Over the weekend teams and players made the following deals. The Texas Rangers signed Jacob deGrom to a five year deal that carries a $185 Million guarantee. Mike Clevinger signed with the White Sox. Kyle Gibson signed a one year contract with the Orioles. The Mariners acquired Kolten Wong by means of a trade with the Brewers. The Guardians signed Meibrys Viloria to a minor league deal. Oh yeah! The Angels signed Cesar Valdez to a minor league contract.
The Angels are still shopping during the Winter Meetings according to Perry Minasian. Outfielder Bryan Reynolds is requesting a trade from the Pirates.
Photo credit: Rex Fregosi
Here’s the kind of low cost move a dum guy like me might make.
“Padres signed OF David Dahl to a minor league contract.Dahl inked minor league pacts with the Brewers and Nationals last year and was unsuccessful in bids to make it back to the majors at both stops. The 28-year-old former top prospect will presumably get an opportunity with the Padres this upcoming spring to compete for a spot on their Opening Day roster. He’s a long shot, but might make sense as a temporary righty-mashing platoon outfield stopgap.”
Spending all that money on a middling middle reliever is a head head scratcher. 3.47 ERA. 1.18 WHIP. I thought he was having a good off season until this reversion to his previous bad ideas. I guess the manager will now have his choice of three underperforming overpays to chose from.
Are the Angels funny or embarrassing? 😎 Both 😂 As fans of our team we are tested by our suffering because we know we are smarter than the guy worth billions of dollars and we know how to make the team a winner and fill our fingers with rings.
I know for a fact that neither of us are smarter than the self made billionaire. Unless we’re talking that bullshit version of smart that moms love to slather all over their kids like “He’s just not good at taking tests.” or “He’s too smart so he’s bored in class so his test scored suck.”
If that’s the smart we’re talking about then sure, I may have Arte beat.
Funny stuff, but true and I agree. Is there Baseball Intelligence? if so Arte comes up short, but he’s got the dough though.
I don’t know how to compare our collective intelligence to the billboard billionaire. I do compare his intelligence to other owners and he seems clearly lacking there.
Maybe we can sign his brother Emilio too.
And Charlie too….
And dad Ramon.
News is that we are focused on a back-end reliever.
Maybe we’ll sign an elite closer, for maybe 4 years at $56MM.
I am outraged. This is news of wanting and not doing. This is not the news of a champium.
HHHahhh! Angels sign Carlos Estevez
Release the sparkles and the Crackles
World Series bound, baby!
What! Come on, it’s not like we are off season champions like the Mets and Rangers. Hell, the Mets might be back to back off season champions.
As us die hard Halo fans know, winning the off-season is a guarantee of success.
Biggsworth’s man in his write-up
You know it!!!
Or Kenley Jansen for a 1 year $16.5 million contract
In less than a year Arte will not be seen at The Big A as a goon squad will escort him to the La Brea Tar Pits if the team does not win or the team does not win and re-sign Shohei.
Feathers are optional and not required. 🐓
At least we won’t finish in last place in the Western Divisions (AL or NL.)
Signing players for long term to win now is a sign of feed the need and proves you can’t fix stupid.
Eh. This is Angels fans we’re talking about. All bitch no bash. Besides how will the goons get to him on the yacht he’s living on after he sells the team?
Submarines.
Dombroski will be retired or fired in 3 years if no titles.
Without bringing in better players such as a Reynolds by trade or Swanson and Vasquez as Free Agents as examples, if you were Shohei and Trout, would you believe that Arte wants to go out on top? Shohei is not going to re-sign here no matter what crumbs and scraps Perry signs up. A point brought up is having 30 players capable of playing MLB and making the playoffs in not happening any time soon. So, the complaining should last all season (Sorry Gitcho). The good news is many of the Angels will excel while others are injured and, in some cases, again.
What makes this frustrating all the more is being a big market team without the resources to do what needs to be done. Although in a few years after the Phillies are flying banners as World Champs they will look like the Angels currently do now. We are so close but so far away.
If Arte sells before the trade deadline then he’ll be old news as far as Shohei and Trout are concerned.
I really wish I was Kate Upton today.
Good god that’s a lot of money for 2 years. Now we wait to see how the two grandpas fair next year.
