Dexter Fowler traded to Angels for PTBNL

John Heyman has reported that the Angels have traded for Dexter Fowler from St. Louis for a PTBNL. Dexter has been an average outfielder for St. Louis the last 2 years, with his last great season being 2017 when he had a 122 OPS+. His defensive value has been slightly negative the last 3 years as well.

As a 34 year old now (35 in March) he is not the player he used to be, but should still be an upgrade over what was in Right field last year. However, his salary of 14.5 million is rather steep for just average at best production and even if it is only a one year deal, it is strange to do so over say someone like Maybin or Goodwin.

Luckily for the Angels, St. Louis is paying 12.75 million dollars in the deal, which makes this much easier to swallow. With the OF set to Trout, Upton, and Fowler, it seems like the Angels addressed all their offensive needs. And hey, he is a switch hitter, that’s neat.

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LAAFan
Trusted Member
3 years ago

I’m gonna lose it if/when this team doesn’t add pitching.

And no, this isn’t a Bauer thing, dude’s a psycho I’d rather not root for. However, what possible projections make this a contending club for 2021? Unless they’re betting on 150 elite innings from Shohei, this year’s dead on arrival.

Charles Sutton
Editor
Super Member
3 years ago
Reply to  LAAFan

Just another year where absolutely everything has to go right. It never does, of course. I’m just hoping Jose Iglesias doesn’t pull a Cozart on us and shatter some bone in his throwing arm. If things aren’t bad enough, we always seem to get buttercupped by one of our “solutions.”

Edit: I guess far more likely is that Fowler pulls a Raul Ibanez and just plain sucks until he is released.

Last edited 3 years ago by Charles Sutton
JackFrost
Super Member
3 years ago
Reply to  Charles Sutton

The other thing is that the few things most of us are expecting to go well actually DO need to go well, such as Bundy repeating what he did in 2020 again this year.

I actually don’t think that will happen. I expect something of a regression, though not a full return to Oriole sucking.

If that happens the failure to procure a solid starting pitcher this off-season will loom even larger.

steelgolf
Legend
3 years ago
Reply to  LAAFan

We are going to a really nice 2021 restaurant with steak, seafood, etc. And all we are getting is a Cobb salad.

FungoAle
Legend
3 years ago

Regarding the Fowler trade and screw Bauer:

“We want a certain type of player, and Joe and I are really aligned in this,” Minasian said. “We’ve acquired players that have had past experience with him and putting his stamp on those players obviously make them more desirable. He has the ability to get the most out of players and having those conversations with individuals who have played for him, they’ve all said the same thing: they can’t wait to get back in the dugout with Joe.”

Does this mean we’ll get Javy Baez, Hendricks and Rizzo next year with all the 1-year deals Perry is issuing?

Last edited 3 years ago by FungoAle
GrandpaBaseball
Legend
3 years ago

Well just in case you may be brooding over the non signing of Bauer, he is about to sign for $110 MIL FOR 3 WITH OPT OUT AFTER 2.!!!!!We were never in it.

Currently Bauer is dealing with the Mets and Dodgers. If he ends up on the Dodgers they may have to deal and starter to have a better spread of innings pitched to make everyone happy. Is there still hard feeling? LAD vs SDP pitching staffs are going to be fun to watch.

Fowler is a head scratcher for sure. Yes he does bring good veteran presence to the clubhouse but he seriously is a liability in the field with a halfway decent bat. The money works though.

steelgolf
Legend
3 years ago

He just signed with The Dodgers

Eric_in_Portland
Legend
3 years ago
Reply to  steelgolf

true to his schmuckiness he used the Mets up til the last moment to drive up his price. This is, in a way, perfect. I tired of the guy weeks ago. Now I can resume actively disliking him.

steelgolf
Legend
3 years ago

Oh yeah, and I’m sure Mets fans right now are pissed off.

JackFrost
Super Member
3 years ago

We are no longer courting him.

He is now the enemy. Especially since he’s on the Dodgers.

Brent Maguire
Editor
Trusted Member
3 years ago

Yeah, that contract is nutty. Based on the Angels’ safe spending this winter, it’s pretty safe to say that they were never going to be in the running for him.

johnnyangel101
Newbie
3 years ago

I actually like this as a baseball move.

