LA Angels Thursday News Crash- Who Needs New Toys?

So, the Angels start spring training without several of their pitchers, including Alex Claudio who somehow developed a hip infection.  As John Henry reported yesterday, Matt Wise really is our new interim pitching coach. The Angels middle infielders look to be pretty solid compared to most of the American League West, although Altuve and Correa are expected to be pretty good.    In his updated power rankings by division, Zachary D. Rymer says the Angels “have new toys on the mound.”  He thinks the Angels are at least a safe bet to have a winning record which would be encouraging if we hadn’t already heard that song before.    

Here’s the next (East coast) player who is hyped to be better than Mike Trout.  See you if and when you ever make it to the big leagues, kid. 

How do I sync my phone to this new toy? Photo credit: Rex Fregosi

Links From Around Baseball

Who needs new toys when you can extend your favorite one for 14 years. Fernando Tatis Jr. gets a life changing $340 Million. Lookee there!  The Pirates signed a free agent pitcherSo did the Cubs, who also signed Brandon Workman.  I guess the arms race is the only thing heating up in the National League Central Division.  The Tampa Bay Rays acquired pitchers Chris Mazza and Jeffrey Springs from the Red Sox, while also re-signing our old friend Oliver Drake.  The Phillies grabbed left hander Tony Watson on a minor league deal with a spring training invite. The White Sox General Manager has already jinxed them.  Trust your new toys to play the game but don’t lay such heavy expectations on them.

Here are some details from Bob Nightengale about complicated provisions of Trevor Bauer’s contract.  Here are some more.  Tim Tebow finally hung up his cleats. Sadly, Twins Bench Coach Mike Bell just had surgery for kidney cancer

Sleaze Bag Of The Day!

The Mets Major League Hitting Coordinator, Ryan Ellis, was canned for sexual harassment on January 22.  He even had a sexual relationship with one of these women while he was married, but continued to harass her after she cut him off. 

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GrandpaBaseball
Legend
3 years ago

Realmuto is out with broken thumb.

Jeff Joiner
Editor
Legend
3 years ago

That is so very Angels. Jeff Mathis will get extra looks in camp.

How is this not us?

GrandpaBaseball
Legend
3 years ago
Reply to  Jeff Joiner

Spring Training anything can yet happen.

Cowboy26
Legend
3 years ago
Reply to  Jeff Joiner

The curse of the Premium lives on.

red floyd
Legend
3 years ago
Reply to  Jeff Joiner

Are we sure that Premium didn’t hire Vinnie and Guido to have a little convoisation wid Realmuto?

Last edited 3 years ago by red floyd
GrandpaBaseball
Legend
3 years ago

Seriously the Padres now have 2 30 million plus players. Wow! Who said small market teams can’t compete with the big dogs.

steelgolf
Super Member
3 years ago

Yep, they are making a run at The Dodgers and causing LA to go over the cap and pay a tax.

Jeff Joiner
Editor
Legend
3 years ago

Angels are apparently still involved in the pitching free agent market. Not much left there to really move the needle and the extent of that involvement is unknown, but there are rumors.

I’d mentioned Hamels the other day. SD guy, one year deal, that seems like the ceiling for what we might get. If anything.

Cowboy26
Legend
3 years ago
Reply to  Jeff Joiner

If Hamels can throw a baseball he’ll end up with the Angels. he’s the only free agent with ties with both Maddon & PTP and a California boy. Assuming he is a good clubhouse guy the only question is when is he ready to get back.

steelgolf
Super Member
3 years ago

https://www.mlbtraderumors.com/2021/02/athletics-sign-trevor-rosenthal.html
And Rosenthal is off the boards and part of The A’s

Jeff Joiner
Editor
Legend
3 years ago
Reply to  steelgolf

A’s with an active week. Rosenthal and Moreland today. So they’ve replaced Hendricks and Davis, essentially. Added Sergio Romo and Pettit earlier this week.

FungoAle
Super Member
3 years ago
Reply to  Jeff Joiner

The As certainly know what they are doing. Perhaps they promised Trevor the closer gig where we could not offer that. I was hoping we would land him.

steelgolf
Super Member
3 years ago
Reply to  FungoAle

I think they offered the high 11 million, though I would guess it will be 2 million or so this year with the rest deferred over the next 8 to 10 years. This way when Bonilla Day ends it can be replaced with Rosenthal Day!

matthiasstephan
Super Member
3 years ago
Reply to  steelgolf

I think 11M was too much (at least for us at this point). Still hoping we land Walker.

FungoAle
Super Member
3 years ago

Perry is not in the market for Walker or Odorizzi. Both of those guys are holding out to get what they want and someone will meet the demands. Cards, Giants, Mets for a short-list…Perry’s work is done with the rotation especially with Joe piping up that Shohei is looking good.

Jeff Joiner
Editor
Legend
3 years ago
Reply to  FungoAle

Not sure I’d go to big on Taijuan Walker. I loved the kid as a prospect, saw him in ST and thought for sure he’d be giving us fits for a decade. The heir apparent to Felix.

But between injury and inconsistency his career has been anything but. I guess as a long reliever/swing man he’d be ok. I do like the fact his FB was up a bit at the end of last year compared to the beginning.

steelgolf
Super Member
3 years ago
Reply to  steelgolf

Damn, I just looked it up and Bonilla is being paid through 2035!!!!! Longer than Rosenthal, Tatis Jr, etc.

red floyd
Legend
3 years ago
Reply to  steelgolf

Beisbol been berry berry good to Bobby Bonilla

comment image

Cowboy26
Legend
3 years ago
Reply to  red floyd

Can Chico Escuela Pitch?

Cowboy26
Legend
3 years ago
Reply to  steelgolf

Well in 2036 When the Killer B runs out of money he can get a loan from Mookie Betts because Mookie doesn’t get all of h-s Doyer Dough until 2044.

RexFregosi
Super Member
3 years ago

yo – i drove up to Diablo yesterday – and can confirm practices are shut down for fans.
things were gated and plenty of security around. for isntace the main gate to the parking lot out front was closed and locked

i didn’t spend too much time hanging around – even if i got some glimpses, i mean its just pitchers and catchers for now, and we kinda know how uninspiring the current cast is.

i suppose i will try to go to more games this year if practices are closed.

Jeff Joiner
Editor
Legend
3 years ago
Reply to  RexFregosi

Thanks for trying. Not being able to walk the back fields is really making me hesitant to go this year. I think I enjoy that time as much as the games, especially the last few years when I’ve been able to meet up with prospects I’ve interviewed and chat for a bit.

HalosFanForLife
Trusted Member
3 years ago
Reply to  RexFregosi

HEY ANGELS FRONT OFFICE – LET’S FIX THIS FOR REX. He’s more than a fan.

Robbinsca
Member
3 years ago

I looked back at my “If I Were Perry” contribution. Not a single one of my ideas was adopted, so if the Angels don’t win the WS I am officially not at fault.

i do have to give him credit for trying to fill RF. More options for one guy to break through than I would have expected.

tommyshalo
Trusted Member
3 years ago
Reply to  Robbinsca

If Perry is not paying attention, perhaps change the title to “If Arte wasn’t cheap” series.