Before the second half of the Angels season kicked off, the team signed outfielder Adam Eaton to a Major League contract.
The White Sox should be paying the remainder of his salary minus the Major League minimum for which the Angels are on the hook, as they released him previously when his production didn’t match his salary.
Adam Eaton slashed .201/.298/.344/.642 in 58 games for the White Sox this season. Eaton should slot into a corner outfield position as the team waits for Mike Trout and Justin Upton to get healthy.
Regardless, Eaton is a Major League outfielder, and this move means that the team can stop trotting out infielders like Luis Rengifo, Taylor Ward, Phil Gosselin, and José Rojas in the outfield. That’s a win in my book.
SP Dillon Peters was DFA’d in a corresponding move.
Wondered if we’d do this when he was released since he sort of fills the Dexter Fowler role of a veteran/clubhouse presence that, you know, actually is an Outfielder.
All our corner outfielders have been infielders playing out of position.
Eaton > Ward, Rojas, Rengifo. Although I’m perplexed regarding how Mayfield remains on roster, signing Eaton is a smart, savvy, low-risk decision.
Based upon their current teams’ salaries ( prorated league minimum), Would Eaton > Pujols for the Angels?
He definitely projects to play more. Also I think 1B is the least valuable position, if I’m not mistaken.
Good question – I believe it would. Key for me is that Eaton wants to be here.
I’d been pondering about this for a while, since Eaton hit release waivers, and this seems like a decent to even good idea–unless he really hit skids defensively last year or two. He’d been a good defensive outfielder with decent offensive skills as recently as 2019, even if often-injured. For major league minimum, this is a worthwhile gamble.
I’m convinced he’s not the answer. Perry (I call him Perry now because I liked the draft) knows he’s not the answer but he also knows Rengifo and Gosselin in the outfield are not the answers, either.
Much as I hate it, Albert has hit better for that other team than he did with us. Maybe we’ll get lucky and Eaton will produce.
Again, it costs us almost nothing so it is very low risk. It would have been nice to get a serviceable OF piece who in additional to providing solid defense would also give us at least something offensively.
I am happy we won’t have to see Ward or Rengifo in the OF, but what I really want is for Trout and Upton to be out there. It seems like both might still need more time. Recently we were led to believe Trout would be in the lineup right after the All Star break. We really need both guys for this very important series against the Mariners starting tomorrow. We can’t afford to be scoring only 3 or 4 runs on Friday night, especially with Heaney starting (this is another issue with which I am unhappy and will address elsewhere).
In short, I am very unhappy with our training and medical staff and how player rehab is handled. In addition to the misinformation it seems they are just not very good.
If you look at Eaton’s splits ( as well as Lagares) if deployed wisely Eaton cam provide an offensive upgrade in right field when the GOAT finally returns.
Albert has hit better against Left Handed Pitching than he did with us. The Doyers have deployed him wisely in that regard where they can limit his at bats to facing left handed pitching journeymen or, in the case of last Saturday, Right Handed Pitching right fielders. Albert has done nothing since donning the Latrine Blue to improve his splits against Right handed Pitching where he is still carrying an OPS of .524 this year. From all accounts his defense has continued to deteriorate with each passing day. If he tried any of the acrobatic moves that have become common place with with our current first baseman, they would have to crane his ass off of the bag and put him in traction for about a month.
You gotta remember too, the crux of the Pujols issue was he wanted to start. Being limited to hitting off lefty meat? He was totally refusing to do that here.
I don’t get why adell or marsh wouldn’t get the call up.
Because neither is ready
Yeah, no matter how much they light up the pinball machine in SLC, they need ABs and reps in the minors. I think we all saw this with Adell last year..
Under-discussed story is how little Marsh has played in the past year because of so many injuries.
Adell is being kept down for defensive reps and learning the strike zone in a way that will allow him to swim instead of sink next time.
If you look at Adell’s current K’s/AB and lack of BB’s/AB this year at AAA, it looks like he’s barely graduated up to getting his floaties.
Are we prepared for the possibility Jo will never be anything more than a masher who constantly strikes out and can’t field?
No
I can’t remember and I’m too GA to look. Does Ward have any options left?
Here’s the thing, I actually think Ward has some value. I think, in general, he can be a 100 OPS+ guy. I think it would be kind of cool to send him down, let him beat on some pitchers, and at the same time make him play some 3B, some 1B, a bunch of corner OF and even some games at catcher again. I think he could be a pretty solid bench player if he could get livable at several positions and I don’t really think that’s impossible for him. Heck, if the Angels were the Rangers I’d say just do it on the big club, but he needs to go to a safe space and try some stuff out.
