Good morning Angels fans. We are almost at the trade deadline, enjoy these last few days before then, I guess.
Angels News
The Angels actually won last night. Somehow.
The Angels are still horrible, however. How bad? Playoff odds have fallen under 1%.
Fear and speculation of trading Ohtani have been brought up, so Jeff has written about it.
Thor does seem more likely to be moved, however, and he feels mixed about it.
Hey, at least David Fletcher looks healthy again? Bees are more fun to watch anyway.
Seriously, the farm system is way more exciting to watch than the MLB team.
Around Baseball
Trade deadline is Tuesday (for some reason) so trade talks have been intensifying. For example, Juan Soto, who the Nats are trying to get an enormous haul for.
Cubs are looking to trade Contreras and Happ, who may have played their last game together in Chicago yesterday.
Meanwhile, the Tigers are willing to trade anyone and everyone, including young SP Skubal. I really did wish the Angels traded for Skubal…
And in Miami, everyone but Sandy is available. Typical Marlins and their yearly fire sale.
Red Sox are willing to sell JD Martinez, but not Devers or Bogarts.
In non trade news, the 2023 HOF ballot is being talked about and there aren’t any obvious HOF players on it. 5 Angels, however, may get some votes.
The 2nd overall pick in this year’s draft is out for a while after injuring himself. So fragile.
Kumar Rocker, who infamously did not sign with the Mets last year, has indeed agreed this year with the Rangers. I sense a LOL Mets situation in the future…
Baltimore has an ownership dispute in the family. Maybe Arte’s wife can do something about the Angels, right?
Jackie Robinson museum is finally open.
Anything I missed? Post below for upvotes.
Hearing what Mike Trout has been diagnosed with changes everything. Marsh should be the new everyday Center Fielder moving forward. If the Angels plan on keeping Mike Trout and Shohei Ohtani, they are going to have to switch things up. It looks like playing Outfield might not be an option for Trout anymore to keep him healthy enough to keep his bat in the Lineup. So with a DHing Trout, that means Shohei is going to have to play Right Field like he did in his Nippon-Ham Fighters days. He has a cannon arm like Ichiro did from the highlights I saw. Ohtani could be average to above average in Right Field. Would Ohtani be willing to even do that at this stage of his Career? Is that too much wear and tear on his body? I think Ohtani could do it, if he prepares for it in the Offseason. However, realistically it would probably be better for Ohtani to go to a team that allows him to Pitch and DH while playing for a Contender. Angels might have to look into trading Ohtani if Trout becomes the everyday DH moving forward.
I wonder if the Trout diagnosis changes the math on Ohtani being available.
The universe is kind of putting the writing on the wall. You could trade Shohei, Thor, Ward, Iggy, Tepera and still not be a bad team next year given the extra payroll room, prospects, depth.
I think this likely means that Trout will have to be the primary DH in the future, even if he continues to play more or less full time. This forces a real dilemma on the team: Ohtani no longer has a position to play, but he also cements the role as the most sellable face of the franchise.
I don’t think you trade Ward under any circumstance.
He and Walsh are who you are building around.
lol
It’s been a while since I was here. & seeing the 2022 Angels just fall apart away the ill-fated sell of The Big A fall away just saddens me even me.
I been hearing trade rumors of Ohtani-san. Personally, unless he demands it,I don’t see him being move. But I will say this- if this team doesn’t improve, he’s (in Terry Smith’s voice) “outta here” when he becomes a free agent after next season.
Of course. Day to day turns into career…
Angels head athletic trainer Mike Frostad revealed Wednesday that Mike Trout has been diagnosed
with a rare back condition called costovertebral dysfunction. (It is somewhat related to the right ribcage inflammation that sent Trout to the injured list earlier this month. He is not currently doing any baseball activities following a recent cortisone injection and there is no mapped-out timetable for his return. “This is a pretty rare condition that he has right now in his back,” Frostad said. “The doctor (Robert Watkins), who is one of the most well-known spine surgeons in the country, if not the world, doesn’t see a lot of these. … We do have to look at this as something that — he has to manage it, not just through the rest of this season, but also through the rest of his career probably.” Yikes.)
Ouch…. 🙁
Same thing happened to the Mets David Wright who was a fine player, ended his career. It’s ironic they’re named the Angels, they should be blessed with good fortune not constant tragedy.
