LA Angels Weekend News Crash: New Year New You?

Welcome to the final installment of links for 2020 on a site that didn’t exist at the beginning of the year. Those of you who followed us over here, especially those with subscriptions, we appreciate you greatly. For you newbies, thanks for joining the fun.

While millions of people make sweeping New Year’s Resolutions which fail almost immediately, I set goals. Quantifiable, realistic, and with a plan of action. My personal goals for this site for ’21 are to create quality Weekend News Crash segments and contribute at least one interview per month.

The Angels goal this year is to return the best player in baseball to the post season. Perhaps a shiny new catcher with a plus bat will be part of those plans? And if the Cubs really want to unload salary, what about this guy?

I can’t help but wonder if the Cubs slashing of payroll and the lawsuits/federal investigation into their allegedly non-ADA compliant stadium renovations are related. The cost to tear down then redo any significant portion of that $750 million project would likely be immense. (This is the part where I hope Steelgolf drops a comment.)

For their part, the Cubs are trying to claim the Yu Darvish trade wasn’t a salary dump. Remain calm, Cubs fans, all is well.

The Angels are apparently interested Pittsburgh’s Joe Musgrove. That is a trade that makes sense for both sides and could potentially be done without including Adell, Marsh, or Detmers.

Brent had a lot of fun with the Trade Simulator a while back and ran scenarios for acquiring each of these guys and more.

I came up with this doozy on the Simulator. Doubt we’d also land Espino, but that would greatly solidify our rotation, save Cincy and Cleveland money, and provide them with solid, near MLB ready prospects.

For an entire board full of Angels trade proposals, click here.

I think I’ve found an intriguing buy low candidate for Minasian. A guy whose spin rate and velocity profile compares nicely with Blake Snell, Julio Urias and Danny Duffy. He’s on a team with more pitchers than jobs. Both Angels fans and Minasian should be familiar with him. Remember a year ago when Bundy’s fastball was getting hit hard so the Angels changed his pitch usage?

In actual Angels news, lots of former halos will be donning new uniforms next year and the holiday tradition of signing Juan Graterol to a minor league deal continued.

Hansel Robles, welcome to Minnesota. Ervin “Voodoo” Santana welcome to Kansas City….again. And Kevan Smith, enjoy Tampa Bay. JC Ramirez…..Taiwan.

For $2 million, I’d take Robles back all day. Remember an interview I did with Rojas last year; Robles was a guy who got an adrenaline bump from the live crowd and had a hard time adjusting. Between that and the volatile nature of relievers, I wouldn’t be surprised at a solid bounce back for Robles and Robles/Mayers/Iglesias sounds like a nice back end.

The big news of the week, of course, came out of San Diego. Not only did they open up a window of contention, the Cubs pretty much closed theirs. Or did they? A 1-2 of Hendricks/Davies seems like enough to compete in the NL Central. Then again a 1-2 of Bundy/Heaney is probably enough to compete in the NL Central right now.

As for wrapping up 2020, a year that will live in infamy, there were some highlights. I love it when a deserving candidate breaks through the big leagues like Kim Ng did. Mike Trout had the greatest moment of his life.

Here’s to hoping for bright blue skies, freshly cut grass, and attending games in 2021…..Happy New Year everybody.

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NorthernNeighbour
Member
3 years ago

Hendriks, Kyle, born in one of my high school birthdays…

gitchogritchoffmypettis
Legend

Hendricks was also weened in one of my friends zeppelin barns. So there’s that too?

Cowboy26
Legend
3 years ago

Well his half cousin George Hendrick used to play first base for the Angels when Wally World was out with a staph infection

GrandpaBaseball
Legend
3 years ago

I’m sittin’ right ‘ere on Colarodo Blvd with my hot coughfee and the floats are runnin’ late, but I’ll right ‘ere when they git ‘ere

red floyd
Legend
3 years ago

Did you see the Trumpster trucks running up and down the boulevard?

steelgolf
Super Member
3 years ago

Happy New Year from a golf course somewhere in south Corona.

Guest
3 years ago
Reply to  steelgolf

Hidden Valley or Green River maybe 😊.

steelgolf
Super Member
3 years ago
Reply to 

Glen Ivy / Trilogy

Guest
3 years ago
Reply to  steelgolf

Nice, our former Corona neighbors moved to Trilogy not long before we came back to Long Beach last year.

red floyd
Legend
3 years ago
Reply to  steelgolf

Did you hit the mud baths too?

My family used to take the trailer to the campground there at Glen Ivy.

steelgolf
Super Member
3 years ago
Reply to  red floyd

No mud baths, just my annual New Year’s Day round of golf with my brothers in law. One of them lives close to the course. I did hit a ball into the water at the 9th hole, then re- teed hitting 3 and almost hit it in the hole, leaving a 2’ putt for bogey.

