LA Angels Tuesday News Crash: Ballot Is Out

The 2023 Baseball Hall of Fame Ballot is out. A lot of former Angels are on this ballot.

The Angels are apparently interested in free agent outfielder Mitch Haniger. They tendered contracts to all seven of their non-tender candidates. Jhonathan Diaz was designated for assignment to go along with the earlier designations of Rob Zastryzny, Nash Walters, and Touki Toussaint.

The Aaron Judge 62nd home run ball is going to auction on the collectibles marketplace Goldin starting November 29.

Here is Bryce Harper arguing very unsuccessfully that he fouled a pitch off.

Olivia Pichardo is the first female to make it onto an NCAA Division I varsity baseball roster. She’s a utility player who made the varsity team as a walk on.

The Nippon-Ham Fighters will have a new baseball stadium in March.

Photo credit: Rex Fregosi

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Eric_in_Portland
Legend
1 year ago
Reply to  Mia

I quite like this. I had little enthusiasm for Junk or Peguero

Mia
Legend
Mia
1 year ago

I’m all for trading from our relative wealth of pitching and improving the offense.

Jim Atkins
Super Member
1 year ago
Reply to  Mia

so is Adell OF #4 or trade bait? I’m guessing trade bait, but it’s not a sure thing.

Mia
Legend
Mia
1 year ago
Reply to  Jim Atkins

You gotta imagine Trout, Ward, and Renfroe are your starting three…

Moniak and Adell will probably fight for that 4th spot. Won’t be shocked if Adell is moved.

FungoAle
Legend
1 year ago
Reply to  Mia

Nice addition, tired of farting around with infielders in the outfield. Odd Hunter cannot stick on a team as his batting average keeps improving to go along with the homers. He’s better in right with his arm.

Last edited 1 year ago by FungoAle
ihearhowie3.0
Super Member
1 year ago
Reply to  Mia

I like it. Urshela and Renfroe both 1 year guys so new ownership probably a factor here but its the right move for this year’s team.

Adell maybe a full year in AAA unless someone wants to pay a decent price for him.

RexFregosi
Super Member
1 year ago

2009 Angels – last time they were October winners- 6 of them on this HOF ballot
Abreu Weaver Napoli Lackey KRod Torii

Mia
Legend
Mia
1 year ago
Reply to  RexFregosi

Does K-Rod have a shot?

red floyd
Legend
1 year ago
Reply to  Mia

He’s got the single season save record, doesn’t he?

Mia
Legend
Mia
1 year ago

Pujols got comeback player of the year lmao

RexFregosi
Super Member
1 year ago
Reply to  Mia

He’d been missing for 10 yrs

Mia
Legend
Mia
1 year ago
Reply to  RexFregosi

Went out for cigarettes 10 years ago, guess he finally found some.

RexFregosi
Super Member
1 year ago

i’m good standing pat on pitching for now, till at least March – we have arm depth, a bp, and an ace*

much higher priorities are

  1. SS – every time some one says this is a need and weren’t saying it last year, i knock my head (i’m looking Perry & MSM) – Correa is 28 and worth it
  2. OF – need some one at least as good as Tay Tay and Jo Jo. like Aar Aar.
  3. 1b – if Wash cant go full steam AS level, better figure it out before June, eh?

*we will need a 2nd ace by the time playoff starts but we have a good young arms now that have had some seasoning in 2022 – LFG!

just a 2-3 players – $80m is chump change for a billionaire

clover_black
Super Member
1 year ago
Reply to  RexFregosi

how far off is Neto? that has to play into committing $$ and years to a SS.

gitchogritchoffmypettis
Legend
Reply to  clover_black

Well, the team is obviously advancing him fast. So they think he’s close from the get go. Is he really gonna be ready? My expert opinion is that no one knows.

FungoAle
Legend
1 year ago
Reply to  clover_black

No later than Mid-2024

Cowboy26
Legend
1 year ago
Reply to  clover_black

What is defined as how far off? Since there will very well be an adjustment period at the major league level.

