'd hope the Angels are trying to win it all in all 5 of those, so I can see why flipping someone like Newcomb who may not make a high-impact everyday contribution for 2 or 3 of those years for someone like Simmons made sense. 
 
Santiago could be in the fold, and even Alvarez could be lefty starting depth if necessary.
Deloach and Smith also on the farm.

They better damn well be in on Sipp, Bastardo, or Oh if they deal Gott.

I hope Morin rebounds. Bedrosian I think will be Jepsen 2.0

Angels really need Morin/Bedrosian to step up in '16.

Part of that righty-heavy balance leads me to believe that a position such as DH could be a darkhorse candidate to receive the major upgrade this offseason. And with Pujols' injury concerns, it's why I (unfortunately) think Chris Davis is far more in play than any of us have been thinking. 
 
Davis and Pujols split first/DH, and an OBP left-fielder is brought in, such as Span. 
 
Add in that Davis could pick up a game here or there at COF, or even at third during interleague, I can see why he'd fit some plans.
 
If they really wanted to add a lefty presence at 1B and DH, I think I'd almost rather they invest in a year or two of Morneau for far less than what Davis would receive, with Cron being dealt or platooned. Downside to that is I can't see Cron being relegated to the bench that much, since he's limited to 1B only. But if you added Morneau, you'd still have money for a big 4 OFer - it just wouldn't address lead-off.
 
The only other way I could see them adding lefty bats and addressing middle and top of order would be if they signed a combo of Heyward/Span/Davis/Gordon and either dealt Calhoun or went a Darin Erstad route and turned Calhoun into a first-baseman, rotating him between there and spot-starting OF, with Pujols primarily DHing. Longterm, this may be the best way to actually retain Calhoun and keep him in the teams plans.

I still think we're going to see a really surprising, out of nowhere trade this offseason, and I think it will involve a blend of young, talented Angels players and excess SP depth in return for another young impact player with question marks like Simmons, plus maybe a prospect or two coming back.
 
And I think it will be extremely unpopular on this board.

Better than the Astros.

Better than the Astros.

My guess is pretty much the same (keep in mind it isn't what I'd do, it's what I think the Angels will do).
 
1. Sign Cespedes for 5 years 115 million. 
2. Trade Santiago and Kubitza to the Twins for Trevor Plouffe (yeah I know they said they wouldn't trade him). 
3. Trade Cam Bedrosian, Kyle McGowin and Johnny Giavotella to Pirates for Neil Walker and a PTBNL.
 
RF Calhoun 2B Walker CF Trout LF Cespedes DH Pujols 3B Plouffe 1B Cron C Perez SS Simmons
Richards, Heaney, Weaver, Wilson and Shoemaker - Skaggs, Tropeano and Smith in AAA. 

Being on the hook for one year is still better than two.Paying slightly more for one season is better than paying less AAV for two.
There's also the possibility of a free draft pick.
The Angels are the only team in baseball who refuse to offer arb. to players, so it seems like it benefits the team more than the player.

Keep Trout, Richards, and Skaggs.  Everyone else should be in play. For example, I'd trade Calhoun in a second for someone like Carlos Carrasco and use the pitching depth to get younger, cheaper, and better position players. I'd be in favor of all sorts of weird shit.  Collect some prospects from trading and paying down Weaver and Wilson and flip them to get what we need.  I'd also tell those two kids at third that this is their position to lose.  Better player wins. Loser goes to Salt Lake. There's always an Alberto Callaspo somewhere that can be gotten.  (yes, "gotten".)
 
Eppler needs to send out the email:  "I'm comin' and Hell's coming with me!"

I just hope we manage to sign him to another extension before Harper gets a ridiculous deal.

Also no loss of a draft pick, plus plus arm, good defense, and can play CF in a pinch. He has his risk and downsides, as do all these options, but I'd be fine if he was the one we signed.In fact, I'm really pretty good with any of the big 4 at this point, it's the additional moves that will happen around one of the big 4 that will make or break the offseason.

Only reason why I don't think those contracts are that different is that Heyward will probably get an opt-out, and in essence, that first part of the contract won't be too different from Gordon's, especially since contracts are typically back-loaded. In fact, since Heyward will get far more years, there's a chance his AAV won't differ much from Gordon's, so neither will affect luxury tax much more than the other.And once that is factored in, Heyward's age, and possible room to develop further, becomes a big advantage over Gordon.

Starting to think the Angels should just draft SPers. Way cheaper to develop those instead of signing, and then sign of trade from SP prospect depth for hitters.

Only reason why I don't think those contracts are that different is that Heyward will probably get an opt-out, and in essence, that first part of the contract won't be too different from Gordon's, especially since contracts are typically back-loaded. In fact, since Heyward will get far more years, there's a chance his AAV won't differ much from Gordon's, so neither will affect luxury tax much more than the other.And once that is factored in, Heyward's age, and possible room to develop further, becomes a big advantage over Gordon.

Ok so if the Angels did indeed sign Heyward, would you be on board with acquiring a 2B to set the table while moving Calhoun down the order? Because I think something along the lines of Walker, Heyward, Trout, Pujols, Calhoun and Cron could work.
But it's doubtful Scioscia would do that. There are a few things I feel are certain Scioscia will do, all of which I don't like.
1. Jered Weaver will be in the rotation.
2. Mike Trout will not steal.
3. Pujols will bat 3-4 no matter what.
4. Scioscia will always go to the bullpen 2 batters too late.
5. When Scioscia goes to the bullpen, it's going to be Fernando Salas.
I'd put Calhoun leading off somewhere in there too. He just seems reluctant or slow to change.

A look at the collective WAR for Lackey and Weaver since Lackey left tells me that Lackey is the better pitcher now by far, but since Lackey left Weaver was the MUCH better pitcher.
Lackey WAR 2010-2015= 9.3
Weaver WAR 2010-2015= 23.4
Yes it would have been nice to have a Lackey type pitcher last year instead of Weaver, but that would be THE ONLY season in the last 6 that that is true, and it isn't really even close year to year.

lol. I just pictured a guy eating chili noodles top ramen and a clock medalian turning a sweet double play.@Mark and Ettin, all good points and dont disagree. Just a question i keep turning over in my mind. I think adding frontline pitching, which is defense, makes more sense because they are obviously involved in every pitch. Whereas a guy like RF may be a beast, but only on balls hit to RF.
On a seperate note, i keep reading where so and so would rank on our team OBP. Mark best me to it before i posted, its because of how abysmal our team obp was. Just about any average player would beat what we rolled out in a bunch of spots last year.
On this site we keep making fun of trumbos obp, but continue to mkae sick lineups of calhoun batting 1st or second....
My only point is that with both simmons and heyward is that they are both phenom gloves, both phenom overall players. I just think emptying the farm for a glove first guy and breaking rhe bank on one whos value is more defense than bat is gonna hurt as long as we have the black hole at SS/C and potentially 3B and 2B. Just my 2 cents. Id be a lot more comfortable if calhoun was a better on base guy and cron was a bonafide complete hitter type.

Hey now.

Hey now.

Here is how I see it. If we are going out and getting a quality left fielder, one of the big four, then I don't mind signing guys like Freese and Utley, to one and two year reasonable deals. If we sign Freese and Utley and end up with a lower level left fielder then I won't be ok with it.

Chase would be a good fit. At age 37, he's still considerably better defensively than Giavotella. He could even DH, play 1B or 3B if necessary. He may even end up being a late inning pinch hitter.
Utley fills a lot of holes on this team, they need a player like him.

I agree with you but you didn't have to makeup stats trying to prove your point.