As a lefthanded batter, he hit .260/.349/.452 last year, and .245/.350/.425 the year before.

Those slash lines are consistent with his career numbers, too.

If Joe can platoon Fowler with Ward or Adell, that’s a decent RF combo, at a very cheap price.

And, yes, it buys Jo and Brandon some development time.

HalosFanForLife
Trusted Member
3 years ago

Does this leave us enough money to reacquire Baldoquin as a Free Agent?

steelgolf
Legend
3 years ago

 😂 

WallyChuckChili
Legend
3 years ago

I figure it would take a $8m signing bonus

HalosFanForLife
Trusted Member
3 years ago

That might be a little thin on the bonus side. No pun intended.

h27kim
Trusted Member
3 years ago

Might even keep us in the running for Granderson.

Chase Kimura
Member
Member
3 years ago

Love Fowler the person and think he’ll be a nice addition to the clubhouse, which does have some value, and he’s probably fine as a backup outfielder at this point (although, the decline in defensive stats makes me prevent him from backing up Trout in center). Just not an exciting move. Gotta hope Adell and Marsh rake in Salt Lake and force a promotion early in the season. But I generally like the idea of having Fowler on the roster.

Cowboy26
Legend
3 years ago
Reply to  Chase Kimura

I agree but in theory, Adell and Marsh could shift over and back up Trout in CF if/when they get called up. That way Fowler could still keep a bench spot. With Fowler’s defensive limitations, I suspect the backup outfield spot on the roster will go to Scott Schebler who, from the limited information I’ve seen, is pretty good defensively at all 3 positions. Unfortunately, the 40 man roster is now full and Schebler signed a NRI minor league contract . With the possibility of some additional bullpen pieces, it maybe time very soon for the Angels to jettison some dead weight

steelgolf
Legend
3 years ago
Reply to  Cowboy26

Jettison dead weight? Bye Barretto. If they are going to platoon Fowler they need someone who can hit lefties, which Fowler can’t do very well.

HalosFanForLife
Trusted Member
3 years ago
Reply to  steelgolf

I thought he just hits for more power against RHP’s. Isn’t his WRC+ decent against them? In fact, pretty good?

Cowboy26
Legend
3 years ago

Ironically, career wise he’s has been better numbers against lefties -OPS .796 .(282/.374/.422) than RHP’s – OPS .769 ( .251/.352/.417) It looks like his problems with LHP’s started when he left Wrigley. The numbers would indicate that he still has the ability to walk at the same clip so I’m not sure what would cause this reversal. Maybe BABIP & exit velocity changes?

HalosFanForLife
Trusted Member
3 years ago
Reply to  Cowboy26

I saw his BABIP in 2018 was horrendous. His 2020 and 2018 numbers were not good. But he has gotten on base above MLB average most of his career. This won’t move the needle a lot, but it could give us some flexibility. We definitely need one of these 30+ guys to have a rebound season.

steelgolf
Legend
3 years ago

Reading St Louis Cards fans comments, they seem to think he sucks against lefties, and they are watching most of the games so I like to get the feel of the players fanbase on the strengths and weaknesses. most seemed top be pretty happy that he was gone, not as a person, but they felt he was a liability in the field and at the plate.

HalosFanForLife
Trusted Member
3 years ago
Reply to  steelgolf

I’d be pretty happy too if he were costing us $16 million a year. I’m looking at him as a $1.75 filler – not the Plus WAR guy they paid for.

Eric_in_Portland
Legend
3 years ago

I think it’s ok but then I stopped paying attention to him a few years ago so if he declined, and everyone says so, I didn’t notice. But for that salary….well, I’d have preferred Goodwin but I bet they have similar seasons.

HalosFanForLife
Trusted Member
3 years ago

It will be interesting to see what Goodwin signs for. I’d lean that slightly towards Fowler, but just slightly. A coin flip really. Joe might have a different view about the intangibles. There’s always more to these things. Was there an injury that caused Fowler’s 2018? Take away that year and last year’s small sample – he’s put up decent numbers consistently. Of course, that could simply be the trend.

Senator_John_Blutarsky
Legend

I’m feelin’ the love. Let’s load up on the guys their current teams will pay nearly $13M *NOT* to have them play on the team.

