Mike Trout says he is interested in moving away from center field down the road, but not quite yet. Joe Maddon says the move might happen this year. Then he said Mike Trout will stay in center field after all.
Raisel Iglesias is dealing with a family issue and has not yet reported to camp. Something similar is going on with Anthony Rendon. Now that there are few remaining decent free agent pitchers, the Angels are interested in Tyler Anderson. Here is the list of non-roster invitees to Angels spring training.
Pitchers
Brad Hand went to the Phillies on a one year deal. Meanwhile the Nationals got Sean Doolittle. The White Sox signed Vince Velasquez. Sean Manaea and Frankie Montas are apparently available for trades, although Oakland may be loath to trade with a division rival. Right hander Chad Kuhl is going to the Rockies. Milwaukee signed right handed reliever Brad Boxberger. Diamondbacks pitcher Zack Gallen is questionable for opening day because his shoulder has bursitis.
Shortstops
The Twins traded away Isiah Kiner-Falefa and are now showing interest in Trevor Story. The Astros are trying pretty hard to keep Carlos Correa in Houston. Fernando Tatis Jr. fractured his wrist. He may have surgery. He will be out for several months.
Other Links
Pete Alonso was in a major auto accident while on his way to Florida for spring training. He’s shaken up but does not expect to miss any time. Here is what his car looks like.
The Texas Rangers signed Jake Marisnick to a non-roster deal. Oakland got a pretty big haul for sending Matt Olson to the Braves.
A batch of experimental rules will be tested out in the 2022 minor league season.
Seattle is upgrading their team much like the Rangers. The Angels, meanwhile, aren’t doing much.
Andrew McCutcheon is now a Brewer.
The dreaded ghost runner might make a comeback.
Photo credit: Rex Fregosi
https://twitter.com/nmbaseball/status/1503870564775055363?s=20&t=08Yf4RPEP-xKwKUOgunCbQ
I used to be a Joe fan until I found out he’s a Suzuki fan.
What if he was a Honda fan?
I was actually hoping he’d failed his physical and the deal was off. He was tyat bad last year.
He played too much last year? So…… he wasn’t in shape to play a season of baseball, which he signed a contract to do?
Considering Stassi’s concussion and injury history this is a pretty absurd comment
That’s the way Joe rolls. Relationships trump performance. See Quintana and Fowler.
https://twitter.com/hgomez27/status/1503839920309379074?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw%7Ctwcamp%5Etweetembed%7Ctwterm%5E1503839920309379074%7Ctwgr%5E%7Ctwcon%5Es1_c10&ref_url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.redditmedia.com%2Fmediaembed%2Ftf2z5r%3Fresponsive%3Dtrueis_nightmode%3Dfalse
Yanks sign Rizzo. Gah I want someone to pony up and land Freeman. Come on Blue Jays, get it done! We have to keep Arte from getting grand ideas and flying off without his GM to have dinner with Freeman.
Doyers got this….just waiting to pay him more money….because it’s how the Doyers roll.
Padres desperately trying to move Homser. I think the SD threat is real. Especially after the 22 year old crashed his scooter. Padres are aggressive.
The Angels silence is concerning.
Either we’re done for the year or they’re about to do something massive, which usually blows up right in our faces.
I dunno about something big coming. I don’t think so. This feels like last year. He is looking for character guys and seeing who falls to him. He is clutching onto his rookies and is unable to swing killer deals. Mariners picked up a 3rd place hitter and a cleanup guy in one trade. Mo powa to Jedi.
All I know is I prefer total silence to “WE DID IT! WE SIGNED FREEMAN AND SCHWARBER!!!”
Nah, Story and Jansen.
You’re thinking Suarez is the M’s new cleanup guy?
Where did you get this GIF of my ex-wife!?!
Sure. Not an impactful lineup they have but clearly he is 4 or 5.
I just did a quick run through of all the teams, looking for “sellers” who may have a good starter they may be willing to let us pay if we trade for him. There seriously are not that many teams, and those that are obvious losers, like the Rocks and Pirates, don’t have much. The only way we can get Castillo is to take Moose, most likely, which we could do and move Fletch to short, but there are about 10 other teams that can do the same if they really want Castillo. The A’s starters? Will they trade with us? I still think we could get Minor from the Royals. Luke Weaver? Make an insane offer for John Means?
God I hope they don’t make any crazy non-pitching moves. I’d rather just sign a reliever and Tyler Anderson or Pineda and listen to the complaints about it not being enough.
I’m still hoping for Farmer from Cincy. There are arm in Miami that might be moved.
