oater

If Jones is the price, I would prefer going the free agent route. Walker or Cozart would be my preference.

I agree with this sentiment 100%. For many reasons, the Angels need to continue to play AP, but he can no longer survive the rigors of playing every game. A good plan would be to give him at least one day off a week starting in 2018 and by 2021, he will likely be a part-time player and pinch hitter.

Also keep in mind that the arbitration award is not fully guaranteed. If Wood performs poorly in spring training, the Angels can cut him and only owe 30 days salary. If he looks good, they keep him and (presumably) are happy to pay the salary for one year. Since the CBT is unlikely to be an issue this year, this represents a low cost roll of the dice.

details to come, but presumably teams will be able to use the allotted bonus pool for next year to sign these players.

Great! Exactly the players I would have chosen.

You may be correct, although I was under the impression that Towey was on the AA roster. Baseball Reference states the following regarding the minor league phase: Minor league teams can also participate in the draft. AAA teams can draft any player eligible from AA for $24,000 (doubled from $12,000 in 2016). Players chosen in the minor league part of the draft do not need to return to the original teams for any reason. That segment of the draft is often referred to in accounts of transactions as the "Minor League draft." (Previously, AA teams could draft any players that are eligible from Class A for $4,000, but in 2016 the AA phase of the Rule 5 draft was eliminated.) https://www.baseball-reference.com/bullpen/Rule_5_Draft And from MLR 5 (2000 ed.): Within each phase, only players from a Reserve List of a lower classification Club are eligible for selection. Thus, a player selected from a Class AAA Reserve List must be placed on the Major League Reserve List of the selecting Major League Club.

Houchins is on the SLC roster, so it would have to be the major league phase.

I haven't seen anything substantive on Nate Smith's medicals, but even if there is some risk involved, I like Nate a LOT as a depth piece. IMO, he should stay on the 40 man roster. Magnifico was out-righted last August off the 40 man roster and passed through waivers. No need to add him. If there is room, I can see adding Morales, but I think he is a back of the rotation starter at best. Think Scribner.

I agree. The main point I was trying to make in my discussion with Scotty is to not over-value second round draft picks. By all accounts, Swanson is well regarded in the baseball industry, and I have no issues with the job he is doing.

Jeff Malinoff was also the national cross-checker through 2016. So: Jones was drafted when Jerry D. was GM, Ric Wilson was scouting director and Jeff Malinoff was national cross-checker. Marsh was drafted when Eppler was GM, Wilson was scouting director and Malinoff was national cross-checker. Canning was drafted when Eppler was GM, Swanson was scouting director and Jason Smith was the national cross-checker. Of course Canning hasn't pitched an inning of professional ball and dropped in the draft due to medical concerns. He may end up being a great player, but IMO it is far too early to pronounce the "new regime" as being vastly better than Ric Wilson and Jeff Malinoff.

Ric Wilson was the scouting director from 2011 through 2016. So, no.

And the second round picks the 5 years previously were: Joe Gatto Hunter Green RJ Alvarez Nick Maronde Daniel Tillman I am not a big Moustakas fan, but he would represent an upgrade at 3B, so the question is whether his contract is reasonable. For 4 yrs and $48M, I say go for it. For 5 years and $90M, I say pass. For 5 years and $65M, I could go either way.

And when they interviewed Anthopoulos: So, tell me about your achievements." "I traded Vernon Wells for Mike Napoli." "You're hired!"

I could see Eppler bringing Street and Bailey back on split contracts with spring training invites.

I would also add: Jake Jewell Jesus Castillo

I also vote neither.

I don't view one-year being over the CBT threshold as "bleak" in any sense of the word. Arte has consistently said that for the "right" player he would pay a luxury tax. I can't think of a more "right" player than Trout.

Sure, you can theoretically construct a roster that would not exceed the CBT threshold in 2021 and still have room to extend Trout on a $40M AAV contract. However, the only way Trout is going to agree to an extension is if the roster has sufficient talent to be highly competitive. If the Angels pursue this strategy, payroll will approach the CBT threshold in 2018, and will increase from there--and the Trout extension will add $15M (or so) by itself.

If you expect to extend Trout . . . The Angels WILL exceed the CBT threshold in 2021 (AP's last year); The Angels will need to exercise restraint on any new FA signings or trades--i.e., limited to areas of clear need and not excessive in terms of AAV or years. Nunez and Cozart are targets. Moose--not so much. Stanton or Martinez--forget about it. IB--not a clear area of need.

The agreed player benefit costs per team of $7,310,000 for 2017 cover only the benefits described in Article XXIII, subsections D (1) (b) through (g) of the CBA. However the total player benefit costs also include the contributions to the MLB Player Benefit Plan (described in subsection D (1) (a)). I don't have a current figure for this component, but MLB contributions were $143 million in 2014. So, after allowing for payroll increases since 2014, on a per team basis, this will add another $5-6 million to the player benefit costs. This will make the total player benefit costs close to $13,000,000 per team.

Calhoun is a good, reasonably priced player in the prime of his career. He may have had a slight down year, but he had what was basically a career low BABIP and is at least a modest bounce-back candidate. With a number of problem areas to fill, IMO there is no reason to actively attempt to trade him.

Julio Garcia doesn't get much attention on this site, but he has quietly been putting together a good season. For the second half of the year, he is hitting .344 .408 .525. With plus defensive skills, he could the SS to follow Simba.

I think you stared too long at the sun without your eclipse sunglasses on! I am guessing 4-3.

COWART-O-METER