Maybe the Angels would take a chance on him sooner than later kind of like what the Astros did with Pena who only had 122 At Bats at AAA and zero at bats at AA before his major league debut?

I am still concerned about Neto’s defense though as he had 11 errors in 34 games last year in the minors .

But I would think late 2023 call up and winning the starting job in2024 is a real possibility.

gitchogritchoffmypettis
Legend
Reply to  Cowboy26

I’ll give him fifty or sixty innings. Then, if he isn’t Jeremy Pena by then, he’s not a real MLB player and I say we should probably cut him and try to figure out who to blame.

Arte will likely be gone by then, so this could be the biggest challenge we have ever faced here.

Fleckstein
Trusted Member
1 year ago

I would pick Jones and Wagner for HOF

gitchogritchoffmypettis
Legend
Reply to  Fleckstein

Man, Billy Wagner. I can still remember sitting in the nose bleeds at a mostly empty PNC Park when the Pirates played the Astros and knowing that Wagner was coming in because his gal darn warm up pitches were so loud even where we were sitting…. sounded like someone was cracking a whip in an empty basketball gym.

And yes, people cheered if he broke 100 MPH and booed if he didn’t.

Angelz4ever
Super Member
1 year ago

News flash: David MacKinnon is now a free agent.

Cowboy26
Legend
1 year ago
Reply to  Angelz4ever

So is Thor so how do you know which one you’re really signing?

RexFregosi
Super Member
1 year ago
Reply to  Cowboy26

one of them really does look like a massive super hero; the other is the type of ubiquitous dude you see pretty much anytime in any OC strip mall

Angelz4ever
Super Member
1 year ago
Reply to  RexFregosi

Yeah, but have you ever seen both at the same time, like in the dugout? Yes, oh yeah……nvm

Eric_in_Portland
Legend
1 year ago
Reply to  Angelz4ever

he went hitless when he joined Oakland. I think, because of his age, he’s likely done or going to a foreign country.

MarineLayer
Super Member
1 year ago

A injury-prone 32 year old OF would be a classic Angels contract. Hopefully somebody outbids us on Haniger.

Cowboy26
Legend
1 year ago
Reply to  MarineLayer

What about Michael Brantley? I know he’s 35 years old and coming off shoulder surgery, but a one year deal for a left handed bat who consistently hits .280/.360/.420 with nominal strikeouts and average to above average outfield defense might work really well on this team.

RexFregosi
Super Member
1 year ago
Reply to  Cowboy26

absolutely

clover_black
Super Member
1 year ago
Reply to  Cowboy26

yes please.

gitchogritchoffmypettis
Legend
Reply to  Cowboy26

Yeah. Unless you sign Judge or Nimmo all these outfielders are either old, hurt, both or have had meh years.

JackFrost
Super Member
1 year ago
Reply to  Cowboy26

Good call here Cowboy.

FungoAle
Legend
1 year ago
Reply to  Cowboy26

35 years old and coming off a shoulder surgey, the sound of that makes me wince a bit. No issue with past perfromance though. His peripherals make sense for what this team needs.

Not left handed hitters but the guys like Mancini, Drury and Anderson present some veratility and could play OF corner positions.

Jeff Joiner
Editor
Legend
1 year ago
Reply to  Cowboy26

I’ve long wanted to sign Brantley. He’s coming off a shoulder injury and his defense is trending the wrong way, but his eye is impeccable.

FungoAle
Legend
1 year ago
Reply to  MarineLayer

We are lucky Pederson took the QO with the Giants or Perry would have coughed up anoher pick

MarineLayer
Super Member
1 year ago

I used to think the HOF was a big deal. Now that they’re letting in steroid users like Ortiz, I think it is a meaningless promotional tool that degrades the game. When they let in Bonds and Clemens through the back door, the degradation will be complete.

