LA Angels Weekend News Crash- Minor League Destruction

In further minor league destruction, the Staten Island Yankees have ceased operations and are suing the Yankees and Major League Baseball for making false promises. 

Angels Related Links

Zach Rymer predicts that the Angels will trade for Sean Newcomb at the winter meetings.  Here are a bunch of projected payroll savings because of the non-tenders.  The Angels are at $8.1 Million.  Joe Gatto signed with the Rangers.  It’s a Major League deal, so he doesn’t have to worry about Minor League destruction. These are some non-tendered players who might help out the Angels.

Other Links

Kim Ng will compete with Perry Minasian for those bullpen arms out there.  Right handed reliever John Gant signed a deal with the Cardinals, thereby avoiding arbitration.  Mark Kotsay is the new third base coach for Oakland.  The Dodgers acquired Corey Knebel from the Brewers for a player to be named later or cash.  The Mariners agreed to a minor league deal with Sam Travis.  Thomas Eshelman cleared waivers and elected free agency.  The Twins and Taylor Rogers avoided arbitration by signing a deal.  Right hander Joe Ross reached a one year deal with the Nationals.  Indians reliever Cam Hill has wrist surgery after a car accident.  Chad Pinder and Burch Smith signed with the Athletics, avoiding arbitration. 

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GrandpaBaseball
Legend
3 years ago

Eight ball says “No Fing way” to the signing of Bauer. To much is still uncertain in regards to the 2021 season and the COVID-19 issues. MLB may not start until June 1st with Spring Training. With that said some team(s) will go 30mil per with Bauer, they can’t help themselves by trying to lay off. It will be cool to see what we come up with. So where does Puig play now?……….

DMAGZ13
Trusted Member
3 years ago

That Angels Twitter thing was started by a guy who runs an IG fan page. And then it took off

WallyChuckChili
Legend
3 years ago

We signed now Ex-Ray’s pitcher not SNELL!!!

Yeah… Jake Faria

steelgolf
Super Member
3 years ago

Yippee?

gitchogritchoffmypettis
Legend

JAKE FARIA! We did it! Now all Callaway has to do is make it 2017 again! Is EASY!

Mia
Legend
Mia
3 years ago

Angels Twitter got #BauerToAnaheim trending on Twitter overnight.

I’m getting flashbacks to the 72 hours we freaked out before Cole signed in NY.

Either the breadcrumbs lead to something, or it’s all a massive troll job. 🤷🏻‍♀️

Warfarin
Trusted Member
3 years ago
Reply to  Mia

My guess is:

The Angels have been in contact with Bauer and have offered a significant deal, but one that is not quite what Bauer and his agent want.

Bauer and his agent are both trying to rile up the Angels’ fan base to clamor for him, so that they are putting pressure on Arte/Minasian to sweeten their deal and give him what he wants and sign his deal.

At first I just assumed it was trolling, but the consistency of their messages (both Bauer and his agent), to me, suggest that there is something going on.

Mia
Legend
Mia
3 years ago
Reply to  Warfarin

That is a damn fine theory there, my friend.

Warfarin
Trusted Member
3 years ago
Reply to  Mia

I mean I am sure there are multiple offers from multiple teams. But we know Arte’s style – he likes to go hard and do more of a “take it or leave it” type of deal, wanting a quick resolution. So it would make sense, to me, that there is probably a proposal and counter-proposal of some kind, with a short time frame of acceptance, and Bauer’s camp is trying to put some pressure on Arte instead.

Or, of course, it could just be Bauer and his agent messing around and trying to have some other team bid more heavily, with the Angels not involved in the picture at all. I could see that too.

steelgolf
Super Member
3 years ago
Reply to  Warfarin

They will use The Angels interest to leverage more money/ years from The Mets or Yankees. There is a new rivalry brewing in Mew York and Mr Cohen is set for a money pissing contest with the Steinbrenner family.