Really, I’ve been hoping for a trade for a shortstop all off season.
Unless it gets them rid of Votto or Moose they aren’t trading Farmer. Cheap young shortstop may be the only thing they hold onto. Though they may be THAT desperate financially. The Winker trade was a shock, but they needed to be rid of Suarez’s contract THAT bad… actually makes me want to try to trade for some of their pen arms like Cessa.
I swear it’d be my dream if they just took a big chunk of our farm and sent us Moose, Farmer, Cessa and Castillo. I mean I’d send em Detmers, Adell, and a few other prospects for that along with taking on Moose’s bloat. That would rule.
I would also like to marry Kate Mara and go to free Steelers games.
Everything was fine until you lost me at Kate Mara
Yeah, I don’t think the A’s will trade with The Angels.
Thaiss in catchers gear
https://twitter.com/jared_tims/status/1503866693625745408?s=21
McHugh off the board.
Perry is such a failure. Can’t even convince guys to not go to the defending champs.
I’ve been a fan for 45 years and this is the final straw.
It’s not Perry as you know. It’s Arte. Look at big spender Eppler w Mets now.
I suggest everyone watch the Lakers ‘documentary’ on HBO Max. It’s very clear it’s the owner that makes the decisions.
Don’t fall into the sarchasm, now.
That sarcasm was so well dug…. with small sticks and dry leaves laid across it to snare the unwary in it’s murky depths. So beautiful.
Oh I knew it was sarcasm. BUT…..it’s true that Arte is the wallet police.
Uh Huh.
Happy Birthday, Mia
Not until next month. 😊
Oh, right, I missed it by a month. Tax day, not the Ides of March
Tax day is also Jackie Robinson Day. Our Mia deserves to be linked with Jackie not taxes imo.
It is an honor to the share the day with him. And in a house full of die-hard fans, it was always shared. Haha.
Indeed. Every month I have left of my 20s is precious, let’s not rush things 😂
Jimmy Nelson too, can be a major swing and miss guy. Just like Perry.
*Especially if he’s facing the Angels
Yes, how could PTP possibly fail to get him to leave the Doyers? What a boner.
Huh huh huh… he said “boner”…
Talk of Story maybe taking a one-year deal. I’d be so for that move.
That would be awesome.
Or, the popular 2 year deal with player option after 1.
Arte don’t player opt outs. No way he would ever give a player that much power.
Spring Training games televised? I have not seen any mention of it. I really enjoy watching the day games while I try to work the day job 😄
We usually televise almost all of them, so I would assume so. Spring games are usually free for all on MLB.tv IIRC
I forgot about this new potential secret weapon. From The Athletics Sam Blum today:
• Two-way player Michael Lorenzen said he isn’t sure how he’ll be used offensively. He’s a capable offensive player and noted, “I saw when I walked up (into the clubhouse) that I have a helmet. So that must mean something.”
Maybe not “seriously,” but I always do wonder if we’ll occasionally use Walsh as a pitcher. So three two way players?
When Ohtani pitches we effectively lose the DH. An experienced bullpen arm who can actually handle the bat would be a great idea.
Unfortunately Lorenzen is going to start but assuming that he pitches 4th or even 5th ( not sure what day the starters bullpen?) in the rotation, He would be available to pinch hit for the pitchers spot after Ohtani is pulled from the game. If he got a pinch hit in that scenario that would be awesome. We would then be showing up the entire league and telling all 29 teams to take their DH’s and stick it.
hanging around the complex today – im a bit more encouraged by the left side of the IF. Tony is back and apparently we do have some SS in camp.
while my dad took me to a few games in the 1960s, i didn’t start becoming a camp rat till we moved to PS in 1972. 50 years later, still at it – enjoy some pics from today
sorry i didn’t get one of Arte in Bermuda shorts – epic fail there – also need a few of bearded PTP
Probably RED Bermuda shorts?
Beige off white?
It looks like Jeff Fletcher got us one of Arte’s shorts. See Twebur post below.
https://twitter.com/EvanDrellich/status/1503827484319653893?s=20&t=Eccv9d2YA4p9C8rGW51UTA
Not sure that bills going to be necessary with this court ruling.
https://theathletic.com/3188098/2022/03/15/judge-rules-minor-league-players-are-mlb-employees-throughout-year-and-are-owed-damages/
McCullers Jr. (flexor) will miss start of ’22
https://www.mlb.com/news/lance-mccullers-jr-will-not-be-ready-for-start-of-2022
So I had some fun with my Freeman to the Angels idea and took it one step further on the trade simulator.
