It looks like Zack Grienke will be going back to Kansas City on a one year deal. Darren O’Day announced his retirement. Roberto Perez signed with the San Francisco Giants. Josh Harrison signed with the Philadelphia Phillies.
The Brewers signed Monte Harrison to a minor league deal. The Giants signed Joe Ross to a minor league deal while the Tigers signed Jonathan Davis to a minor league deal of his own.
The Diamondbacks re-signed Jake Hager to a minor league deal with a spring training invitation. The Red Sox traded reliever Matt Barnes plus cash to the Marlins for reliever Richard Bleier. The Red Sox designated Franklin German for assignment to make some room. The Phillies designated Sam Coonrod for assignment.
The White Sox claimed A.J. Alexy from the Twins off waivers. The Athletics traded Cole Irvin and Kyle Virbitsky to the Orioles for shortstop prospect Darrell Hernaiz.
Photo credit: Rex Fregosi
BTW, I just checked and the Angels have just as many players in their top 100 as the Dodgers have in theirs.
Yeah…100
Typo humor
To quote the illustrious philosopher, Roseanne Roseannadanna, “It’s always somethin”
Youtube TV just lost MLB Network.
That’s just…great.
Why make it easy to watch baseball.
yep, good news those dam apple games…..omg WHY?
It didn’t have NHLNetwork, couldn’t watch DBacks or Coyotes and is more expensive than other options so it’s time to bail for me.
What a shame… NOT
Watch Buttrey close out the WS this season….
😮
You mean close his cuppard or fridge during the WS.
As the Stros new shutdown closer?
Perry doesn’t like Eppler’s players, other than the stars.
Can you blame him?
When my great grandchildren ask me why Mike Trout didn’t win a playoff game in the prime of his career, I will show today’s picture and speak of four pitcherdudes named Tinky Winky, Po, Laa-laa and Dipsy
I don’t care what you say dude-Tubby Custard rules!!
Yeah, cause a kid’s just gonna randomly ask “Grahmpoo, wah dinit Trout win a playoff game in dah priham o his car reer?”
I’m pretty sure that if you manage to not bring it up you’ll be safe from that topic.
Yeah that’s right,they will not be born under the curse by the Santa Ana river
I’m not sympathetic to Trout any longer. He is part of the reason. He needs to show up in shape and plan to play 162.
Can you imagine this team without Mike Trout. We’d be the Pirates.
You guys have gone insane.
We could just sign 2 guys to hit 20 HRs each.
My (Unasked for and non-valued) predictions for 2023:
Rendon returns to form
Walsh returns to steady quality production
Trout….well, stays Trout
Ohtani….keeps producing insanely (Gets extended shocking the MLB world*)
Drury & Renfroe become Halo fan faves
Channing blossoms into consistent starter
Chris Rodriguez becomes very valuable BP arm, maybe closer
Bull pen ends up being solid, “Surprising” many
Ben Joyce (Begins 2023 @ AAA) gets midseason call-up and may not go back down
Rengifo gets traded during/immediately following ST along with a minor league hurler (Also maybe Tucker Carlson) for a piece that we need.
*Clicked ruby colored Chuck Taylor all-stars on that one
Predictions I did not want to put in writing:
Fletcher fades away, ends up trade bait
Ward struggles early at plate, then levels out
One or two Halo starters have a fluke injury during ST, sidelining them for a long time
The rally monkey gets arrested
The Angels do not finish the season without a loss
Your Source on the Rally Monkey?
He’s been getting off the hook when stopped by OC Sheriff Deputies, when he gets popped out of their jurisdiction, well…..he’s going down.
And we still don’t make the playoffs……
TrAdition!
Isn’t MLB now like the NBA or the NHL? Doesn’t everyone get in the PS except bottom six teams?
“OKAY….WHO THREW THAT!?”
I would be happy with “Ohtani keeps producing insanely (Gets extended shocking the MLB world*)” and an improved record, but don’t hold me to it in September… I’ll always want more.
Yesterday, Roger Lodge ( Sorry but it was a slow news day) predicted Ohtani will have another insanely good year since he will be extra motivated by the fact this will be his free agent walk year.
Is that Carol Channing? 🙂
No, Channing Tatum, but diamonds are a girl’s best friend.
In this case, baseball diamonds.
I got some flippin’ tick recalling him as Channing, instead of Canning….for reals
I’ll set up a series of prediction threads as we get closer to Spring Training. Maybe do some over/unders like I used to do.
It is a short couple of weeks until camps open. But it is a long couple of weeks on this side of the site, news wise.
We’ll all be shocked when/if Rendon is @ ST from day one. I look forward to seeing Renfroe & Drury and how they fare in the line-up.
You forgot about Rendon winning MVP
And Cy Young. After preventing more runs than most pitchers do in a season with his incredible defense he will win the Cy Young. And the hearts of all the ladies.
