LA Angels Friday News Crash: (Sub?) Optimal Optionality

Welcome to the final weekend links installment before pitchers and catchers report. As with everything during this pandemic the time seems to have both flown by and gone by in a crawl.

The Angels roster features some absolute studs in Mike Trout, Anthony Rendon, and David Fletcher. I’d add new closer Raisel Iglesias to that list as well. But there are also holes to fill, depth to be added, and new Angels GM is definitely looking for options.

On the pitching staff, Dillion Peters, who is out of options, was let go to make room for Aaron Slegers who has an option year remaining.

In need of outfield depth, both Jon Jay and Juan Ligares were inked to minor league deals, joining Scott Schebler who was signed early in the off season on a minors deal of his own. All three are capable of covering all three outfield spots. One likely becomes our 4th outfielder, one makes the taxi squad on road trips and the other is destined for Salt Lake City.

Fangraphs wrote a nice blurb on Ligares and Taylor Blake Ward points out that the three of them could form a really experienced AAA outfield.

And to keep options open for the infield, veteran utility player Phil Gosselin was added on a minor league deal.

With a rotation that still needs a piece added and likely won’t pitch a ton of innings, having bullpen arms with options will be key. By my estimation, Patrick Sandoval, Jose Suarez, and Slegers all have options. Veteran swingman Junior Guerra was signed to a minors deal, so he could also ride the Salt Lake shuttle.

GM Perry Minasian hosted a Zoom meeting to address the state of the roster and announce some interesting non roster invitees yesterday.

What is the result of all this maneuvering? About a 37% chance of making the playoffs per Fangraphs. So you’re saying there’s a chance.

Meanwhile up the 5, the logo stealing transplants also have options. All of them are good options, though. So much so that I’m hoping to get in on the kid they DFA’d to make move for off season prize Trevor Bauer. The kid throws 95 and has an option.

And the baseball these pitchers will be throwing will be deadened a bit. How could they be deadened if they weren’t juiced?

David Price and Mike Trout had some fun with this on Twitter.

Around the world of baseball, MLB must have read last week’s links. They are now installing an anonymous hotline to report sexual harassment and misconduct. Further steps are being taken and there will be consequences ranging from warnings to suspensions and firings. Nice move, MLB.

Last week I highlighted Wendell Smith because I appreciate his work in integrating baseball. I hadn’t considered it is Black History Month but figured why not make that a running theme for this February.

Rube Foster, pictured above, was the founder of the Negro Leagues. He created an option for talented young men who were shunned by MLB due to the color of their skin. He was also a fine ballplayer himself in his younger days. Here’s your longform read for the weekend. It is on Mr. Foster.

Foster not only founded the league, he pitched in it and and the club he owned, the Chicago American Giants, was a dynasty when Rube ran it.

While doing this column, my reading list got a little bit longer.

Happy Year of the Ox, people. I’ll be safely enjoying some dragon dancing, red envelopes, and egg rolls all weekend. Hope you are safe and enjoying life as well.

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Guest
4 years ago

Appreciate the recent long forms, putting me in the mood to do the Ken Burns marathon if I only didn’t have to work all weekend.

FungoAle
Legend
4 years ago

One more gone…Petit back to the As at an affordable rate. This guy has been pretty effective arm over his tenure in the AL. I would have liked to seen him sign here but maybe he is too similar to what we have.

gitchogritchoffmypettis
Legend
Reply to  FungoAle

I would have liked Petit too, but I don’t think he was going anywhere. He pitched for the Giants for a while, always owned home in the Bay Area when he played for us, then said he wanted to go back to the area and signed with the A’ss and continued on with them through now on contracts the team could afford. I never even heard a rumor he was going elsewhere and it wouldn’t surprise me to learn the A’ss always intended to bring him back at around 3M and he knew it.

Guest
4 years ago

At 37%, don’t think signing Bauer and any second tier P moves them much past 50%. This includes a good offense and closer.

The answer is simple, overachieve.

Guest
4 years ago
Reply to  Jeff Joiner

Fangraphs thinks 37% might be enough and were positive on Minasian’s moves in general. Color me surprised.

gitchogritchoffmypettis
Legend

Los Doyers resign near war criminal Justin Turner. The first contract I’ve seen Friedman give out where he has to hope against hope a guy doesn’t stop the roids….. or Turner just hit his second wave of puberty at 28.