“Reunited and it feels so good.” 🎶
She’s definitely Peaches.
Thanks for that ear worm.
The Yankees extended Brian Cashman. If Arte weren’t so cheap and Perry weren’t so stupid we would have signed him and looked like champions.
Are you complaining…? 😂
Apparently you are happy with mediocrity and don’t demand a champium.
I’m stomping me feet and Yelling “we want to spend 300 million on payroll”.
I’m out here in the middle of the forest of pine trees, can you hear me? 🙀
I guess this absolutely guarantees we aren’t signing Correa now either. I’ll admit I’m bummed, even though I knew it was very unlikely anyway.
With Turner getting that insane deal, Correa’s deal will be far beyond our ability. Probably the other SS’s are all far too high now in fact.
Squid at SS!
Squid is bulking up in the weight room as I type.
Good he’ll be able to generate even more airflow at the plate on a hot Big A Sunday Afternoon.
last winter we didn’t have squid and didn’t have squat at SS but no one in the FO/MSM was saying we needed a SS
Now front page LATimes Sunday says we need a SS
We have squid, but we still dont have squat
His haunches are stallion tight.
I cannot imagine that Squid will be our starting shortstop in 2023? Should I?
Maybe…..could happen.
Trea Turner to the Phillies. 11 years and $300 million.
For a guy whose best asset is speed, that’s a crazy deal.
WTF? Why didn’t WEEEEEE do that!?! Oh well, let’s sign Correa and trade for Corbin Burnes now….
Not surprised he didn’t re-sign with the Dodgers, if they even put an offer on the table. He’s implied a lot of times in the past he strongly prefers playing in the east coast.
Even with the Kershaw signing, The Doyers are at only $188M in CBT calculations. Thats about $18 million below us and $45 million below the threshold ( which they probably want to reset for one year) . So $45 million still leaves them a lot to spend this winter
I could see a 6 yr contract, but 11 years is crazy. A 40 yr old DH/ 1st baseman, used to be a SS?
A la Ernie Banks?
Not to mention, even though I like Turner, his defensive numbers last year didn’t actually scream SS.
He played a lot of center in DC.
Philly has to be thinking this is a Robin Yount deal with him moving to the grass at some point.
No chance he pulls of that smooth slide in 11 years (at age 40). Do they think he is Rickey Henderson or something? That contract is going to go south in 5-6 years tops.
Hes defense is mediocre now so I doubt its going to improve with age.
Ummmm. No. I have it on good authority that Dombrowsky is a genius and if you think otherwise you are an 80%er…. what ever the fk that is. How do we know? Because we haven’t had our ass kicked in a WS in forever and the Phillies got their ass kicked in this last WS. Our team’s failure proves the ravaged wasteland that the Phillies will be in three years is actually a good thing because Arte. See?.
Even so, I imagine Phillies fans are probably having champagne right now.
Agreed. Adding Turner to a team that was in the Series is great.
flags fly forever.
want to go to the series? bring money $$$.
we just need a crazy billionaire.
Sadly, Arte is getting out before he can start dying and desperately sign EVERYONE in an effort to finally win that flag before he dies and his pizza billions glide away to the kids.
And their grandkids…
That worked really well for Mike Ilitch.
Shit just always happens right after the CBA has been signed and owners loosen their belts and open their wallets, expect Arte. Crazy cash thrown around. The 1-yr QO for Joc Pederson at $19M is not looking that bad for 25-30 bombs.
This is an example of what has been feared 50 years. Rich owners buying wins and Titles. How stupid are the Phils and Mets? I don’t know, but the Dodgers seem to dodge the bullet for now.
Mets came out way ahead here. Verlander probably pitches as many innings over two years as deGrom does over 5.
Yes But its really a 3 year deal as all Verlander needs is 140 innings in 2024 and he controls a 2025 $35 million player option .
The Mets are now at $288 Million CBT which I believe was last years number as well. I wonder if they’ll get to $300 Million this year
True.
I’d definitely bet heavily on Verlander throwing more innings over 3 years than deGrom over 5.