Mia
Legend
Mia
3 years ago
Reply to  steelgolf

That does seem all the more likely

Warfarin
Trusted Member
3 years ago
Reply to  steelgolf

The Yankees are reportedly aiming to go below the luxury tax and actually have some financial issues. I don’t think Bauer is going to the Yankees.

To the Mets, maybe, but I see the Mets as more likely to sign Springer, Realmuto, and perhaps some other middle tier options, as their rotation is fairly strong already.

Guest
3 years ago
Reply to  Warfarin

Try as I might, I just can’t see Arte at $35+ AAV for Bauer, who is not as good as Cole, when we need probably two SP and three RP. Not my money, and he did get a nice land financing deal from my employer, so DO IT CHEAP ARTE.

Warfarin
Trusted Member
3 years ago
Reply to 

No one should pay Bauer 35mil AAV. Bauer’s career line falls more along the Zack Wheeler / Patrick Corbin caliber of pitcher, not Cole.

Those two averaged around 22-25mil AAV. I would go 25-27mil AAV for Bauer, but nothing beyond that. If some other team wants to offer more, then let them have him.

Guest
3 years ago
Reply to  Warfarin

Fair enough, MLBTR predicts $32mil AAV (LAD), still too much.

Warfarin
Trusted Member
3 years ago
Reply to 

Yeah, I’d pass at that level, too. As I said, I’d do 25-27mil AAV, but if someone else wants to exceed that, then they can go for it.

h27kim
Trusted Member
3 years ago
Reply to  Warfarin

Plausible. Bauer is savvier with social media than most ppl and no reason he shouldn’t take it’s advantage to gain a bargaining leverage.

Designerguy
Super Member
3 years ago

What happens when you throw a 1000mph fastball? A lot, apparently.

https://twitter.com/RexChapman/status/1335335264022097923

red floyd
Legend
3 years ago
Reply to  Designerguy

Even better. What happens when you throw a baseball at 90% of the speed of light.

https://what-if.xkcd.com/1/

eyespy
Super Member
3 years ago
Reply to  red floyd

tossers

Mia
Legend
Mia
3 years ago
Reply to  Designerguy

Trout catches up to that. Guaranteed.

Jeff Joiner
Editor
Legend
3 years ago
Reply to  Mia

Homer just right of dead center.

WallyChuckChili
Legend
3 years ago
Reply to  Jeff Joiner

Off of Adell’s glove?

Designerguy
Super Member
3 years ago

Before or after it bounces of Canseco’s head?

eyespy
Super Member
3 years ago
Reply to  Mia

Lil’Davie fouls it off, now 0-2, and then walks

Senator_John_Blutarsky
Legend

Figured this was coming……

https://www.espn.com/mlb/story/_/id/30451357/mlb-sues-insurance-providers-cites-billions-losses-related-covd-19

Major League Baseball and all 30 of its teams are suing their insurance providers, citing billions of dollars in losses during the 2020 season played almost entirely without fans due to the coronavirus pandemic.

The suit, filed in October in California Superior Court in Alameda County and obtained Friday by The Associated Press, says providers AIG, Factory Mutual, and Interstate Fire and Casualty Company have refused to pay claims made by MLB despite the league’s “all-risk” policy purchases.

The league claims to have lost billions of dollars on unsold tickets, hundreds of millions on concessions, tens of millions on parking, and millions more on suites and luxury seat licenses, in-park merchandise sales and corporate sponsorships. It also cites over a billion dollars in local and national media losses, plus tens of millions in missed income for MLB Advanced Media. It says all of those losses should be covered by the policies.

MLB cut short spring training and postponed the start of its regular season in March, then began a truncated schedule in late July during which fans were barred from stadiums. Teams were limited to 60 regular-season games, down from 162. Most postseason games were played without fans, though there was limited capacity of about 11,000 per game for the National League Championship Series and World Series at Arlington, Texas.