He had two before the season started, leaving 1.
Hasn’t he been up and down, so we won’t burn another one if he goes down again?
I’m too GA to follow up.
One option counts for an entire season as long as the player spends at least 20 days in the minor leagues, so they can send him up and down like a yoyo all year long.
https://www.mlb.com/glossary/transactions/minor-league-options
Thank you for this. I never understood this rule until now.
Yeah, I believe you’re right.
Es Verdad.
If I can quote Adam saying that this is most fun he has had in years, I’m all in on this pick up
Not a fan of Eaton at all. Seems like an all-around shitbag. I think there’s a reason why Chicago decided to eat all the money owed to him and rid themselves of this guy in the clubhouse even though they’re considerably short-handed at the moment.
For reference:
https://deadspin.com/adam-eaton-actually-the-financial-struggles-of-minor-1835787706
https://www.southsidesox.com/2020/12/8/22163687/white-sox-holy-god-adam-eaton-is-coming-back
10/10 Punchable Face
He may get a front-office gig if Arte reads that Deadspin article. Maybe GPaBB can forward him the link
I hate assholes too….But hearing that Eaton hung up on Carmen and Jurko was too much for me. Now I hope they keep trotting out Ward, Rengifo and Rojas, screw improving the team.
I can’t believe he hung up on Carmen and Jurko. Its incredible! Hanging up on Carmen and Jurko! Just one question, Chief. Who are Carmen and Jurko?
Obviously Chicago royalty. You might think about hanging up on Rodger Lodge, but not Carmen and Jurko….that’s espn radio your messing with, might get back to Screaming A Smith.
Would you believe they’re the new sausage kings of Chicago?
Does Abe Froman know about this?
“it’s understanding that allows people like us to put up with people like you.”
Wonder what happened when the real Abe Froman arrived and his table was already taken?
Thank you both for playing. Unfortunately, the answer we were looking for was, “No, Max.” Again, that was “No, Max.”
Here’s your lovely parting gift.
These comments are just genius. They made my day.
Also acceptable would have been “Zomehow, Shmart, I find zat razzer hard to believe.”.
Thanks for the links. I don’t think what he said or did is that big of a deal, he’s just relating to his own experience and motivations, which most people do. If he hung up on a talk show host because they were putting him in an uncomfortable position about his manager, I can’t say I blame him.
That being said, now is his last chance and he better put up some numbers or else! Hopefully this pushes Ward too.
“Yeah, there’s the grindy part of his assholery, the part that new manager Tony La Russa probably measures in “Ecksteins” on his notecards, continuing in the long White Sox tradition of A.J. Pierzynski, Tony Phillips, et. al.”
I loved how Ecksteins are a thing.
We know Pierzynski’s are a thing.
I suspect the Unit of Measure for Tony Phillips would be in “Ivanhoes”
How many Willits in an Eckstein? And what’s the Eckstein measure for Fletch?
There are now multiple Ecksteins in a Fletch. Not sure how many exactly but I think its something less than infinity
I didn’t think his comments on MiLB were all that bad, seemed pretty measured, but yeah, he’s a douche. What I love is all the “Oh mah garsh! Ah cuyant wait tah see this guy and not Ward out thar…” crap.
Ummmm, yeah. Wait till you see this guy out there. We also better hope he remembers how to hit a little cause his recent seasons make Ward look like a pretty good bat. Also of fun note, why have we solved the Angels injury woes in the outfield by signing a guy who almost always seems to be injured for years now?
At least he’s a giant grit pump. Some people around here will like that as he Erstys his way to a .550 OPS and negative DRS with lots of competitive fire.
I have this feeling that unless he hits extraordinarily well, Eaton will only be with the team a month or so. And better than having Jay come back.
Exactly, consider it like an NBA 10-day contract, he is here to produce, if not, he is let go. Why is everyone complaining about “he’s hurt a lot,”’ he “says bad things,” “he’s stupid,” he cost us no prospects and it is hard to believe he’s a worse option than what we’ve seen this far in in RF. I was hopeful of Schebler but the Angel brass does not seem to be committed to playing him when swing or Rengifo is out in RF. As you stated, he’s gone in a month if he falls apart.
I was rooting for Schebler but his 2 limited auditions were just plain horrible.
And that is okay. If he plays solid defense and does not cost us any games with a key blunder in the OF (Rengifo did just that !!) then that is an improvement.