Of course:
Angels head athletic trainer Mike Frostad revealed Wednesday that Mike Trout has been diagnosed
with a rare back condition called costovertebral dysfunction. (It is somewhat related to the right ribcage inflammation that sent Trout to the injured list earlier this month. He is not currently doing any baseball activities following a recent cortisone injection and there is no mapped-out timetable for his return. “This is a pretty rare condition that he has right now in his back,” Frostad said. “The doctor (Robert Watkins), who is one of the most well-known spine surgeons in the country, if not the world, doesn’t see a lot of these. … We do have to look at this as something that — he has to manage it, not just through the rest of this season, but also through the rest of his career probably.” Yikes.)
Hide07.27: Mike Trout (ribs) is not expected to resume baseball activities for at least another Read More07.27: Vinnie Pasquantino is considered day-to-day with right thumb discomfort. Read More07.27: J.D. Martinez (back) went 0-for-3 with three strikeouts on Tuesday in a loss to the Read More07.27: Brett
I don’t feel as though I’m a Doomer, but I know that as long as Arte is pulling the strings, we can’t afford Shohei and 40 million a year. Arte-no one else needs to call Mike into the office for a one on one in private, just the 2 of them and flat out ask Mike what does he really want. If it is to play back East, then accommodate him. He does not want to be here any longer and feels he has been lied to about making this a winning club. He has no motivation at this point to play though injuries.
Arte has not been convinced that he should change his way of doing business. I am frustrated as much as Mike Trout is, as much as anyone here or on any other blog site. But the only way to ever see a winning team again is to start over and cut the losses now and talent now.
I’m not a Doomer either. I just open my eyes and see what I see.
This is what doomers generally say.
And Pollyannas close their eyes and hope for the best.
This is also what doomers say.
Albert and Rendone was all about Atre and Hamilton was all about his wife. They both wanted and may still want to collect Baseball Cards. “Help me if you can I’m feeling down, Help me get my feet back to the ground, Helpmeeeeee.”
TootyToo? is that you? Hamilton was all about Atreyu’s wife? Beatles song. Where’s the emoji?
Fragile Mikey Trout is out another two weeks after receiving a cortisone injection today…..
Like last year and the year before…there is nothing to play for this year. But it is a big miss not seeing him replicate 2019. He was doing well.
Not what the sideline reporter just said. Yes it is 2 weeks, but he got the shot a week ago.
It’s just my Lylin eyes lookin at it, but it seems to me one place the Angels apparently have scouts is Venezuela. I see a lot of our better Intl signings seem to be from there. So Oklahoma… and Venezuela….
I was gonna be a little excited about some of the young players we see in the system, but then I remembered that Bleacher Report said our system is bad (but Yankees good) and also CtPG Guy has convinced me that there is no point in even having prospects because we obviously can’t develop any of them.
This is why I want to trade Ohtani for Dogecoin.
I hear Dogecoin has a devastating 12-to-6 curveball.
You mean on their valuation chart?
Cheap arte needs more $ invested into the DR.
How about just trading Ohtani for Doge?
Are we going to do the year 3 bit of hoping Rendon and Trout come back healthy next season bit? Those two have so mileage on their bodies I doubt they can stay healthy (unless Trout is secretly just burnt out, which is impossible to prove).
They are going to have to shed salary and go after a SS (maybe overpay and fans can get their red meat) and a catcher.
Also trade Thor at the deadline and mpve Lorenzon to the bullpen (even if he doesn’t prefer it).
Rendon and Trout are different. Trout can still be effective in spurts, as recently as this year. Rendon is completely broke.
I think if Rendon ever has a 4 WAR season again you should have to get a big tattoo of him on your chest.
And if he doesn’t, you should get one of him with his contract number on the tattoo’s forehead.
I’d be down if I was the one constantly commenting about the same guy, making very clear statements about what the guy will do in the future, etc. But I’m not, because none of the Angels players look like a guy that hurt me deep deep inside in the past.
Completely broke? he must have an epic gambling problem then.
True, bad choice of words, because that contract has made him very rich for doing nothing except taking a swing at that Mariner while injured.
No, correct choice of words. Just funny tangential reply by the Cowboy.
Umm, yeah, probably, since that’s what is actually happening in real life.
Liberal hearted writers may get Beltran sympathy votes because of his WAR, but sense the HoF has no credibility any longer, does it matter anymore? To me if you cheated you should be gone from the game and f*c* the player’s Union. Bud Selig and Rob Manfred are Jelly Spines, never were there to protect the credibility of MLB, just there to line the pockets of those they served.