“Due to COVID-19, the Major League Baseball entities, including those of the 30 major league clubs, have incurred significant financial losses as a result of our inability to play games, host fans and otherwise conduct normal business operations during much of the 2020 season,” the league said in a statement to the AP. “We strongly believe these losses are covered in full by our insurance policies, and are confident that the court and jury will agree.” .

Messages seeking comment were not immediately returned by the insurance providers.

Over 1,400 lawsuits have been brought against insurance companies regarding business interruptions claims related to the pandemic, according to data compiled by the University of Pennsylvania Carey Law School. That includes several similar suits by minor league baseball teams, whose season was wiped out completely when baseball commissioner Rob Manfred canceled it.

At least one of those minor league cases, filed in Arizona and led by the Chattanooga Lookouts, has already been dismissed due to a virus exclusion in the policy.

Insurers in many cases have insisted that financial losses caused by the coronavirus do not constitute physical loss or property damage. MLB is claiming the virus has led to both.

“The presence of the coronavirus and COVID-19, including but not limited to coronavirus droplets or nuclei on solid surfaces and in the air at insured property, has caused and will continue to cause direct physical damage to physical property and ambient air at the premises,” the suit says. “Coronavirus, a physical substance, has attached and adhered to Plaintiffs’ property and by doing so, altered that property. Such presence has also directly resulted in loss of use of those facilities.”

Many teams have laid off front-office employees in response to the pandemic, and many are predicting a slow offseason for players in free agency. Several clubs have already cut loose high-level players as a way to save money, including when the Cleveland Indians declined a $10 million club option on three-time All-Star Brad Hand and the Chicago Cubs failed to offer a contract to popular slugger Kyle Schwarber, allowing the 2016 World Series champion to become a free agent.

MLB has not said whether 2021 spring training or the regular season will start on time.

eyespy
Super Member
3 years ago

I knew this was the plan. Not surprised they waited until a vaccine was on the horizon. Now they won’t have to share any of the money with anyone, and we will never know the amount.

gitchogritchoffmypettis
Legend

Be mindful. Stay poor. Stay bored. Stay isolated. Stay miserable. Stay safe. Don’t fight it. Why should the MLB get out of all this “fifteen days to flatten the curve” fun? Who will they sue when no one has the money to go to any games until 2023, or only online retailers are left to purchase ads at games, or inflation makes it so a hot dog’s real cost is ten times what it was in 2019? We’ve all got a bowl of bullets to chew on, MLB will probably have to bite theirs too.

OhOhOhOhtaniAutoParts
Newbie
3 years ago

I’d love to see some updated IIWPM posts by our revered writers now that we have a SS and have non-tendered multiple guys

Jeff Joiner
Editor
Legend
3 years ago

I wanted to redo mine the moment I published it. Can’t believe I backed off my long term Adell/Manning trade at the last minute.

Guest
3 years ago
Reply to  Jeff Joiner

Mulligan, Mulligan!

rez2405
Trusted Member
3 years ago

Lmao

You must listen to alot of radio

Jeff Joiner
Editor
Legend
3 years ago

The Braves have excess starting pitching and Minasian knows their staff well. Newcomb’s value is low right now. I wonder if the Braves would want to sell low on him.

FWIW Jim Bowden at The Athletic has us trading Marsh and Detmers for Snell. He claims Detmers has front of the rotation possibility.

Guest
3 years ago
Reply to  Jeff Joiner

If Detmers can be that good, and can be ready for the 2022 rotation, then I don’t make that trade. And I like Snell.

AnAngelsFan
Super Member
3 years ago
Reply to 

Bowden said Detmers can be front of the line but needs 3 years of development.

Jeff Joiner
Editor
Legend
3 years ago
Reply to  AnAngelsFan

The general consensus is he’s wrong on both counts. Detmers is considered a mid rotation guy possibly as early as this year.