Chase Kimura
Member
Member
3 years ago
Reply to  Cowboy26

Looks like Lagares is the guy now (who is actually a legitimate centerfielder).

jco
Trusted Member
jco
3 years ago

In essence, it’s a 1.75 million 1 year deal for a placeholder/backup outfielder. PTBNL aren’t usually good prospects. I’m sure Ward will still get some playing time and Fowler won’t block Adell or Marsh if they prove to be ready. Fowler can be easily relegated to 4th/5th OF status.

Jeff Joiner
Editor
Legend
3 years ago
Reply to  jco

And Ward can cover left late in games.

jco
Trusted Member
jco
3 years ago
Reply to  Jeff Joiner

Yep. And if Ward is hitting, he can start instead of Fowler. Spring Training may not be long enough, but they may want to think about seeing if Rengifo could back up in the OF too. He’s certainly fast enough to handle any OF spot. I’m not sold on his bat at all, but if he could competently back up at SS, 2B and all three OF spots, he’d have some value.

ihearhowie3.0
Super Member
3 years ago

Meh: The Story of the 2021 Angels

Senator_John_Blutarsky
Legend
Reply to  ihearhowie3.0

Introduction written by HGH and Vernon Wells

HalosFanForLife
Trusted Member
3 years ago

If Joe can get out of him his Chicago numbers – it could be a good effective stop-gap. Even his 2019 numbers wouldn’t be that bad as he does walk a lot. HIs 2018 numbers were abysmal – and we could get those too. Exciting? Not at all.

BartonSpringsMatt
Member
3 years ago

Yuck. I don’t want to give up any player from the farm for this. Hopefully Dexter plays half way decent for a few months and we trade him to get something back. I’d rather see Ward out there, or of course a rebounded Adell.

gitchogritchoffmypettis
Legend

Well OK. We are paying him what? Less than 2M? Fine I guess. Nothing to get excited about either way. So we have a full line up now and a team with a fair amount of Joe’s friends. We have a fair amount of versatility available through Walsh, Ward, Rengifo, Fletcher, The Rebel and Berretta. I’m so meh about the remaining FA starters, who all probably want 12M a year now I feel like they should just mad experiment with the “twice through the order starter” 6 man rotation, stash Juarez, Sandoval who ever else in AAA for fatigue depth and then and sign Rosenthal or Malancon and Wilson/Watson. Try to bullpen games to death.

Our line up will match up well enough with Oakland, Seattle, Houston and Texas.

Rotation: Bundy, Quintana, Heaney, Canning, Cobb, Ohtani.
Pen: Iglesias, Rosenthal, Mayers, Watson, Pena, Buttrey, Claudio, Barria.

Yan, Peters, Naughten, Quijada, Suarez, Sandoval maybe Detmers cover depth when Pena/Barria can’t.

Cowboy26
Legend
3 years ago

Can we at least get some more decent bullpen arms Please?

WallyChuckChili
Legend
3 years ago

Rule 5 Jose Rivera

Guy from Padres Gerardo Reyes

Cowboy26
Legend
3 years ago

Exactly

Jeff Joiner
Editor
Legend
3 years ago

I’d forgotten about them. Some upside there.

Brent Maguire
Editor
Trusted Member
3 years ago

I can’t think of a move that could’ve possibly made me feel more emotionless than trading for the current version of Dexter Fowler.

Rahul Setty
Admin
Trusted Member
3 years ago
Reply to  Brent Maguire

Apt description. I can’t get myself to be angry at this: it’s not a lot of money for a replacement value player but given the missteps this winter the team wasn’t looking to maximize value, anyways. It is very frustrating to take away at-bats from the up and coming players, though. It’s what losing teams do.

tldr; this is Arte’s team and Fowler is a brand name, marketing team go brrr

gitchogritchoffmypettis
Legend
Reply to  Rahul Setty

“Fowler is a brand name”? Where? Atlanta?

Senator_John_Blutarsky
Legend

Perdue Farms.

Fansince1971
Legend
3 years ago
Reply to  Rahul Setty

The meh for me is that there was some expectation of change under Perry. This seems to me a very Eppler move.

ihearhowie3.0
Super Member
3 years ago
Reply to  Fansince1971

I’m starting to wonder if Arte is expecting a strike or lockout to wipe out 2022.