Well, that was a given, along with Sandoval’s Cy Young.
I’d ride Shohei hard this year seeing that he is hitting the FA market. Let’s make sure we can get 7+innings out of him and go to a 5-man.
I see the schedule is out and, for variety, this time we’ll open against Oakland. We’ve never done that before, have we?
I don’t think we’ve EVER opened on the road against the A’ss.
incredible
AAAAs?
Friggin Arte. Stupid platypus.
I notice that we don’t play the Indians again this season.
It’s completely intentional at this point. Good lord.
this front office is so inept that they can’t even get a salary dump right
Tucker Davidson isn’t a MLB pitcher. BTW the why do the owner’s kids not want the team? See the HBO TV series Succession and that should answer your question!!
Carole will inherit and take control of the team probably in about 5 yrs just as Jackie Autry did from Gene 30 yrs ago.
Plus Rainbows! What the hells up with those things? Why always the same colors in the same order? What do they taste like? They are a spectrum. Does that mean they are autistic? I bet Arte’s kids ate Lucky Charms as a kid and I bet dogs don’t trust them.
Rich kids aren’t lucky, they eat “Privileged charms” or “Entitled charms”
Arte’s kids don’t want to take over a baseball team.
But they might want to inherit Arte’s super mega development once it is built. Then they could sell the team and still reap in millions off rent.
My hunch, anyway. Arte thinks he can get this development done.
Didn’t Arte have a big development in Goodyear, Arizona years ago?
Man, someone needs to sit Arte down and discuss how he’s 76 years old and then talk to him about how fast actually building this shit will get approved and done. He’ll be 80 by the time ground breaks since he’s not Disney.
It’s time to sell and move the team to Granada Hills.
The Halos won’t get another sweetheart deal-Political suicide by any Anaheim City Council member who approver or even considers it (Not a political statement, just reality).
Source?
What kind of city councilperson that wants to get re-elected would approve another Halo friendly sweet deal after that disaster? That deal is poison now.
The same City Council members (the majority) that are still in Disney’s back pocket.
That ain’t happening, Arte lost his chance. Now the nincompoops will want “Affordable housing” built on the property. You know, like $8-10K a month rent (Like @ Staples Center).
Nope, that ship sailed due. Anaheim City Council won’t chew that grass again.
Right because every City wants more affordable housing to tax their Public services while generating a lower tax base.
Perhaps, but “Affordable” is such a wide word to define.
I disagree
Here’s a fun question:
As is the case with most teams, more so with the Angels, we need some players to either bounce back or break out in order to really have a good season. That and health.
So, out of Rengifo, Rendon, Fletcher, Stassi, Phillips and Walsh who do you think is most likely to have a 4 WAR season? Least likely?
Then there is the always mysterious bullpen which, again, is a mystery for most teams most years. But the teams that do well have a bunch of random names with randomly low WHIPs in their pen.
So out of these guys we have now who is most likely to have a WHIP under 1.0 and who is least likely? This is, of course, almost total blind guessing.
Herget, Tepera, Loup, Quijada, Barria, Weiss, Davidson, Wantz, Estevez?
Here’s my WAR rank guess: Rendon, Rengifo, Walsh, Fletcher, Stassi, Phillips. I actually think Phillips can be a really nice addition to our roster, it’s just that something has to be very wrong for him to get a lot of ABs. I think the brass, and even the brass on other teams, like Rengifo a lot more than Coachdad and CtPG guy do. I think he’s gonna get a lot of rope and could be our Ben Zobrist with a stupid beard with some execution. Rendon will be 4 WAR if he just plays a full season.
Bullpen? Herget, Loup, Estevez, Tepera, Wantz, Barria, Quijada, Weiss, Davidson. The main reason I like Herget for this is he doesn’t have to repeat some crazy performance. He gets by on being “the Glitch” and there’s no reason to think that’ll go away. I also think Loup will cut back on the in game beers, in which case his skill set is similarly not “stuff” dependant. I also think he is less likely to be “past it” because he never had much of “it” to begin with. Honestly I think Herget/Loup/Tepera/Estevez may wind up being a really solid top group if Nevin handles them right. I think he will. The month of May broke Loup last year.
Rendon & Loup would be my guesses. Expectations are so low now it may be easy to fly under the radar.
My WAR rank guess: Rengifo, Fletcher, Walsh, Rendon, Stassi, Phillips
Bullpen is tougher. Some of those guys at the top are pretty interchangeable and same with the bottom.
Personally had fun with the Rengifo mocking…. 33% it’s because he’s one of our go-to mockable AAAA under performers, low hanging fruit to pick on. 33% he was not very good and given lots of rope to stick on a MLB roster, frequent boneheaded play. 33% trAdition.