Senator_John_Blutarsky
Legend
Reply to  AnAngelsFan

You lost me at “Bowden said”

JackFrost
Super Member
3 years ago
Reply to 

Are you saying you’d rather have Detmers than Snell ?

That’s crazy.

Or maybe you value Marsh a lot?

Jeff Joiner
Editor
Legend
3 years ago
Reply to  JackFrost

I think he’s saying if Detmers is a frontline starter, keep him. Thing is Bowden is the one saying Detmers is frontline, not the scouting reports.

Guest
3 years ago
Reply to  JackFrost

There’s a big IF in my comment.

Trade simulator grades it 47.4 Rays (Detmers 11.2, Marsh 36.2), 52.4 Angels, good trade for us if you take it with a grain of salt.

If Detmers is mid-rotation, comp to Heaney, ready by 2022, let’s try this estimate (your results may vary):

Detmers annual WAR ~1
Marsh annual WAR ~2 (Charlie Blackmon comp or better)
Snell has one year of 7.1 WAR, four of low-mid 1’s, so how about an annual WAR of 3 to account for his prime?

Factor in salaries, and sustainability, and I still keep the two unless my mandate from Arte is to win it all within 3 years.

That said, I think the Pads get him, but I’d love to have him if Perry can build a pitching pipeline.

Jeff Joiner
Editor
Legend
3 years ago
Reply to 

Agreed. Heaney and possibly Bundy need replacing next year and Detmers is the guy to do that replacing.

JackFrost
Super Member
3 years ago
Reply to 

I would not be excited to see Detmers go either (among other things he’s a left-handed arm), but you have to look at our specific situation, not just a trade simulator or collective postulated WAR.

We NEED top notch SP NOW. Not in two years and not next year, but now. If that means we have to give up a potentially good young arm I think we have to do it. The needs of the team and the way we are currently constructed demand it.

Also; not sure how you are seeing Marsh as a Charlie Blackmon level player. I think that is more than a little optimistic to think that he can be that good.

Last edited 3 years ago by JackFrost
Guest
3 years ago
Reply to  JackFrost

I’m always optimistic, until reality sets in. If you don’t like the Blackmon comp, I can give you 2019 Brian Goodwin, 2.2 WAR. If Marsh can’t match that, then I don’t know how he’s MLB prospect #73. Hoping that the Rays would accept someone(s) other than Detmers or Chris Rodriguez. I’m generally wary of trading with Tampa or Cleveland, and if they like, say, Marsh, then I believe they see a good ballplayer, probably at the least a 2 annual WAR.

FungoAle
Super Member
3 years ago
Reply to  Jeff Joiner

…and sign Bauer. That would be a good start. Will Detmer become a Snell? Possibly, but we cannot just wait this stuff out. Perry has been given direction, acquire established arms and get to the post season, now.

AnAngelsFan
Super Member
3 years ago
Reply to  FungoAle

That sign Bauer part is the key to me. Snell isn’t enough to get this team where it needs to be. That trade in isolation, makes the Angels not good enough now and not good enough later.

On the other hand, if the Angels also follow Bowden’s proposal and get Bauer at 5/135, then the trade makes sense, because Bauer/Snell/Bundy should be competitive.

JackFrost
Super Member
3 years ago
Reply to  AnAngelsFan

Should be competitive? Ha. That would be awesome.

Of course that is like a dream and not likely to happen. I would be satisfied with one of those two big arms. Of course that does not mean I would not want both.

Senator_John_Blutarsky
Legend
Reply to  AnAngelsFan

Bauer gets an AAV of at least $37m

Jeff Joiner
Editor
Legend
3 years ago
Reply to  FungoAle

And he has us trading Adell to Miami for another young pitcher. Essentially bringing in 3 starters.

FungoAle
Super Member
3 years ago
Reply to  Jeff Joiner

Interesting. Pablo Lopez? Alcantara? Hernandez? All live arms, the last one was shut down last year due to arm issues.