The obvious downside is that Eaton might as well be going up to the plate holding a plastic straw. That is what he’ll deliver offensively.
Last I heard, .201 > .16<something>. He may be holding a plastic straw, but Rengifo was holding a blade of grass.
And added bonus: now Rengifo can devote more time to commit key blunders at 3B until the Tin Man comes back.
At least the Tin Man is on his way to seeing the Wizard and getting redemption….
I am not sure what path Rengifo is on but I can tell you it is not the Yellow Brick Road.
Eaton in the outfield instead of Rengifo, Ward, or Gosselin? That’s a win in my book.
Rev Halofan, do you have an imposter/troll on MLBTR?
Or did you actually suggest Ward, Rengifo, and a non-prospect for Bryant/Kimbrel?
Haha
Just hoped Angels would get him when the DFA news came out since it’s been hard watching those IFs in the OF.
Now with Eaton added to Rendon and Kurt, we can go all IN on Sherzer that 2019 Nationals are kind of regrouping in Anaheim. Maybe keep an eye on Trea Turner too.(probably too expensive but who knows)
Scherzer still looked nasty in the ASG, huh?
in a somewhat related story, Cole Hamels will be showcasing on Friday. I think we have to be interested enough to check him out.
With ties to both Perry & Joe I would think we’d be on top of this
We’ve seen this story many times. Pitchers who we’re not signed in the off-season and “showcase” half-way thru the season, never produce.
like Lincecum
Meh, he will play decent defense in the outfield but really doesn’t have a bat for the offense. Doesn’t move the needle one way or the other for me. Maybe it is because I’m still riding the “Angels drafted nothing but pitchers” high.
Have you seen Rengifo hit lately ?
None of us have!
Rim shot…..
Oh, Rengifo is terrible on both sides.
Yeah, he has had enough playing time to demonstrate his potential, just not there. Not a good defender. Cannot blame that on COVID.
Any news on when Trout is officially back?
Well, if they say soon then you know he’s probably done for the year.
This weekend, right? Let’s go Halos!
Remember we had Eaton for a few minutes back in Trumbo deal. Technically we got Skaggs and Eaton then flipped Eaton to Chicago for Santiago.
He’s finally made it here.
I thought the Angels kind of botched that trade tbh, they should have gotten Quintana instead of Santiago from the White Sox even though the Angels have him now and he’s just bad, and gotten Archie Bradley instead of Skaggs
For once, some other team is paying a MLB castoff’s salary
Two this year…we tricked the Cardinals into paying big chuck of Dexter Fowler’s contract.
The Times they are a’chang’in..Go Perry!
Who? Who is this Dexter Fowler you speak of?
I’d rather have Eaton in right or pinch hitting than either Ward or Rengifo. He’s also better than Upton defensively. This lifts the floor a little bit. I like it.
This is an upgrade from Rengifo in right. Definitely with the glove and, sadly, also with the bat.
And when Upton comes back he’ll still be bad at defense so we’ll want a late game replacement.
Overall I’d be surprised if Eaton racks up much more than 100 ABs.
Eaton has played a lot of RF over the past couple of years. I say he will get the better side of the platoon.
Good point. Upton/Trout/Eaton is a realistic possibility. In that case he’ll get more than 100.
Lagares I’m batting. 219 with a GG
I still prefer Lagares
that veteran grit, over young swag, should get him extra playing time
If Upton and Trout are coming back shortly then what’s Eaton’s role? RF? Our OF has been 3 guys we didn’t think would be there. I know Lagares has a Gold Glove. Any place for him now? I would think we’d keep Ward on the team rather than Lagares. I think that’d be a mistake. My pet name for Ward is “Bonehead”.
Eaton likely slides in as Upton’s defensive replacement.
I’d put Lagares ahead of Ward for sure. Either Lagares or Eaton in right makes good sense to me.
I’d go with Lagares in RF, and Eaton as 4th OF.
Works for me.
I guess I’m one of the few (or the lone one) who thinks Ward’s bat has decent potential?
I’d guess platoon with Lagares in RF. Whoever doesn’t start replaces Upton in LF to close out the game.
If you squint hard enough at their career splits, the platoon should equal an average MLB player. Sadly better than what I’ve been watching the past couple of weeks.
With above average outfield defense? Count me in.
Trade Ward to the Mariners for bubblegum and let Dipoto take care of his little toy
Trade him for one of Jedi’s bullpen flamethrowers.
I saw this coming as soon as he was released. I made a comment about this on a game thread after an ugly play in the outfield.
You’re on quite a roll! What are the winning lotto numbers for tomorrow?