Perry seems laser focused on other teams scraps that can be paid down and still expire after this season.

angelslogic
Super Member
3 years ago
Reply to  ihearhowie3.0

“other teams scraps”

That’s been the Angels way for quite a while now. Just enough to field a mediocre team that pretends it will be a contender.

Cowboy26
Legend
3 years ago
Reply to  Fansince1971

Maybe I’m missing something, but Eppler never was able to get the opposing team to eat any significant salary. It seems like he always had to pay retail ( or above) for any of his Angel acquisitions. Billy dove into a lot of dumpsters to find bargains. PTP seems to have a different approach with the same budget constraints.

gitchogritchoffmypettis
Legend
Reply to  Cowboy26

No. PTP is exactly the same as Eppler. Please conform to our norm sir.

Cowboy26
Legend
3 years ago

Well one thing I’m fairly confident in is PTP is not Jared Porter. With the maelstrom of shit surrounding this franchise , we definitely dodged a bullet there.

Fansince1971
Legend
3 years ago
Reply to  Cowboy26

Cowboy – what does it matter if you pay $5 or $3 for mediocrity? I guess if you save $2 you can purchase more mediocrity.

My point was not the cost, it was the overall plan. Certainly we don’t view Fowler as even as good as Goodwin. So what’s the plan? To field a team that is just good enough to compete on the theoretical level? If so, that’s the same plan as during Eppler.

You are looking at the economics, I’m looking at the bigger picture.

Cowboy26
Legend
3 years ago
Reply to  Fansince1971

So your advocating a larger payroll budget. Stupid Cheap Arte!

Fansince1971
Legend
3 years ago
Reply to  Cowboy26

I think you are putting words in my mouth. I’m not advocating one way or the other with regard to a higher payroll. I am advocating against investing in players that require luck to obtain any return. Fowler does nothing to make this club better in my opinion. His upside is maybe .5 WAR. His downside is making the outfield worse defensively and being completely unclutch at the plate – hurting the length of the lineup. It would require all the stars to align to get anything meaningful out of this trade.

I’m advocating against acquiring luck-based players like that. That is my point. Those type of acquisitions were the hallmark of the Eppler five years – signing players that we hoped would have an against-the-odds comeback season. As we have seen, while hope springs eternal, it rarely works out from an odds perspective.

After 5 straight losing seasons, I hoped the team was done rolling dice. Fowler is a crapshoot, same as most of the Eppler signings. Is it better to gamble $3 on a speculative crapshoot than $5 – yes. It’s still no way (at whatever cost) to build a championship ballclub while Trout is approaching 30 if you ask me.

Last edited 3 years ago by Fansince1971
gitchogritchoffmypettis
Legend
Reply to  Fansince1971

Sooooo…. who did you want for the OF that’s better than Fowler but not much more money?

I was actually all for Schebler and Ward to start and finding someone else if they sucked.

Fansince1971
Legend
3 years ago

Reddick, Gardner or maybe even Maybin. I know that the first two would cost a decent amount more but on a one or two year deal – who cares? Reddick for 2 years and $12-$15 million kind of thing. Maybin would have been a decent re-add at no cost to the Farm and around same salary. Those are just my off-the-cuff responses.

matthiasstephan
Super Member
3 years ago
Reply to  Fansince1971

That just kills any remaining spending room we have. Would rather get another pitcher, especially if there are still trades to swing. We should have financial room for another 2nd Tier starter, and I think signing Fowler rather than someone more expensive, and Suzuki with a similar price tag means Perry is prioritizing pitching, which everyone here has wanted.

gitchogritchoffmypettis
Legend
Reply to  Fansince1971

Reddick/Gardner = advocating for a higher payroll. Maybin is not as good a player as Fowler at this point.

h27kim
Trusted Member
3 years ago
Reply to  Fansince1971

PTP is punting for 2021. He’ll invest in no one who takes much money beyond upcoming season. I think the game plan is clear now and I can’t say this is necessarily bad other than this will again strand us in the meh category (neither bad enough to be actually useful or good enough to go anywhere) for another year. If PTP makes changes elsewhere (mostly the farm, but also maybe coaching (philosophy) and conditioning regime), that will be where things could get interesting…but we won’t know for a few more years.

gitchogritchoffmypettis
Legend
Reply to  h27kim

I think the scouting, development, analytics and conditioning stuff is WAY more important than draft position. You only get one first pick a year, even if you finish last it won’t be in the top 5 maybe. You are going to have to be able to find and develop talent back through the first 10 rounds.