I do wish FRod would have had 600+ saves, then we’d be talking HoF.
Which team will get Soto? The one that has no issues going to the “Cap”. If you take him on for big money you will nor field a competitive team unless you have a huge payroll that will fit other high salaries, the Angels have proved that. And you still have to give up a whole lot of “Kids”.
The left side of my noggin says kept Shohei no matter the cost. Even at 40mil per year that is like giving Thor 20 to pitch and giving Upton 20 mil per year to hit. the other side of the noggin says you got to off him to field a better team. I just HATE the thought of no more Shohei. I am angry that we signed Rendone as must today as I was when we signed him. I said it then, bad move if you want to keep Shohei.
Do you keep Ohtani at $50M per season? What about at $60M?
He will get more than Trout, I would not be surprised if he commands something in the range of $55M.
If Arte opens his purse to keep Ohtani – that’s just about $130M for three players…..which means the farm better be cranking out 5 to 7 MLB starters every 4 to 5 years.
Unless Arturo is willing to bust through the salary cap and act like a win at any cost franchise, then we are not realistically in the running for Ohtani. Or if we do, we are doomed to have about 10 minor league caliber players on our roster, like this year. Simple as that.
I would. You’re dreaming dude.
Which part is the dream?
That some team is going to pay Ohtani $55 million a season. Aint going to happen.
Fair enough. What do you think the ceiling is for his annual salary in a new contract?
Whats the duration?
Let’s go 8 years….
I dont think he’ll sign an 8 year deal because he will want to set the record both in AAV and duration. So I’m guessing MAX 10 years $460,000,000 (MNT has the largest at $426.5 M and Scherzer has the greatest AAV at $43.333M) provided no-one eclipses that this offseason.
If he doesn’t sign it until after the 2023 season Ohtani would be 29 years 9 months entering the FA market
You have to remember , Ohtani’s usage cant continue at this rate. he will need to cut down on his pitching or hitting at some point. ( maybe in 6-7 years from this season and that would include one more year with us) so just by shear usage constraints his WAR will decrease. Also don’t forget, he’s already had 2 major baseball related surgeries before his 26th birthday .
Any team that signs Ohtani to a ten year deal at over 45M a year is friggin insane. That guy is gonna be so battered by the time he’s 35, he’s already prone to some pretty huge lapses in hitting, and we have no idea if he can play anywhere else all that well, especially at 35.
Man do I love having him now, but I am almost completely over to the dark side as far as wanting to trade him. Just follow Rizzo around. Any team he meets with, call them and offer them Ohtani for the same deal they are offering the Nats for Soto.
Insane Contracts?That definitely fits Arte’s M.O. Especially one that markets well.
I agree, I don’t want to be on the hook for yet another huge contract for a player entering his 30’s. I’d rather be on the Cards side of the Pujols contract.
I really really want to keep Ohtani. But it’s like this 1965 Riviera my friend offered to sell me… I really want it…. but I also need to be able to house it, buy parts for it, work on it sometime in the future….
It just doesn’t work for me, and Ohtani’s huge deal won’t work for us.
60M? Ok, lol.
I’m getting $59M, so what’s wrong with Ohtani at $60M?
Yeah, but you senators get it all in graft money.
It’s surprising to me that you’ve now taken a stance on Rendon that caused you to label me a Doomer when I articulated the same stance earlier in the year when he was still playing but clearly injured. Any any rate, I’m glad we finally agree on that.
Still a doomer.
Unfortunately, trAdition dictates he is doomed to be doomer.
Whatever makes you happy. Glad you still dig Rendon and that awesome contract.
True. I just can’t stop singing about how awesome that contract is and how Rendon’s the light of my life.
Is GP a Doomer since he agrees with me.
A bunch of great links today, great way to start the day thank you
Thanks JHW. Mucho thorough.
Where do we improve for 2023?
1B – Walsh
2B – Fletcher
SS – Rengifo
3B – Rendon
LF – Marsh
CF – Trout
RF – Ward
C – Stassi
(DH – Ohtani)
Bench – Adell, Stefanic, Thaiss/FA?, (Sierra, Thomas, Duffy, Gosselin, FA …)
SP – Ohtani
SP – Sandoval
SP – Suarez
SP – Detmers
(Barria, Junk, Silseth, Diaz, Canning, Bachman, Ky Bush, Seminaris)
(Lorenzen, Syndergaard, FA – ??)
