Pancake Bear

You guys are massively overrating what it will cost to acquire Glasnow and Bieber. Both have injuries and limited innings that limit their value. Also, for one year, they're not going to cost a gigantic amount. Taylor Ward or Luis Rengifo probably functions as the primary piece (with maybe a small throw in) that gets you either one assuming the Rays or Guardians front office likes either of those guys. Burnes will cost quite a bit more because he's been very good, even with only a year. You'd had to lead with someone like Detmers to get him unless they really did go with a wacky Yelich and Burnes deal, in which case the return would be considerably less. Cease would also be quite expensive, which is probably why we haven't been linked as much with him. At least Burnes might extend with us since he grew up an Angels fan.

And yet his Japanese team wants him back. Because, y'know, Japan likes assholes and definitely doesn't care that he's a problem in the clubhouse.

He's a high risk acquisition. The kind of guy you really want to make sure your top players will accept as a teammate because you don't want conflict in the clubhouse.

Yamamoto was always expected to be a while after the Winter Meetings. He'll probably sign after Christmas.

Angel Hernandez is in the final four?

Would be foolish to sell him. The coaching screwed him up last year. Would bet he'll be improved this season.

Gonna need some more details here.

I'd chalk Wash's comments off to poor wording except he literally doubled down when the phrasing was questioned and had a grin on his face. Seems meaningful.

Worth pointing out, though, that Ward's is based on a really good 2022, followed by a barely above league average 2023 which concluded with a significant injury. Before 2022, Ward was that same slightly-better-than-league-average player or worse. Arozarena had an amazing 2020 (only 23 games, though) followed by 3 full of seasons of a consistent 125ish wRC+. Ward *could* be around there, but calling Arozarena a fraction better feels extremely generous to Ward until he proves he can rebound to that level.

Not sure why Yamamoto would choose the Angels since it sounds like, unlike Ohtani, he likes the big stage and lots of attention, unless the rumor of him wanting to play with another Japanese star - say, Ohtani? - are true. But since the Angels seem reluctant to pursue other Japanese players as long as they have Ohtani, I just don't see any path to Yamamoto coming here.

Anderson even said that the analytics department mandated a change from how he had pitched the season before with the Dodgers when he had an all star season. That people think coaching has no effect on results is trippy.

I feel like Arte would have to commit to spending more for Ohtani to stick around. Of course, supposedly he told Rendon the same thing, and...I don't recall significant additional spending. Someone said Arte's primary motivation is not wanting to see Ohtani on the Dodgers. That feels strangely accurate. Dude can't stand the Dodgers being better.

Per reports, bidding is already over $500m. Even at 12 years that's an aav over $40/. I probably wouldn't go over 500. It's just too much.

The reality is that as much as I'd hate to see Ohtani on another team, it's hard to justify both the aav and term for a guy who is unlikely to stay heathy and elite (to the degree he would need to do to justify the salary) if we want to compete unless Arte goes nuts like Cohen with the payroll, which is extremely unlikely.

They've made some competitive bids, but are yet to actually do what is necessary to bring in a real impact pitcher.

Actually, that isn't quite true. Apparently it may be another week or even two, depending how credible you find the sources linked (Boob Nightengale says closer to Christmas).

I'd think Flaherty makes more sense than Stroman, but that might be just me.

Who do you think will be the biggest name traded? Soto to Toronto Who will sign during the Winter Meetings? With what team? Ohtani. Head says Dodgers, heart says Angels. Who will the Angels trade for? Shane Bieber. Who will the Angels sign? Candelario.

Current rotation: Sandoval, Detmers, Canning, Anderson. Six man, or someone getting sent down?

Yeah, dude is an idiot. Turning down all those other offers over the last ten years just to say yes to this job.

I think you stumbled onto the wrong site. You need to take that left turn at Albuquerque for Dodgerswin.

Then he'd say left field or right field. He wouldn't say both. Considering the Dodgers of all teams just signed a sub-2 WAR corner outfielder, I'm thinking we don't need more than one.

Don't be ridiculous. They're not getting two outfielders.

I believe the reports on teams that are out. As far as teams that are in...I mean, it comes down to who has both the interest (pretty much everyone) and the money to make it work. The teams that are out mostly have the money and are out either because they don't think Ohtani is interested or they don't think the price works for them. Now, Passan mentioned Dodgers, Angels, Cubs, Blue Jays, and maybe Giants. We don't know how seriously Ohtani has interest in each of those teams, but they're interested and haven't gotten the sense their opportunity is over. That's the sense in which I understand the report. As far as the Angels' surprise...I mean, they were one of, what, eight teams on his short list? So it wasn't as surprising as if he'd picked someone not on his list....

And yet, per Jeff Passan, they're still in.