Two things that popped up on my radar yesterday: 1. Schilling should made the HOF with the Crimedog and 2. Perry should be all over the Pirates trying to get Bryan Reynolds. Switch hitting OF with speed and plays defense. Shoot for Reynolds and Bednar. Gladly move Ward, Bachman, Bush and some deep prospects. Toss in some Abazaba snack bar tickets too.
Yeah, I think Curt’s a douche. I don’t want to go get frozen yogurt with Curt ever. But He’s a 79 WAR pitcher who was nails in the post season. If I’m supposed to lose my shit and get all gooey inside every time the name Pedro Martinez is mentioned then Schilling should manage to squeak in. It’s kind of pathetic when “I don’t like that guy” can totally negate actual qualifications and track record.
Of course, this is also how we choose the “Leader of the Free World” so I guess we shouldn’t be surprised.
Harold Baines would be cool to get frozen yogurt with
I want to go drinking and raise some hell with Hack Wilson and Ty Cobb. And you will know us by the trail of dead….
As of now this is a typical Angels team: nice starting lineup but absolutely no depth in most areas.
The second one outfielder goes down he’ll be replaced by Adell or Moniak. No bueno. We need a guy who can actually play at a 1 WAR level. Perhaps the recently DFA’d Tapia.
Stassi, O’Hoppe, Wallach. There’s one good catcher there. Bring in Vasquez and we have two good catchers plus help at first. I doubt that happens, but at least bring in an Alfaro so we have two good catchers.
Tucker Davidson isn’t worth a rotation spot. He needs to be upgraded and we need at least two AAAA guys down in AAA.
I think the bullpen naturally progresses through the year as the AA guys make it up. But we could definitely use a veteran anchor. I’d love a flyer on Taylor Rogers.
Honestly, at this stage I’d rather spend money making sure we don’t suffer months of obvious lineup holes rather than at the top of the market. I want 30 good players.
Dude, I’d be pretty stoked to land Tapia. Thing is, I bet there’s actually a market for him. There are THAT few CF out there now.
I understand not trusting either option at this point, but when will the Angels ever know if either one of them, or both, should be part of their future plans? I see Moniak as probably the more damaged goods of the two, but if he plays well when given the chance, then great, he’ll be a good bench piece. If he progresses into a great defensive CF, then that will give the FO the confidence to eventually move Trout to the corners in a few years.
I still feel that the Angels haven’t given Adell a fair shot. It looks like Perry may be done with him. If it’s not this upcoming season, there will never be one.
As for the other positions, I agree with you. Mostly because there’s no significant prospect waiting in the wings that will be “blocked” by a vet signing. I’m very intrigued by a Vasquez signing to help out O’Hoppe until he eventually becomes the starting catcher for the team.
If you sign a Tapia type and put Adell in AAA yiu can give Adell a chance to force the issue but not depend on him if he continues to struggle.
Renfroe is on a one year deal. There’s still a path for Adell here.
But teams trying to win need better injury coverage.
We need to Sign Joey Gallo Not Jerry Gallo. https://getyarn.io/yarn-clip/8ceba3b4-3b18-42e8-807e-91e40dc40af3
He can back up 1st and CF more than adequately and with the shift banning his offense should improve as well. (Joey Gallo not Jerry Callo)
You’re right. I forgot Adell can still be stashed at AAA. I thought he was out of options already.
I agree with your point about having 30 good players. A few times, I’ve started to analyze the number of negative WAR players each team employs in a season. I’ve never finished analysis, but whenever I look at it, it’s always the Angels that have a ton of players who put up negative WAR. Last year, they had a total of 33 players “contribute” with a bWAR of less than 0. They got -13.9 WAR out of those 33 players. Compare that to the Mariners who had 19 guys with negative WAR but those guys only cost them 4.6 total WAR.
This has been an ongoing problem for awhile. The Angels don’t have depth. I don’t think they need more big names. They need some guys better than Tucker Davidson, Magneuris Sierra and Mike Ford when injuries inevitably come up.
You’re always going to have some guys that underperform. The Angels need better contingency plans.
Here’s a question for us all.
So, the Rangers were the team desperate enough to spend something like 17% of their payroll on Jacob “You’re Gonna Miss Me When I’m Gone” DeGromm. Don’t get me wrong, when he pitches he is VERY good and I have tuned into Mets games I don’t care about to watch him. But if availability is the greatest ability then Ol’ Jake is a pretty big gamble at a very high price.