Eric_in_Portland
Legend
4 years ago

Paxton to the Mariners, 1 yr, $8.5mil. That’s interesting in that I guess Odorizzi is affordable if we feel like going that far, salary-wise.

Cowboy26
Legend
4 years ago

The deal has another $1.5 million n easily attainable incentives ( $750K for 10 games and another $750K if he reaches 20 games) Considering Paxton’s injury history, Boras earned his keep on this one

matthiasstephan
Super Member
4 years ago

This means that the second tier price tag isn’t dropping as much as I had hoped (at least not yet). 3 days until pitchers report? Can we still pick up Walker and Rosenthal?

gitchogritchoffmypettis
Legend

Probably not both if either. I doubt Rosenthal is going to be cheap and with Iglesias in the fold I doubt PTP stretches the budget to pay what a closer needy team will. He’ll end up a Blue Jay or Astro or something. I’d like both, but I’d also be OK with Mike Leake and a Wilson/Watson. I still kind of wish we’d get an effective “old man” out in the bullpen.

2002heaven
Super Member
3 years ago

Trevor Rosenthal’s career looked all but dead at the end of 2019. Now 15 months later he’s looking to get paid a lot?
Ask yorself……would Billy Beane or the Brewers sine him? Anybuddy kooda had him for nuthin back then. Eye saye no to signing him because he’s a flyer kinda guy who we shouldn’t pay a lotta munny to……better to just keep on dooing what Eoobler did and find anuther lighning in a bottle story ( Hansel Robles ) and sign him to a one year deal.

matthiasstephan
Super Member
3 years ago
Reply to  2002heaven

Well, he had 11 saves in 23 games in 2020, so perhaps he is ‘back’. People pay for bounceback potential (especially with some evidence) often.

We dropped Rich Hill (with an infinite ERA) at some point, and he has turned it into a nice little career. These things happen, no?

WallyChuckChili
Legend
4 years ago

Dillon Peters clear waivers

Dilly Dilly!

Last edited 4 years ago by WallyChuckChili
Senator_John_Blutarsky
Legend

No surprise. A career 5.83 ERA and 16% strikeout rate isn’t too appealing

gitchogritchoffmypettis
Legend

You mean surprise 2021 Cy Young candidate Diddle Pete.

Jim Atkins
Super Member
4 years ago

MLB Trade Rumors says Orioles sign Matt Harvey to minor league deal. I think we have found maximum desperation.

Senator_John_Blutarsky
Legend
Reply to  Jim Atkins

So what your saying is that the Orioles traded Cobb to clear roster space to sign “The Dark Knight”?

Cowboy26
Legend
4 years ago

Does this mean its time to do another deal with the Orioles?

Senator_John_Blutarsky
Legend
Reply to  Cowboy26

It’s Perry’s world and we’re just along for the ride

FungoAle
Legend
4 years ago

The Angels are acting like they have a good bullpen while they watch FA RPs come off the board. Currently, it’s looking like, Barria, Slegers, Guerra, Pena, Claudio, Buttrey, Mayers and Iglesias. We have a Rule 5 arm Rivera, who is 50/50 to remain on MLB active roster and depth guys like Sandoval and Bard. Let’s be real honest here, this collection of arms are middle of the pack at best. A lot has to go right.

gitchogritchoffmypettis
Legend
Reply to  Jeff Joiner

There’s still a lot of meat on the bone. Arietta signed for 6M so what? Paxton probably wants 8-9? Walker n Oderizzi probably want more than one year at 9-10? I’d take any of that even if it bloats our salary a bit. Friggin Rays got Hill for 2.5, but my hero Brett Anderson is still out there.

I’d also be interested to varying degrees in….

Homer Bailey (if he’s not hurt), Mike Leake, Jeff Samardzija, Shoemaker, Ryan Tepera, Yusmeiro Petit, Rosenthal (of course), Tommy Hunter, your Greene and Wilson and Tony Watson.

That’s 15 pitchers I’d still be fairly happy to sign with less than a week before ST. When I see the size of that list, if I were Perry, I’d have a number I’d be willing to spend and I’d be waiting to see who floats down to it…. or I’d be on the phone to a team like the Tigers, telling them they might as well trade us Daniel Norris and sign Bailey.