Jeff Joiner
Editor
Legend
3 years ago
Reply to  FungoAle

He posits Jo Adell for Braxton Garrett and Monte Harrison.

All in all, we’d have Bauer, Snell, Bundy, Garret, Canning, Heaney, and whatever we get from Ohtani as our starting core. And pretty much no farm.

Greatjake
Member
3 years ago
Reply to  Jeff Joiner

No farm is a big reason I disagree with nearly all of Bowden’s opinions

AnAngelsFan
Super Member
3 years ago
Reply to  Jeff Joiner

I don’t think you can put Braxton Garrett in the starting rotation. He should be starting the season in AA.

Jeff Joiner
Editor
Legend
3 years ago
Reply to  AnAngelsFan

Ok. I honestly don’t know much about Garrett. I know the trade didn’t make sense to me when I read it. If we trade Adell we need to get a piece to help now.

Rallymanatee
Trusted Member
3 years ago
Reply to  Jeff Joiner

How many pitchers seem like they have front end stuff when they’re still 3 years away? A lot.

Guest
3 years ago

Just a quick thanks to JeffJoiner for yesterday’s article; a nice recap of those particular players.

FungoAle
Super Member
3 years ago
Reply to 

Jeff hit a stand-up triple with that article. Casali please so Trevor can continue to throw to him.. Looks like the Met’s have a crush on McCann.

Jeff Joiner
Editor
Legend
3 years ago
Reply to  FungoAle

Thanks folks, much appreciated.

I added names as they came out over the week and had Knebel on there until I saw the Dodgers snagged him. Great risk/reward for LA.

Greatjake
Member
3 years ago

Adam Ottaviano’s name has come up in trade rumors. This is his last year under contract and he’s owed $9m by NYY. Seems to have had an unlucky year in 2020 (small sample of 18 IP but only 66% strand rate, 12.5% HR/FB, & .375 BABIP) but is generally a high leverage guy who gets tons of Ks. I’ve always liked him and would definitely be interested in seeing what the asking price is.

FungoAle
Super Member
3 years ago
Reply to  Greatjake

I’ve have always liked him too but that was 3-years ago when he was throwing for the Rockies. I’d probably lean towards the FAs first though than to trade with the MFY.

Greatjake
Member
3 years ago
Reply to  FungoAle

Honestly I think I’d prefer Ottaviano @ 1yr/$9m than most top FA RPs at their projected contracts.

Mia
Legend
Nick_LA96
Member
3 years ago
Reply to  Mia

I came here to say the same thing as soon as I saw it on my bleacher report app. I knew his free agency would be wild, but making shout out posts to different team fan bases is even more wild than I thought.

Mia
Legend
Mia
3 years ago
Reply to  Nick_LA96

Hard to know if he wants to sign with us or if he just wants a booty call.

matthiasstephan
Super Member
3 years ago
Reply to  Mia

Well, he is no Bobby Grich.

Mia
Legend
Mia
3 years ago

Is this a boomer joke i’m too millennial to understand?

Guest
3 years ago
Reply to  Charles Sutton

Beat me to it LOL. Check the post with 10 comments. DG’s story…

Last edited 3 years ago by pseudagm
Mia
Legend
Mia
3 years ago
Reply to  Charles Sutton

Ah. I’m sure the same could be said for most of these guys.

Guest
3 years ago
Reply to  Mia

He wants Arte’s booty.

Mia
Legend
Mia
3 years ago
Reply to 

Arrrrrrrrrrte’s booty.

red floyd
Legend
3 years ago
Reply to  Mia

Ye saucy wench! ‘Tis the plank ye’ll be a-walkin’ fer sure!

FungoAle
Super Member
3 years ago
Reply to  Mia

He trolls with the best of them.