But is Carlos Rodon any better? I understood the hindsight geniuses wishing we’d signed him during the season last year because that’s the kind of suffering the stupid and envious inflict on themselves. But was he really a good bet last off season, and does finally having his first solid, number 3 over all pick pitching season of his EIGHT YEAR career change that?
See, when you’re desperate enough for things to complain about that you reach for the “My Dad, I mean Arte, never gets me anything. Look at Rodon!” card you have to really make sure to ignore the fact that the guy has averaged 106 innings per season over his career. Before last year, Perry is apparently stupid because he didn’t pounce on a guy who averaged 95 innings per year at that point, had a middling ERA+ until 2021, a shoulder surgery, an elbow surgery, AND had even managed to fall apart due to fatigue at the end of the year it “all came together” in 2021. THIS is the guy we are all supposed to be so angry we didn’t sign in March of last year.
He had a great year last year in San Francisco, the equivalent of ass implants for pitchers. Are we gonna be the silly gimps who pay over 30M a year for 6 years to get that same guy from 2015-21 plus one good year in San Francisco? Does that sound smart? Or are we at the point where we just want Arte to do something big to us just so we feel something? Something Championish? Like Halle Berry in Monster’s Ball.
I hope the Astros get desperate and pay this guy.
I don’t think the Astros need to be desparate. I gained plenty confidence by watching them win the WS that they wont miss a beat losing Kate Verlander. The have a talented deep pitching staff.
But what if I told you I really want them to be stupid and desperate? Does that change things?
As much as a I hate it them being the Angels daddy, they sure have been making a lot of good moves. Letting Kate go was solid, adding Abreu was smart (even though it was an overpay) and resigning Montero for bullpen heat should not be overlooked. Ok, yeah, I hope they sign Judge and Rodon cause they have already won the West.
The power of my wishful thinking has made you see that my stupid ideas are actually stupid wisdom.
Yes, Perry should sign Halle Berry immediately. Money and length of contract are not issues!😊
Good morning. I asked ChatGPT to write me an inspiring story on the Angels making the playoffs in 2023 and this is what it gave me…
It’s 2023 and the Los Angeles Angels are making their way to the playoffs. What seemed like an impossible dream just a few years ago is becoming a reality, as the Angels have taken their game to the next level and are now a legitimate playoff contender.
The transformation started with an influx of young talent. Players like Shohei Ohtani, Mike Trout, and Anthony Rendon have been instrumental in the Angels’ development. With the help of a strong coaching staff, the Angels have been able to take advantage of the immense potential of the team’s young stars and have seen their fortunes turn around.
The Angels have also improved their pitching staff, with the help of veterans like Andrew Heaney, Dylan Bundy, and Julio Teheran. This has allowed the team to compete at a higher level and has provided the pitching staff with the support it needs to take the Angels to the playoffs.
The Angels have also benefitted from the addition of veterans like Albert Pujols and Justin Upton, who bring the experience and leadership necessary to help the team reach the playoffs. With the help of these veterans, the Angels have been able to put together a deep and talented lineup that can compete with the best teams in the league.
The Angels’ success in 2023 is a testament to the hard work and dedication of the entire organization. The team has come together to form a cohesive unit that is ready to make a deep run in the playoffs. It’s been a long journey, but the Angels are finally poised to make the playoffs in 2023 and make their mark on baseball history.
Apparently, the AI doesn’t know much and is still learning things beyond 2020.
HAHAHA – this is totally hilarious
Verlander to Mets – 2 years/$86M, 3rd year vesting option.
At least he’s out of the AFC West.
If the Mets are in the thick of it (most likely yes), and the Angels out of it again by the trade deadline next year, I seriously see them making a huge push to trade for Shohei (if he isn’t extended by then) so they have the Big Three of pitching.
So…. Ohtani’s gonna be there watching some combo of Alcantera, Verlander, Nola, Cease or Manoah?
Only 43 million a year for a 40-year-old, now that’s what I call a bargain basement deal. 😃
It’s making Ohtani very, very excited with his upcoming pay day.
$50M a year for a two-way star like Ohtani doesn’t seem so hard to believe when a 40 year-old ace pitcher can get $43M……
“I know right?” – Shohei’s agent.