Senator_John_Blutarsky
Legend

At this point unless the remaining FA’s go the “blue light special” route, PTP is hanging around the waiver wire waiting to see who gets dropped prior to the start of the season.

FungoAle
Legend
4 years ago

Playing the market makes perfect sense but it might be the right time to step into it and take the initiative. We need at least one more starter on a minor league deal. Samardzjia, Shoey or Anderson works for me. Pay up to get Rosenthal and/or pick up the bum Osuna. Those last two guys together in our pen would make a statement. The latter has got to be 1-year sign. Also, would be game for Wilson, Greene and Watson in addition to one of the relievers above. I know Osuna has haters but he has done his punishment. Move on. Nobody is riding Chapman’s or Urias’s ass.

It’s over now but really would have liked a Brock Holt over Gosselin or maybe even Panik with his great contact skills. Holt can play the OF and would have made Jay signing unnecessary. Coming around more Lagares, he has a good glove. But Jay and Fowler has me feeling underwhelmed. I still would like to see the Angels upgrade the corner spots. Especially when Upton underwhelms and Fowler hits 0.230.

steelgolf
Legend
4 years ago
Reply to  FungoAle

They won’t sign Osuna. Bad optics an PR. Can’t put him on a banner on Katella or State College.

gitchogritchoffmypettis
Legend
Reply to  steelgolf

I can see the season ticket email….

THE ANGELS ARE PROUD AND EXCITED TO ANNOUNCE THE SIGNING OF EPOCH SHATTERING RELIEVER ROBERTO OSUNA! BUY YOUR TEN GAME TICKET PACKAGE NOW! IF WE DON’T SELL 1000 PACKAGES BY FRIDAY ROBERTO WILL BEAT A WOMAN HALF TO DEATH SO DIG DEAP AND SAVE A LADY’S FACE TODAY!

I think this could really work.

Commander_Nate
Member
Trusted Member
4 years ago

I read this in Rodger Lodge’s voice.

gitchogritchoffmypettis
Legend
Reply to  Commander_Nate

EXACTLY HALO HONKS! PULL OUT THAT AMEX BEFORE THIS BATTERING BASTARD OF BASEBALL BREAKS A STRIPPERS JAW!

FungoAle
Legend
4 years ago
Reply to  steelgolf

The fact that the Angels were seriously looking at him indicates to me that they considered his behavior since the reported incident over two years ago. Cancel culture wants to cut off his head but he has upheld what the agreement specified.
I don’t like the guy at all at he ain’t coming but still concerned about our middle-of-the-pack bullpen.

matthiasstephan
Super Member
4 years ago
Reply to  FungoAle

I have seen nothing indicating that the Angels were ‘seriously looking’ at Osuna. There was a wildly speculative piece, that Fletcher shut down pretty definitively. I can’t see Arte going after him at all (the good legacy of the fall out from Hamilton).

2002heaven
Super Member
4 years ago
Reply to  FungoAle

LMFAO!!!
Come on the Angel’s rehabbing and breathing new life into a former good player as if we’re Billy Beane and those green & gold uniform A’s 😆 . Frasier & Nieles Crane would do better at rebuilding a old jalopy car or DIY Network Detroit $1.00 rebuild house than we would at rehabbing a fallen star……LOL!!!! Eoobler had better luck finding guys like Parker Bridwell or Hansel Robles who were both one hit wonder lightning in a bottle stories, than Danny Espinosa, Cody Allen, and Tim Lincecum. Yes all good or in Tim Lincecum’s case a previous great player, but alas, no longer.
Once Again We Aren’t The Oakland Athletics and never will be as long as Arturo sits on his throne…..

gitchogritchoffmypettis
Legend
Reply to  2002heaven

So you’re saying we should sign Roberto Osuna? The guy has been a sick pitcher of late, there’s nothing to rebuild. He’s just not a very cool dude, at least not three years ago.