GrandpaBaseball
Legend
3 years ago

I just read on MLB site that Paxton could be signed by the Padres and that Hendricks could end up with the Astros. Why not with the Angels? Tananka is thought to end up with us. Bauer now thought to be headed to Mets not Anaheim.

JackFrost
Super Member
3 years ago
Reply to  Jeff Joiner

I have to tell you I’ll be totally pissed if all we get is Tanaka.

We should not be trying to tell ourselves he is an acceptable solution. To me, he is almost dumpster dive territory. Guy is 32 yrs old with a lot of innings in that arm and his best years are WELL behind him. He has been trending consistently downwards with four straight years with a FIP over 4.00.

In fact, last year he had a career worst FIP of 4.42! I know last season was weird, but Tanaka is simply not good.

There is a HUGE difference between Hendricks and Tanaka. Hendricks is acceptable, but Tanaka is NOT.

For starters Hendricks is two yrs younger (30 vs Tanaka at 32). Those are prime yrs so they are huge. Not only that Hendricks is a solid # 2 at MLB level and at his best is ace quality. Tanaka is done.

A big fat NO to Tanaka. Perry will turn me against him if he settles for Tanaka. That would be no improvement on Eppler.

Cowboy26
Legend
3 years ago
Reply to  Jeff Joiner

I heard Cahill is available.

Eric_in_Portland
Legend
3 years ago
Reply to  Cowboy26

I believe Matt Harvey is a free agent. As is Lincecum.

HalosFanForLife
Trusted Member
3 years ago

Maybe we could lure Jamie Moyer out of retirement?

Guest
3 years ago

Two words: BIG SEXY.

FungoAle
Super Member
3 years ago
Reply to  JackFrost

Me too. Couple of things might work in our favor in keeping Tanaka away:
1. He and his wife the Yankees and the Yanks could use him.
2. Shohei is Ichi-ban and I don’t think he wants to share the spotlight with the Japanese media. My theory why Darvish is not here as that trade was pretty much a dump.

So I think the story is just a story.

Cowboy26
Legend
3 years ago
Reply to  FungoAle

How about Sugano? Can Shohei coexist with him?

gitchogritchoffmypettis
Legend
Reply to  Cowboy26

As long as we’re all just making shit up based on made up interpretations of a single comment from three years ago, yes, Ohtani and Sugano can co-exist because it turns out they are both HUGE fans of the Japanese band Adabisi Shank and both love green tea ice cream.

Commander_Nate
Member
Trusted Member
3 years ago
Reply to  FungoAle

I think Preller having a personal history with Darvish after pushing for the Rangers to bring him over had a lot to do with it.

I’m sure GMPM was interested but that’s a lot of prospect value AND cash to give up for a 34-year-old starter. A Darvish trade was near the top of my wishlist too, but I was envisioning something where the Angels ate all the money like the Padres and thus would only part with one legit prospect (say Marsh or Adell) and maybe a mid-tier one (say Knowles). I’m really surprised the Padres didn’t hold a prospect or two back in light of the cash they threw in.

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

Well, they gave up infielders they don’t need as much with Tatis, Cronenworth and now Kim on hand.

Darvish will probably be very good through the balance of his contract but doesn’t check the age or cost boxes that LAA needs for sustainability – they would still need to pay a second SP and another RP at least.

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

Not to mention Machado was a SS, and Cronenworth will probably be utility if not trade bait for more P.

Cowboy26
Legend
3 years ago
Reply to  Commander_Nate

Wasnt the Cash “only” 3 million? I thought the Padres were still taking on the remaining $59 million but did not want to cover some added little known incentives that Darvish earned with last season’s performance.

Guest
3 years ago
Reply to  Cowboy26

That’s what he’s saying.

Guest
3 years ago
Reply to  JackFrost

The Musgrove trade link above has a headline that Tanaka returns to Japan if a “contender” doesn’t offer. He probably doesn’t consider LAA one, you can breathe easy.