RP – Iglesias
RP – Loup
RP – Tepera
RP – Herget
RP – Quijada
RP – Chris Rodriguez
RP – Warren
RP – Wantz
RP – Ortega
RP – Peguero
(Barraclough, Buttrey, Moran, Mayers, Marte, FA). Bradley?
1B, SS, 3B (assuming Rendon will be injured), #2 SP, #3 SP, bullpen….all of it, and we need a strong 4th OF for the inevitable Trout injury/stay on IR.
So, not sold on Walsh? Rengifo? Are we replacing Adell (different 4th OF?)?
How do we replace the entire bullpen – with all of those currently under contract? (What is wrong with Quijada, Warren, C Rod?)
Do you not want Lorenzen or Thor back?
No on Walsh and Rengifo. To get something via a trade Adell will need to go. CRod? He hasn’t stayed healthy..ever, more importantly he hasn’t pitched in a game in over a year. Thor will be gone next week. Lorenzen is just not that good. Sure, if we’re playing for 4th place – bring ’em all back. If the goal is to get better – these are the types of players that have to go.
Thanks for being realistic!
There’s bullpen help coming through the farm system with sone likely hitting the bigs next year.
Loup, Tepera, and Iggy are all here next year. Bullpen performance is volatile so we’ll have to hope these guys just had off years.
If they falter early, look for Luke Murphy and others to start replacing them.
That was my take too, which is why I listed everyone that was still under contract (or control). It still looks like a good relief corps to me (the last 40 games or so aside). If we could add at the top of the list (replace Bradley with another closer-potential guy) that would be lovely.
Great to hear that there is RP in the system – as I hear less about that than the future starters (Bachman, Ky Bush) mentioned here. I really hope the many pitcher strategy means we can pivot the Upton money to Ohtani – use what we paid Thor to upgrade the position players and be ok (but it is hard to see).
First thing is do what should have been done for 2022:
get a MLB-playoff quality SS
and after watching 2022
Marsh/Adell, we need to get a better 4th OF
Lorenzen/Thor – should have gone up a grade and gotten someone like Rodon. you got what you pay for.
Ok, sure – we need to get a SS (hard to see if Fletch could have done the job with him being on the IL so long).
But Rodon was a hit or miss injury candidate – was it predictable that he WAS the guy? Would love a guy with his 2022 performance on the roster next year!!! – so which FA is that?
(How bad have Thor/Lorenzen been? – for 28M).
Another great question…. who is the SS everyone says we NEED to get? Who do they see us signing or trading for?
Trea Turner. we got Suzuki & Rendon already. All we need to do is trade for Soto and coax HK47 out of retirement and we can relive the 2019 WS Nats team next year.
I’d love me some Trea Turner. I’m sure he’ll leave the Doyers for us. He’ll also fix our payroll crunch too.
Not just you, but does anyone on here realize screaming “WE NEED A MLB HIGH END ZAZZY SS!” this year is the same as screaming “WE NEED A HIGH END ZAZZY MLB THIRD BASEMAN!” in 2019 right?
Also of note for CoachDad and Jr GM…. all of the impending free agent shortstops are 29 years old or older. Just like the dreaded Rendone… accept Corea, who may not opt out.
If Arty sees the light and decides to crank up the payroll, then sure, I think Turner is the right move. Who else is going to play SS? Trade for one, and create another hole?
It was either Thor+Lorenzen or a big name SS. Tbh, I thought (and still think) spending money on SP was the better choice.
I figure that we’d have needed around 50 mil extra for a big name SS (around 30-35–35 necessary to avoid long term commitment, eg Correa) and about 15-20 for a half time catcher, a couple of veteran bench pieces, and an extra BP arm. I’m convinced, in retrospect, that 250 mil is the minimum for contention if we commit 120 mil on 3 players, even with some bench/bp pieces coming up….
You’re not flexing your Bitcheous Hinsitenous muscle hard enough. Starting pitching? Who the hell was asking for SP this past winter? We needed to sign Marcus Semein!
Rendon, Stassi, Loup, Wantz, Ortega, Peguero, and Velazquez be gone.
The other losers (Wade, Villar, and Legares) have already been shipped out.
But who will be our ‘23 batch o losers??
Rendon isn’t going anywhere. Hopefully actually playing, and playing well. (Hey, I’m an Angels fan, and it’s ok to be hopelessly optimistic!)