Walsh plus Jeremiah Jackson nets us McKenzie from the Guardians. 5 years of control, really good arm.
That would result in a Thor, Ohtani, McKenzie, Sandoval, Lorenzen, Suarez rotation with Barria in the bullpen. Or maybe you swap Barria and Suarez.
Lineup is ridiculous with Trout/Ohtani/Rendon/Freeman in the middle of it.
It isn’t going to happen, but it filled up my lunch hour.
Cheap Arte better feed McKenzie. He can’t afford to miss a meal.
https://twitter.com/JeffFletcherOCR/status/1503779221230927873?s=20&t=LEQI3MPDmbQcHZ3-YOqPtA
We took a vote and you’re now the new POBO, Jeff . So you might want to lose that negative attitude.
Nice but the team would be under much better care with Turk’s Teeth and Rahul.
I’ll delegate. Turk’s gets the farm, Rahul replaces Carpino and runs the business.
Gotta think larger in the arm we target. Proven ace.
Thor’s arm is pretty damn large.
Looks bigger than Trout calves
You’re doing it again aren’t you. What is there, one ace type on the trade market? The Scherzer of the trade market? And you get all desperate and thirsty for that one guy, you need that magic castle, no other house will do, even if every other team wants the same guy, and when the better looking team gets him you rip your shirt and shave your head and cry like a puppy has died. Then you’re pissed off no matter who they get other than “ace guy”. It’s like you want to be miserable.
That’s a lot of upside in that rotation!
….you lift bro?
https://www.reddit.com/r/angelsbaseball/comments/te529n/random_drug_test_incoming_for_syndergaard/?utm_source=share&utm_medium=web2x&context=3
That is a large pitcher.
It’s no wonder why his nickname is Thor.
https://twitter.com/angelsreddit/status/1503786011024789504?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw%7Ctwcamp%5Etweetembed%7Ctwterm%5E1503786011024789504%7Ctwgr%5E%7Ctwcon%5Es1_c10&ref_url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.redditmedia.com%2Fmediaembed%2Ftewtme%3Fresponsive%3Dtrueis_nightmode%3Dfalse
He should be best friends with George Brett
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EG9P-19PboU
Yep. This is a family site.
Thoughts on Richard Rodriguez?
His tenure at Michigan & Arizona sure turned out to be a disaster.
I’d try him out. Thing is, other tha Raisel and Watson, 85% of the relievers I have thought were worth a try, on both the Angels and other teams, have sucked. So maybe no….
He seems to have pitched well for the Braves, and his stats look good to me (maybe someone smarter can tell me why he isn’t a top target?). Plenty of 30+ year old RP getting contracts.
With C-Rod out, we are seriously short on Rodriguii.
https://twitter.com/JeffFletcherOCR/status/1503814281610989568?s=20&t=Qp8sjEudHzLmKXhM8-1Sjg
Interesting. I knew he was back in camp but hadn’t seen a roster move. This explains it.
https://twitter.com/JeffFletcherOCR/status/1503801942954242049?s=20&t=op5LVWCwZnH71RgsiBw0_Q
From the video, Upton does look trimmed down as Rex reported. Final year for Justin, he needs to show his future team he still can play.
Looks totally crippled.
Can’t wait to see Tony and Trout as 1A and 1B for comeback player of the year.
🤞🏻
So are we just gonna pretend Suzuki was never reported by the media and just roll with Romine?
Because i’m totally cool with that.
Sign a starter and a reliever, Perry, and let’s call it an off-season!
Backtrack on the $1.75M which is $1.25M too much,
Isn’t minimum now $750K?
I guess we know now who we have to blame for Kurt Suzuki coming back. From Jeff Fletchers column today:
“I’m a Suzuki fan,” Maddon said on Tuesday. “I had a great time with Kurt last year. I like what he brings to the table. … I think he’s a very good backup catcher.”
“Also, his wife has cancer, which has made it really awkward when he cheats on her…. oh wait, did I say that out loud? He was cool with me putting that out there now right? Um, yeah, we’ll talk about that as camp progresses….”
Ladies and Gentlemen, allow me to present Kurt Suzuki, our New Jeff Mathis!
I’m hoping Davis Daniel shows something in spring training. It was fun following his progress last season. Tri-City, great. Rocket City, great. Salt Lake City…oof.
There was a lot of oofing last year at the Great Salt lake.
And don’t forget his interviews here on the site. I’m lining up another one with him fairly soon.
I hope he shows out. I want a multi inning reliever who can spot start. There’s an opening for that job right now, it appears.