Guest
3 years ago
Reply to 

Tanaka debunked the “contender” comment in a tweet today.

steelgolf
Super Member
3 years ago

Yeeesh, 2020 is a screwed up year if you are asking for a comment from me. The Justice Dept. investigation and the ADA lawsuit is probably more in Charles Sutton’s wheelhouse, but what little I have read on it is that a lawyer from Chicago filed this suit on behalf of his son, he seems to not like his choices of the new ADA seating, saying that before the renovation he was able to sit 15 rows behind home plate, he now claims these seats are further away (How much further?) and that it impedes his enjoyment of the game. Other seats in the outfield are behind a screen, put in place so batters can see the ball better (sight line issue). This work has obviously gone through the planning dept. AND the building dept. and i can tell you that once you go into a major renovation, there is a formula, depending on the monetary size of the project, what percentage of that budget MUST be spent on ADA upgrades. Getting a variance on ADA upgrades from a building dept. / planning dept. is very rare, so I’m sure they are looking at any process the planning dept. used when making their decisions and how the project was presented by the architect. This could get costly and convoluted depending on what the Dept. of Justice findings are (Frankly I’m surprised the Dept. of Justice is involved in this, maybe some legal maneuvering?).

Charles Sutton
Editor
Super Member
3 years ago
Reply to  steelgolf

We defend some hotels and malls from ADA suits over wheelchair ramps and website accessibility from time to time. The Justice Department is never involved. I think the amount of money for these renovations plus the recent designation of Wrigley Field as a national landmark might be what got Justice Dept. into the case.

steelgolf
Super Member
3 years ago
Reply to  Charles Sutton

The only other reason I can think of as to why the Dept. of Justice would be involved, is if there is a claim that someone took a bribe or other benefit from waiving or giving a variance to some of the ADA requirements.

Charles Sutton
Editor
Super Member
3 years ago
Reply to  steelgolf

Not unheard of in Chicago.

gitchogritchoffmypettis
Legend
Reply to  steelgolf

In Chicago? On a major building project? Bribes!?! Never!

red floyd
Legend
3 years ago
Reply to  steelgolf

Let’s be fair. The ADA seats in the Big A suck as well.

  • Out under the underhang on the concourse at the top of the Terrace level.
  • Way out behind the bullpens
  • There’s a couple over to the 1B side of the Diamond club, but all the other suck.
JackFrost
Super Member
3 years ago

Jeff, I totally agree about Robles.

I have been saying for awhile that Robles will have a big bounce back year in 2021, and in fact believe he’ll be very good for the Twins this season.

Hopefully if Iglesias remains healthy and productive and Buttrey returns to prior form we won’t miss him as much.

Last edited 3 years ago by JackFrost
2002heaven
Trusted Member
3 years ago
Reply to  JackFrost

 😆  😆 !!!
93mph FB’s get parked in LF…….Sinceerly Jorge Springer.

Last edited 3 years ago by 2002heaven
gitchogritchoffmypettis
Legend
Reply to  2002heaven

Is that George Springer’s Mexican cousin? Or his porn name, like Mike Hancho?

eyespy
Super Member
3 years ago
Reply to  JackFrost

Hansel had his fifteen

WallyChuckChili
Legend
3 years ago
Reply to  eyespy

Unless Paul Bearer arrives

Guest
3 years ago

Good name for a Secretary of the Treasury.

GrandpaBaseball
Legend
3 years ago

Happy New Year my friends and keep safe.

This coming year is going to improve over 2020 but I’m afraid that it will be a short season once again as immunity will not reach 70% until at least September.

The economy needs to do well in order for Major League Sports to do well and that can’t happen until at least mid to late 2023.

Radio and television for sports at regional levels will remain robust in the rating and stay strong in national games as well.

Angels games by June may be allowed some percentage of fans allowed to attend and that will relive some financial issues.

Canada has made no commitment to the Blue Jays regaining the Rogers Stadium so they have 3 plan “B’s” as Buffalo is crossing fingers to have AAA Bison’s return.

Joe Musgrove and Sonny Gray would be interesting additions and maybe enough to get us into the playoffs. Still weighing us down are contracts of Albert and Upton, but Albert will come off just in time to try and sign Lindor at SS.

Happy New Year’s and it’s time to roll in the New Year and say Good Bye to the Old Year!

FungoAle
Super Member
3 years ago

Hoping June, I’m ready for some beers at the Big A. #FthePandemic

gitchogritchoffmypettis
Legend
Reply to  Jeff Joiner

I have felt pretty safe since March of 2020…. but I am a heartless asshole.

Commander_Nate
Member
Trusted Member
3 years ago

Man, a quick look at that trade board sure made me feel good about most of my ideas.

HalosFanForLife
Trusted Member
3 years ago

I know we needed another catcher – so a good stopgap. It would have been exciting if it had been the pitching Graterol whose stuff is electric. Got to watch him work a game in High-A a couple of years ago and you could tell his path to the show was going to be quick.

Do you believe in patterns? (Iglesias, Iglesias, Graterol, Graterol) — Not happening – but fun to dream.

matthiasstephan
Super Member
3 years ago

Graterol for Adams?