I mean, just look at the next draft. As it stands now Kumar Rocker is #1. He doesn’t look like a sure thing at all to me, just as likely to wind up a fat kid in a bullpen than an ace, probably more so. I’d actually rather take Painter even though he’s a high school kid and he’s down towards ten in the rankings…. or Leiter.

JackFrost
Super Member
3 years ago
Reply to  Cowboy26

Yeah, so what? I AM advocating for spending more.

Look what the Dodgers have spent over the last two years alone. And they are by no means a reckless or poorly run organization.

With very few exceptions winning costs money. Owners who are tight fisted should not be owning/running a Major League Baseball team.

gitchogritchoffmypettis
Legend
Reply to  JackFrost

Ummmmm, yeah. We currently have the 3rd highest payroll in the MLB.

JackFrost
Super Member
3 years ago

Yeah, but that is mostly off of sunk costs like Pujols.

The point is that you don’t say “well, we spent last year so we can’t spend this year.” etc

The Dodgers broke the bank for Betts, and then went out and won the World Series! Money well spent, I’d say,lol.

Did they rest on their laurels? No. They go out and give Trevor Bauer $4o million for 2021 and $45 million for 2022. That is called commitment.

Look, I know it is not ONLY about getting high-priced FA’s. Scouting and development are huge parts of creating a winning org. Guess what?

The Dodgers invest heavily in that area too! What about Arte??

Oh, yeah. We already know the answer to that question.

Last edited 3 years ago by JackFrost
gitchogritchoffmypettis
Legend
Reply to  JackFrost

You know you can actually BE a Dodgers fan right? Cause, whether the players it buys play well or bomb, there’s no such thing as a “sunk cost” when you are still paying it for most teams accept the Doyers, Red Sox and Yankees. That’s just a dumb f*** term someone on Halos Heaven started throwing around wistfully a few years ago. If you’re truly not able to root for a team that doesn’t dump pile after pile of money on talent every year rain or shine then Go Blue my friend, it’s pretty much your only happy option. Pretty much every fan base in baseball is stuck in a similar or worse boat than us.

The sum of your desires is just not very realistic. You want a B market team to act like an A market team that is spending to make the Yankees blush. If it makes you that unhappy go get you a Betts jersey, he’s pretty cool.

Senator_John_Blutarsky
Legend
Reply to  JackFrost

Pujols, Upton, Trout and Rendon = $120M in 2021.

Having two of the four highest paid players on your team actually productive is a kick in the groin.

jco
Trusted Member
jco
3 years ago

I agree with gitch here. I don’t get any passionate responses on this. Fowler projects to be a pretty boring extra outfielder. He won’t be a world-beater, but may provide reasonable value. While his defense was pretty bad in 200 innings last year, it was about average the year before.

The Angels had 3 choices with their OF depth for next year while waiting for their two best prospects to be MLB ready:

  1. Go with what they had. This means lots of Ward in RF or perhaps a rushed appearance by Adell or Marsh. Maybe more Walsh in RF with Pujols at 1B?
  2. Medium to High-priced player. Adam Eaton signed for $8 million. Would you really want to sign Springer or Ozuna? In this case, there would be nothing for pitching.
  3. Low-priced place-holder. The Angels are paying 1.75 million for Fowler. In 2021, that is a low-priced place-holder. Hunter Renfroe got 3.1 million.

This is the right kind of player for the right kind of money for the 2021 Angels in RF. I’m fine for spending money, but I’d rather it go toward pitching.

JackFrost
Super Member
3 years ago
Reply to  jco

Agreeing with gitch about what???

I did not say anything about Fowler. I am pretty neutral on that situation, but probably would rather have seen Goodwin out there. But I don’t dislike Fowler as a cheap, short-term fill in in RF.

My complaint is more about a general lack of commitment and poor overall management by Arte. Anyone who does not see that this is a VERY poorly run organization is either blind or stupid, or both.