But Unfortunately Patrick Mahomes is still there.
im glad the Rams didn’t sign him
Hahaha, good catch!
AL West, of course. I was just reading some football stuff when I posted
*AL West, not AFC West.
Unless the pending sale is far enough along that new Angel Owners can call the shots, I don’t see Arte taking on any long term contracts nor do I see the Angels going over the CBT threshold for this year even if Arte has decided to spend to fill the holes and really try to field a “contender” . I doubt you would want to saddle the new Owners with being a CBT repeat violator even though the penalties seem pretty mundane.
Therefore that would restrict Perry from exceeding a $233 Million Competitive balance Tax Threshold for 2023 which according to Roster Resource would allow him to take on an additional $26.5 Million AAV in added contracts this year.
But this would not allow him any room for trade deadline deals this year ( wishful thinking?) or an Ohtani extension in order to balance out some of the future CBT AAV mega contract amount with this years $30 million salary ( even more wishful thinking)
So the dream of a big 4 short stop is dead, but pieces parts should still be added to the roster. Maybe we trade for the short stop scraps from one of the big 4 signing teams for a song? The Fielding bible is not kind to anyone named Crawford or Bichette but they like Ha-seong Kim and Isiah Kiner-Falefa (in case the Yankees decide to get into the bidding) Ironically, both of these candidates are equivalent to David Fletcher if he could get his offensive production back to career norms. ( he hit .275/.303/.348 after returning from mid season surgery)
Adames could still fit, if we’re willing to trade a few assets while we wait on Neto.
*More than a few and more than we can afford to give up.
No way to know unless you try. If the price is too high, you walk away.
We will never know what gets tried. I plan to complain as though, unless Arte is transparent and tells me everything the FO thinks and does every day, they actually just didn’t think or try.
Or roll in Neto + other prospects to get him. Angels should be in win now mode on Shohei’s last full season as a Halo.
It’s a must win season…. again… again.
Firey 27-year old, 4.7 WAR SS. Beisdes, the Angels are tinkering with Neto’s swing. Somehow, I feel like shit when I hear that.
Cowboy, did I miss something here, is the team really being sold, Oh my. 😜
Isn’t it 213M?
And I think the FO is actually likely to bridge SS to SotoNeto by just using Fletch/Urshela there this year. They’ll spend what money they have left on MOAR PIDJIANS!
The article on Clevinger indicated that Cueto is unlikely to return to the White Sox. He performed pretty well last year (better than Lorenzen) – do you all think he could be had for less than 10M? Would be nice with another veteran starter (and we could use a righty).
Good Question. He only received a prorated salary of $4.2 million last year but there were some concerning trends. https://www.mlbtraderumors.com/2022/10/johnny-cueto-open-to-return-to-white-sox.html
Still Cueto has always had a knack for getting people out. But trAdition dictates he would probably flop here and then go on to greatness in 2024.
Bartolo Colon 2.0
I also think Cueto is worth a flyer. His deception and ball movement seem to be the types of things that allow older guys to do well. He almost certainly cannot complete an entire season. So he’s a guy that will pitch until his next injury and then hopefully come back later in the season and pitch again. Lorenzen might be the same.
It would be nice to see the team get one of them. Of course the bullpen still needs help.
Actually he’d be a perfect “plan vet” where he starts out the season in the MLB rotation and Ky Bush and Chase Silseth are both told to get on the ball cause as soon as Cueto falters one of them is going to need to take his place. But buys them 2 or 3 months to get sharp in AA/AAA.
It’s a possibility the Angels just go with a 5-man rotation. I’m thinking the Angels will spend elsewhere and take a flyer on a RH with low to minimum AAV as we get closer to Spring. I’ve seen Lorenzen and Syndergaard to know I would not give them anywhere near what they will ultimately sign for. Fangraphs has Cueto value at $8M.
I think the 5 man is a good idea. They can still try to Shohei 5 days rest between starts and place the others at 4 between starts. Whenever a spot come up that they need some else, go with a bullpen game or a spot start by Canning or Silseth or whoever. If one of the close to ready pitchers becomes ready, go for it. With that said, it would be nice to have a little more depth so I wouldn’t complain about another starter.