Angelz4ever
Super Member
1 year ago
Reply to  MarineLayer

I love the “Holier than though” Ortiz pulled when Manny got caught. Ortiz was soooo disappointed in Manny.

Angelz4ever
Super Member
1 year ago

All I know for certain is today is Taco Tuesday!

WallyChuckChili
Legend
1 year ago
Reply to  Angelz4ever

And 3 days away from Christmas season, no matter who many Christmas lights you see.

ihearhowie3.0
Super Member
1 year ago

Not having to play against Haniger would seem to add 2 wins to our season since he usually beats us up….but his stats trajectory is not great. We can do better.

Angelstan
Trusted Member
1 year ago
Reply to  ihearhowie3.0

Haniger actually has talent. The Angels likely won’t get him because they are looking at a one or two year deal at lower overall numbers. Other teams will probably outbid that.

Angelz4ever
Super Member
1 year ago
Reply to  ihearhowie3.0

Yes, he does tear the Halos up.

GrandpaBaseball
Legend
1 year ago

What is the cost of Bellinger for one season? Remember he can play OF & 1b. Braves still holding out hope that Swanson returns to the fold. I would like to see Lorenzen return.

Cowboy26
Legend
1 year ago

Well Belli USED to be able to play in the outfield and at first base.Last year he really only played in the outfield, and, according to the Fielding Bible, his numbers were pretty pedestrian I’m not so sure his offense will automatically rebound after 2 straight substandard seasons. Of course BorA$$ spins it as he had a hurt shoulder that was the cause all of his problems that is now healed.But his problems seem to be more foundational especially when you consider his strikeout rates. Can the Angels afford the luxury to absorb another year of his “Shoulder issues” ?

BorA$$ has had success building up his clients value with these one year deals before. Probably the most famous example was Adrian Beltre. I guess the downside is if it doesn’t work out, the worst position that we are in would be another full season of Adell and Moniak. The only question is if Bellinger’s best future free agent value is to play centerfield than how is it going to help him by coming here and playing left? There’s no way the GOAT would relinquish that position, especially to this disappointing stoner, who, by the way, Kind of reminds me of a left handed Brandon Wood.

RexFregosi
Super Member
1 year ago

at a certain price, Bellinger Part 2 would be a good option but it depends what else there is too.

whats your upper limit for him – $6m?

h27kim
Trusted Member
1 year ago

Yeah, I keep thinking, unless you really believe he’s done, he would make for an excellent gamble. He will be signing a one year deal to show what he can still do, no matter what. He does play right positions. The potential upside is enormous. But he will cost a good bit of money, especially for a big gamble, though.

GrandpaBaseball
Legend
1 year ago

A 5-man rotation does seem to work out to 32 starts a piece and if no injuries could mean more success than what we have had in the past. One or two will have nagging injuries so it means there will be a few Plan B guys rotated in and out of the rotation. Getting Shohei 32 starts would be frightening to the rest of the division though.

FungoAle
Legend
1 year ago

Shohei was in a 5-year rotation earlier in his tunure. While hopeful, we have Shohei (lone RH) and 4 LH all similar with stuff; change ups, sliders, low gas. Would be good to get another RH or LH power pitcher to break-up the look.

ihearhowie3.0
Super Member
1 year ago

The fact his agent is quoted here tells you all you need to know. They want his free agent market to be robust and not limited to teams like us willing to adjust everything for him.

GrandpaBaseball
Legend
1 year ago

This is going to be the year that the writers really could screw up the MLBHOF but good. After blatantly putting in Ortiz last season, anything is possible.

RexFregosi
Super Member
1 year ago

not sure it could be any worse damage.

Beltran wont get in, neither will A Rod

halofansince1978
Super Member
1 year ago

Who remambers that HoF website that tracks the votes on an Excel spreadsheet.

It’s Mister somethong or No something. I can’t remember…please link, thank you!

Born_in_59
Trusted Member
1 year ago

Ryan Thibodaux whose twitter handle is @NotMrTibbs.