From Eric Kay, to Eppler, to Carpino and Kuhl to choosing a celebration of losing as your fight song this team has been a complete joke for over a decade. Had it not been for our incredible good fortune in finding a diamond on the beach in Trout we would have had zero highlights over the last decade . And no, I do not count winning the West in 2014 and getting unceremoniously swept by the Royals as a highlight.

So why are people still coming to Arte’s defense??

Maybe they are on the payroll lol.

Last edited 3 years ago by JackFrost
gitchogritchoffmypettis
Legend
Reply to  JackFrost

I don’t think anyone’s defending Arte. You said he’s tight fisted. I said we have the 3rd highest payroll. The org’s still screwed. Your solution seems to be “SPEND LIKE THE DODGERS AND SHOW ME YOU CARE!” which just isn’t going to happen. It’s a crap situation we’re in but what’s done is done. It will take some time to really build a solid team/org and we will just have to hope they do it right. Arte can’t spend like the Doyers, but at least we’ll be able to pay some of our young players who establish themselves unlike Kansas City or Cleveland and maybe bring in an FA or two as well. But throwing a tantrum like a kid who is angry that he didn’t get any presents at some other kid’s birthday party isn’t a plan or a solution. Maybe this team and it’s owner have just scarred you too deeply. Arte’s not going anywhere and as stressed as you seem he’s probably going to outlive you. Maybe it’s time to take it easy and go blue.

JackFrost
Super Member
3 years ago

You don’t get it. I despise the Dodgers and I detest their fans. I am not in the slightest interested in rooting for them.

But that does not blind me to the reality: they are well run and we are poorly run. And it is not only about spending more. That is PART of the story but certainly not its entirety.

You yourself quoted us as having the third highest payroll; ( which is actually not accurate; in 2020 we were 7th overall!! That is according to Statsta. The Cubs, Astros and Phillies were all ahead of us, as well as the aforementioned Big Boys) so you are making my case for me! It is NOT that we don’t have the resources to play with the Big Boys, but rather, it is HOW we choose to spend our money!

Maybe instead of giving washed up and injury prone up guys with cool nicknames like “the Dark Knight” 11 million per year to suck to high heaven we can make thoughtful, decisions that show foresight and planning. Hey, that’s a novel thought!

I don’t say I am second-guessing cause about 90% of us here called that move as total shit BEFORE Harvey threw a single pitch for us. The same can be said of Cody Allen, Julio Teheran and other names.

Under Eppler we floundered like a drowning man, thrashing about and grasping for anything within our reach.

This won’t do.

We can continue to engage in the annual excuse making, rationalizing ( we don’t have the resources — lie —- ) OR we can call a spade a spade and face reality, and in the process hold our owners feet to the fire.

No, I don’t expect Arte to sell the team. But unlike you I don’t think he’ll live forever, and probably not longer than me. I actually invest in my health and happiness and make good decisions that nurture my well-being,

Last edited 3 years ago by JackFrost
gitchogritchoffmypettis
Legend
Reply to  JackFrost

We are currently 3rd in payroll. That’z what I said because it’s correct.

And I do get it. What I don’t get is what you realistically expect to happen. You just gave the standard CTPG/HH froth rant.

A) Declare the team is poorly run. (I don’t think anyone is arguing the team is well run so this is filler. If anyone does posit that the team is well run I’ll join you in laughing at them.) Check.

B) We signed bad player…. insert name: Harvey, Tehran, Cozart, Allen, Linsecum, blah poo. Again, nothing contributed but this sites 2000th “Dark Knight” reference….. Check.

C) Dramatic reference to Eppler. Check.

D) Rail against excuses. Check.

E) Dramatic reference to doing something to Arte to make him give a shit about your stupid tantrum, which he’s never gonna do. Check.

In the end you keep saying it’s not that we need to spend like the Dodgers, it’s just that we need to spend like the Dodgers…. plus some vague shit about “the right way” which could mean building up a MiLB pipeline that you don’t seem inclined to wait for or either magically guessing which FAs will be good and/or eating the contracts of the ones that suck and doubling down on new free agents…. like the Dodgers. Or “the right way” could be something else. I’m not sure you even have an idea other than we should go get players that are good…. somehow.

I think you need to call a spade a spade and face reality. What you want is not something the Angels are capable of. We’re gonna have to grind out a few meh seasons before we are consistently good. Till then you’re just going to have more of the same to complain about. So if not the Doyers, why not the Padres? They’ll be good for a couple years until they actually have to pay their pitchers.