This isn’t just optimistic, it is realistic. They aren’t spending any money on another 3B with Rendon on the roster – so if accounting for 3B that IF bench spot needs to be someone who can field at 3B too (is that Rengifo, someone else? – depends if we get a FA SS in the short or long term, and how the team sees Jeremiah Jackson/Arol Vera progressing).
Has Stassi been bad? Do we drop a starting catcher under contract, without even a decent backup on the roster? Can we afford to shop for a good FA catcher?
Stassi has rarely played, even. We need basically need two “half time” catchers (Stassi is one). Any catcher we sign should be able to catch 70-90 games, plus we need a couple more reserve catchers on 40 men. With Rendon and Trout situations, a near full time reserve IF and a good 4th OF capable of playing CF adequately seem essential. (But good 4th OFs on FA market who can actually play defense seem a rarity these days.)
Stassi’s BA is approaching the Mendoza line. He pitch-framing and game-calling are average at best. His ability to throw out runners is almost non-existent. Bring up Wallach to give him a shot and trade for a vet back-up other than Suzuki.
But Lagares had a Gold Glove!
Pretty much everywhere.
SS is obvious. As is bench depth. Really, Fletcher should be a rotational piece not a stalwart. As much as I like David he’s basically league average at bat and good but not elite with the glove.
I’d flip Walsh to SD for Hosmer and another useful piece. There’s not a notable difference in WAR and we need another piece.
Catcher, of course.
Rotation, obvious.
Bullpen, definitely.
Trout and Marsh are the only two MLV caliber outfielders in the entire organization. We need 2 more. Hopefully Adell is one, but the jury is still out.
Fletcher league average with the glove? Really? The Fletcher that hit s for .290 – .320 and leads the team in hits and is considered one of the best fielders at 2b in MLB by others is a bit better than league average and hard to replace at 2b as we’ve seen for 10 – 12 years. Hosmer has too high a salary, plus there are a few young up and coming 1B to look at to trade for.
“league average at bat” followed by “good but not elite with the glove”
Dude. He’s never gonna let you adopt him, and 2020 a career does not make. He’s always got an OPS+ lower than 100. He has sure hands, a meh arm, and limited range. He’s fine, the way a grilled cheese sandwich is good.
Isn’t there a considerable cost difference between Walsh and Hosmer? Why spend the money there for ‘a piece’ unless it is the real reason (eating salary)? Isn’t Walsh’s value on D and cost-control status enough to keep him around?
Walsh is way too one sided offensively and massively inconsistent.
Taylor Ward is not a MLB caliber OF? I think he is.
That Hosmer trade’s pretty smart.
The key is obviously Stephanic.
Yes, a good plumber is very hard to find.
I love premature rosterbation!
Here…. this is just if we spend some cash on FAs and trade Ohtani for a pile of prospects. Just an idea off the top of my head….
C – Stassi/Matt Thaiss
1B – Walsh/ Trey Mancini
2B – Adam Frazier/Fletcher/Velazquez
SS – Rengifo/Velazquez/Fletcher
3B – Rendon/Fletcher
LF – Trout/Mancini/Adell/Velazquez/Fletcher
CF – Marsh/Trout/Adell/Velazquez
RF – Ward/Mancini/Adell/Velazquez/Fletcher
DH – Mix
SP
Sean Manaea
Sandoval
Zach Davies
Lorenzen
Detmers
Bullpen
Iglesias
Tepera
Loup (L)
Quijada (L)
Wantz
Barria
C Rodriguez
Adam Frazier would be a dark horse candidate for sure but one more year of tupperware and poop? I guess some people are masochistic
They’re under contract for next year.
Doesn’t mean they have to stay here to give fans heart attacks half of the time.
It’s like financing a car, you may have three year finance, but that doesn’t mean you can’t trade it in or try to sell it.
Sure, if you can find trade partners for em, go to town…
If I’m trying to just come up with a plan off the top of my head I can’t really say “First move, trade our untradeable relievers to TeamOutAss for PLAYER and PLAYER.” because that move just doesn’t exist most likely.
Besides, there’s just as much chance Loup/Tepera are good next year as there is for whoever we get instead.
I just stuck with FAs. No trades, though there sure could be trades.
That April and early May start feels like ages ago.
Another lost season…..The wins feel empty
That empty win feeling….at lest that is seldom
We got that going for us.