Mia
Legend
Mia
3 years ago
Reply to  FungoAle

Yessir.

eatgrasslikegoat
Member
3 years ago
Reply to  Nick_LA96

Bleacher report lol

AnAngelsFan
Super Member
3 years ago
Reply to  Mia

Simply masterful. The guy deserves a job in player marketing when he can’t pitch anymore.

Guest
3 years ago
Reply to  AnAngelsFan

Commissioner of Baseball.

Jim Atkins
Super Member
3 years ago
Reply to 

My dog would be a better commissioner of baseball than Mighty Manfred. Then again. so would your average concrete block.

steelgolf
Super Member
3 years ago
Reply to 

Bauer as MLB Commisioner would be nothing short of the most amazing thing ever.

red floyd
Legend
3 years ago
Reply to  steelgolf

I still kind of want W as commish.

Biggiswrth
Trusted Member
3 years ago
Reply to  Mia

Late night Del Taco run with Tony?

JackFrost
Super Member
3 years ago
Reply to  Mia

Wow.

rez2405
Trusted Member
3 years ago
Reply to  Mia

I think I’m truly the only angel fan not waiting by the phone for Bauer.

I’m just not thrilled for a guy whos career ERA is over 4 with steamer ERA and FIP projections also over 4

red floyd
Legend
3 years ago
Reply to  rez2405

Yeah. At this point, I just want pitching. I don’t give a shit who.

eyespy
Super Member
3 years ago
Reply to  red floyd
Last edited 3 years ago by eyespy
gitchogritchoffmypettis
Legend
Reply to  eyespy

Sadly, terrifyingly, the Derpo 4 actually had fairly strong track records. Blanton was a schmo and Hanson was a rebound candidate but still has a career ERA+ over 100. But they were just filler. If we signed two guys with Madson & Burnett’s numbers tonight, plus Joe Smith a year later, I would be stoked.

That is until the indian burial ground took it’s ten lbs of flesh.

eyespy
Super Member
3 years ago

So try. It’s not the players, or management that are the problem, it’s where the team plays at home.

We always do good, not Seattle good, during spring training

2002heaven
Trusted Member
3 years ago
Reply to  eyespy

The Overlook Hotel was also on ancient Indian burial ground! 😮 

eyespy
Super Member
3 years ago
Reply to  2002heaven

Red Rum👆, neat

gitchogritchoffmypettis
Legend
Reply to  rez2405

Nah, just because he’s the only girl at the dance with most of his teeth and no kids doesn’t mean we should all rush to marry him. Unless he can pitch like he did in 2020 for the next three seasons he’s not worth the 35M a year someone is likely to throw at him to me. Sure, signing him would show some fans that Arte is supurrserious about being championish and show he has has finally realized that pitcher is a position in baseball, but those same complaints would rise again, as would bitching about “big splashes”, as soon as Bauer has his first season with a 4.25+ ERA which he is totally capable of doing.

While signing or trades may bring in a good arm at some point there’s just no getting around that fact that we will probably need to develop a couple pitchers before we have a really good rotation and if we win a World series it will be when Trout’s in his early thirties, which will mean his window closed, so it won’t really count as winning a World Series.

Bitter sadness forevah.

Jeff Joiner
Editor
Legend
3 years ago
Reply to  rez2405

I’m with you. I know he’s worked tirelessly to improve every facet of his game. I think we’ve seen the result of that work over a handful of 2020 games. Even if he’s going to replicate it for 3-4 years we need more.

Getting him and having the bullpen blow his games and 2 other guys in the rotation who get shelled doesn’t appeal to me.

2002heaven
Trusted Member
3 years ago
Reply to  rez2405

also 1-4 in the post season too.
Don’t like his social views here in So-Cal even though he went to UCLA. How would Curt Schilling be viewed if he was playing today in 2020? I’d rather have Jeff Luhnow than Trevor Bauer anydaye. Trevor is a sc*mb*g, he shood syne a deel with the Bauston Red Sockx todaye and getit over with.

Last edited 3 years ago by 2002heaven