JackFrost
Super Member
3 years ago

Again, all you do is make excuses and settle for average (“we are going to have to grind out a few more seasons…”) And just what is going to happen after “a few more seasons”that is magically going to make things better.? The same decision makers/maker will still be in place?

As far as me not offering any alternatives to the meh and sometimes plain dogs shit that you like to justify and rationalize there are plenty of good but not great staters our there that would have actually helped our team, if not transformed the pitching staff.
Many have mentioned Musgrove, and a trade for some like Freeland (Colorado is clearly looking like a semi-rebuild team with the jettisoning of Arenado) would have been welcome. Same can be said for Sonny Gray whom I more than once advocated for, and I don’t think giving up Marsh and another middling piece is an unrealistic offer.

So, your critique of me is really off-base. I HAVE offered solutions, and not all of them involved spending more money. Of course the best results usually are obtained by creating a roster that has a couple or a few quality home-grown players (we have Fletcher, so is not a total loss there), a key player or two acquired via trade AND a top-notch FA or two to fill in a need/s that are not met otherwise. That is the prescription. I have never said that anything other than that is a real solution.

It is simply much easier to see how the Angels have failed in the Free Agent market than how they have failed in those other areas.

JackFrost
Super Member
3 years ago
Reply to  jco

Sorry, I thought you were replying to me…. For what it is worth though, I agree that after SS was solved and Raisel was added that all remaining resources should have gone towrds starting pitching.

Obviously Cobb does not cut it. I think we agree there. I think any acquisition at this point (even a good one) that is not SP is going to be viewed as spinning our wheels.

FungoAle
Legend
3 years ago
Reply to  Brent Maguire

Brent, does not even come close to addressing your post the other day about the Angels other weakness – OUTFIELD. Hard to get fired up with Trout flanked by a declining LF and a 0.230 RF named Dexter. Yes, he is affordable and that is about it.

Last edited 3 years ago by FungoAle
Jeff Joiner
Editor
Legend
3 years ago
Reply to  FungoAle

My biggest concern in the outfield is defense and this does nothing to change that.

Although right field is was such a pit of despair last year getting replacement level until one of Marsh or Adell had their clock manipulated enough …,err breaks through to MLB isn’t bad.

ihearhowie3.0
Super Member
3 years ago
Reply to  Jeff Joiner

My best interpretation is they expect one of those 2 to be playing everday by Summer but Fowler is the Opening Day veteran who transitions to a good clubhouse mentor or whatever for Marsh or Adell.

Jeff Joiner
Editor
Legend
3 years ago
Reply to  ihearhowie3.0

100% agreed.

Keep the seat warm for 2 months then literally keep a seat warm 4-5 days a week.

Senator_John_Blutarsky
Legend
Reply to  Brent Maguire

Yes but when a team has limited budget dollars to spend and has significant talent gaps to fill, every expenditure matters. This is why for me the last few moves by PTP are questionable at best.

gitchogritchoffmypettis
Legend

Yeah, unless they get 2 more guys for the pen or something the Cobb move still confuses me. Fowler for 1.75 I get. Him + Schebler are better than what we had last year.

Jeff Joiner
Editor
Legend
3 years ago

Any other former Cubs we can acquire? How did we miss out on Lester?

Jeff Joiner
Editor
Legend
3 years ago
Reply to  Cowboy26

I’m glad he was wrong. And I’m sure he is as well.

gitchogritchoffmypettis
Legend
Reply to  Cowboy26

Weeelllll…. there are several ways an American can be of African decent but not really be Black now days. I mean, his name is Dexter for gah’s sake.

HalosFanForLife
Trusted Member
3 years ago
Reply to  Cowboy26

Must have just been window dressing and acquiescing to the Rev’s pressure. That Arte moves fast.

Brent
Super Member
3 years ago

PTBNL? SO LONG PUJOLS!

HalosFanForLife
Trusted Member
3 years ago
Reply to  Brent

Interesting. But it didn’t say we’d be sending $29 million to St Louis too. 😉

matthiasstephan
Super Member
3 years ago

Would it matter if we did? I mean, this isn’t happening, but if we still pay his salary and we have Walsh as the 1B full time, that is better, no?