Though I do kind of wonder. How long is the redemption curve on this? So he’s what? 3+ years from his grave mistake? Eric Bieniemy did shit that makes Osuna look like an undedicated slacker when it comes to horrific shit and the MSM is holding him up as a saint whose lack of NFL head coaching job is evidence of gross syrupy racism. So when does a guy pass from horrific monster to heroic genius victim? Ten years? Just wondering?

gitchogritchoffmypettis
Legend
Reply to  Jeff Joiner

Yeah. Guys who beat on women skeeve me out. But I also kind of pick apart my own dislike a little cause I am pretty wary of anything where the knee jerk reaction is “THERE IS NEVER BLAH BLAH BLAH…..!” Some of the shit I’ve heard, and I’m sure you’ve heard too, about what happens in relationships makes me question my autohate. Some stuff I’ve heard happen I even kind of wonder how the woman got out of that situation WITHOUT getting a punch to the face. Or rather, as I learned by about 3rd grade, if you don’t want to get punched in the face, don’t hurt people, emotionally or physically.

I don’t know. I just feel like I tend to look at a domestic abuser as similar to a rapist or child molester automatically, but it’s not even close to the same thing. Still, I have no idea where the line is where I’d ease up on the dislike.

Charles Sutton
Editor
Super Member
4 years ago
Reply to  Jeff Joiner

Maybe they want Sheldon Neuse to help them drive down Justin Turner’s asking price.

Cowboy26
Legend
4 years ago
Reply to  Jeff Joiner

Great . And now that he’s on his way to Oakland we’re going to be on a high Kolarnek diet when ever we face the Athletics

Eric_in_Portland
Legend
4 years ago

Melancon to Padres, apparently. Is there a site that has current payrolls? I’m curious where SD sits.

gitchogritchoffmypettis
Legend

According to sporttrac it’s 160.5 M plus what ever Malancon is getting. So yeah, they will need some of those young stud arms to make good soon cause they won’t be paying out much in big contracts until at least Wil Meyers is off the books, maybe not till 2024 when Hosmer is off too.

Cowboy26
Legend
4 years ago

I’ve found this to be the best site for up to date payroll & CBT calculations for all teams:

https://legacy.baseballprospectus.com/compensation/cots/

AnAngelsFan
Super Member
4 years ago

You can deaden a ball that wasn’t previously juiced the same (well, opposite) way you can juice a ball that wasn’t previously deadened.

That’s not what happened here, but just saying…

Eric_in_Portland
Legend
4 years ago
Reply to  AnAngelsFan

There must be something wrong with me because I understand what you’re saying

GrandpaBaseball
Legend
4 years ago

SMH, I understand too, it must be the Norm Crosby in us.

red floyd
Legend
4 years ago

But OP didn’t misrenounce any words!

Commander_Nate
Member
Trusted Member
4 years ago
Reply to  AnAngelsFan

What is deadened may never fly.

Designerguy
Super Member
4 years ago

OT: I can’t stop laughing at this.

https://twitter.com/_Virgho_/status/1359951510973603842

MarineLayer
Super Member
4 years ago

Signing John Jay instead of a real baseball layer means we have officially given up. SMH.

MarineLayer
Super Member
4 years ago
Reply to  MarineLayer

Baseball player. Thanks autocorrect.

Senator_John_Blutarsky
Legend
Reply to  MarineLayer

Repeat after me: Perry is brilliant. Arte is omnipotent and perfect. Any roster move the Angels make is the envy of all baseball.

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red floyd
Legend
4 years ago

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Commander_Nate
Member
Trusted Member
4 years ago

Is today’s headline a reference to a hero from the old site?

Also, props for sneaking in a Friday fill-in-the-blank game. I’ll go first:

“And to keep options open for the infield, veteran utility player Phil Gosselin was rosterbated.”

Cowboy26
Legend
4 years ago
Reply to  Commander_Nate

“And to keep options open for the infield, veteran utility player Phil Gosselin was….Asked if He Can Pitch.”

Senator_John_Blutarsky
Legend
Reply to  Cowboy26

And to keep options open for the infield, veteran utility player Phil Gosselin was signed as pitching coach

matthiasstephan
Super Member
4 years ago

Our last pitching coach seemed to think he had far too many options.

matthiasstephan
Super Member
4 years ago
Reply to  Commander_Nate

was asked … the eternal question ‘In and Out or Five Guys’?

GrandpaBaseball
Legend
4 years ago

It will be nice if Dillon hooks up with another team instead of retiring.

Senator_John_Blutarsky
Legend

It will be nice if Dillon hooks up

Cowboy26
Legend
4 years ago

With a mullet like that, I doubt he has any problems in that department.( If you know what I mean? 😉 )

tommyshalo
Trusted Member
4 years ago

He was our Cy at one point(sigh…)
At least he has long hair to hook up.