That said, I am still ok with Pujols in the lineup, part-time. He will bring some fans in (not fans from here, but more casual fans) and he will hit another milestone or two. I think if Walsh keeps up his end of 2020, Pujols playing time will dwindle to retirement.

steelgolf
Legend
3 years ago

WTF? Oh what an Angels move. Can’t hit lefties, below league average defense, probably worse than the catcher/ pseudo outfielder Ward. Jaysus, they are recreating the Navapile. Season punted.

Cowboy26
Legend
3 years ago
Reply to  steelgolf

But he has a lifetime 1.092 OPS at the Big A so thats something.

Halo71
Trusted Member
3 years ago
Reply to  steelgolf

Padres are looking better and better each day

Mia
Legend
Mia
3 years ago

2012 Mia is so excited. Unless he shows up in a DeLorean this is very much meh. Stop gap and hope Jo or Marsh warrant a call up.

Senator_John_Blutarsky
Legend
Reply to  Mia

Willie Mays Hayes is still available

Eric_in_Portland
Legend
3 years ago

what about Granderson?

...Rev Halofan
Editor
Trusted Member
3 years ago

…the meme that never died…

Eric_in_Portland
Legend
3 years ago
Reply to  ...Rev Halofan

from before my time, too, taught to me by my elders.

ryanfea
Super Member
3 years ago
Reply to  ...Rev Halofan

Has a meme ever died here?

gitchogritchoffmypettis
Legend
Reply to  ryanfea

What do you think it will take to kill it? And would it then kill Buerle?

red floyd
Legend
3 years ago
Reply to  ryanfea

John Samo?

losangel
Trusted Member
3 years ago
Reply to  ryanfea

We’re too GA to kill memes

losangel
Trusted Member
3 years ago
Reply to  ryanfea

I’m not sure but if you throw up, you’re banned.

WallyChuckChili
Legend
3 years ago

What do you think it will take to get him?

steelgolf
Legend
3 years ago

4/58 but we would be out on Wilson.

red floyd
Legend
3 years ago
Reply to  steelgolf

But what about Buehrle?

steelgolf
Legend
3 years ago
Reply to  red floyd

He is going to Canada, but they won’t let his dog into the Canada.

Jeff Joiner
Editor
Legend
3 years ago

Gets Adell and Marsh some much needed AAA time then makes a nice 4th outfielder once one of them breaks through.

Was much more productive than Goodwin last year but is a lot older.

Senator_John_Blutarsky
Legend
Reply to  Jeff Joiner

…but wasn’t Rebel Garcia the missing link to solidifying our OF?

Cowboy26
Legend
3 years ago

That was so yesterday’s news

Jeff Joiner
Editor
Legend
3 years ago

Looks like I won’t owe you any ammo.

Which is good because it’s about worth it’s weight in gold nowadays.

FungoAle
Legend
3 years ago

The salary the Cards moved out paves the way for their pursuit of Odorizzi. Come on Perry. Don’t let Joe make you drink the juice.

Last edited 3 years ago by FungoAle
Jeff Joiner
Editor
Legend
3 years ago
Reply to  FungoAle

They get the player we need. We get the player they don’t need. Solid.

red floyd
Legend
3 years ago
Reply to  Jeff Joiner

comment image

Last edited 3 years ago by red floyd
WallyChuckChili
Legend
3 years ago
Reply to  red floyd

Like a
comment image

gitchogritchoffmypettis
Legend
Reply to  FungoAle

Ummmmmm…. I think it paves the way to pay Arenado.

h27kim
Trusted Member
3 years ago

We better get a good prospect back for taking on his salary,like the other end of the Cozart Trade.

Senator_John_Blutarsky
Legend
Reply to  h27kim

I agree, however the one flaw in that logic is that Arte still owns the team and not spending cash matters most.

steelgolf
Legend
3 years ago
Reply to  h27kim

No prospect, this is The Angels.

gitchogritchoffmypettis
Legend
Reply to  h27kim

We didn’t take his salary.

steelgolf
Legend
3 years ago

True, just took the below replacement defense and offense of a 35 yr old who will get a roster spot. Matt Joyce part 2?

h27kim
Trusted Member
3 years ago

I wish we got more of his salary, and at least one good prospect back though, given the state of the farm….