My guess, he’s going to regress some. He’s done with the Salty Lake Shuttle..will only see AAA when he’s rehabbing from injury, which is likely, because Angels and trAdition. Still think the boneheadedness is in his DNA. His hot/clutch hitting from last year is likely to be biggest regression, too GA to show my work with this prediction….he’s an Angels is reason enough.
Herget likely to regress, controlling that wicked movement for another season will be tough. His “Glitch” is effective if it’s for strikes or at least close.
Buying stock in, Loup (will be a solid in high leverage) , Estevez, Tepera (will become pen MVP candidate) and think Rendon (finally… finally healthy and productive, clutch..all will be forgiven), Walsh (will be 2021 Walsh, but better), Fletcher (break through year), Stassi (closer to 2021 stats).
It’s all a guess of course. Rengifo could totally fall apart and I could believe this will happen cause he has a stupid look on his face sometimes.
Or, more realistically, I don’t think Fletcher’s ever gonna be all that valuable because I don’t think that 2020 he had that we all desperately hold onto was real. So while he’s not bad four WAR’s a stretch for him. Even if he has a pretty good year he’s probably more like 2 WAR.
Rengifo turns 26 this season. He had a really solid year last year. Maybe he is developing into the player the Dodgers wanted to trade for. Need more info to make a meaningful guess whether last year was a freak or whether it was a progression. I hope the latter. We will soon see.
Well, Against RHP’s last year (which was predominately most of his Plate Appearances) his splits were only .238/.271/.358. Thats better than Squid but still That ain’t much of a solid year.
You’d know better than me, but I’m hoping curtailing the shift helps Fletch a lot. I miss those hitters.
This is just my guess as a washed up and lightly talented pitching prospect, but I actually expect a kind of “wild time” for the first half of the season.
I expect some hitters brains to cramp with the idea of no shift. More importantly though, I expect all the subtle ways things are different for a pitcher now that there is no shift to play games with plenty of hurlers in various ways.
So, en-mass, I kind of expect to see an uptick in mistake pitches and hitters hitting them to start, maybe some surprisingly bad starts to 2023 for some pitchers that were solid.
I expect a few teams getting warnings, especially if they pull the SS/2B breaking at the pitch. Hopefully, no one pulls the Ted Williams debacle at second base.
Yes, Walshie & Ohtani too.
Fletcher has become a Punch and Judy hitter, trade bait for me and let Rengifo be the middle utility guy.
I’ve said several times I think Rengifo is a decent breakout candidate. He’s 26 and got by far his most consistent playing time last year and played quite well.
I’d bet against any of those guys getting 4 WAR due to limited workloads even if everyone is healthy.
Rengifo, Fletcher, Rendon, Walsh, Phillips, Stassi in order of WAR with the top three being closely bunched together and Stassi being negative again.
The bullpen is completely revamped as the youngsters emerge.
Esteves, Tepera, Herget are the three guys who are in it all year.
I have a secret wish. I’d kind of love it if Jared Walsh actually managed a .700 OPS against lefties this season. He’s still youngish. I doubt he’ll ever rake against lefties, but if he just got better he’d be a beast if fully recovered.
He’d break 4 WAR then, even playing 1B.
THEN maybe he’ll smile. Last time I saw him smile it looked like he secretly believed that he’d be struck by lightning if he smiles.
He hit lefties pretty well in the minors, I believe.
I like Walsh. I also like the fact that this year if I show up to the ballpark and Walsh is sitting, I’ll get to see Urshela or Drury take his place rather than a waiver claim.
Waiver claims have great stories that Halo beat writers have to conjure out of thin air:
“Veteran OIF Bump Willis was acquired via waiver wire today by the Halos. In his five career he has been a mainstay in the six teams on his resume. He brings a lifetime solid .191 batting average. The Halos are overjoyed for his veteran presence on the club”
Walsh and Fletcher would be some good trade bait to improve the pen and obtain a 2nd starter. Could throw Drury at 1st and Rengifo at 2nd.
When? Their trade value right now would be at the all time lowest. Both of them are coming off of major surgery. Maybe at midseason when they return to form but then why would you want to trade them? Fletch has a very reasonable salary and Walsh is one of the only 2 left handed power bats on the roster with the other a pending free agent.
No, Walsh and Marcus Aurelius don’t easily smile. Philosophy.
.
Isn’t that Josh Hamilton-Nose fell off after too much……(You know).
Here’s my rankings:
Bullpen:
I see a “full season” for Rendon and Walsh as 120-130 games or so.
Walsh will be largely platooned so that takes him out once a week or so. He might get into more games than 120 due to being a pinch hitter, but as far as full games, 130ish is my expectation.
Rendon is older and coming off multiple injuries. It would be smart to rest him a day or two each week early in the season and also try to rest him the day before an off day. So even if healthy all year he’ll miss about.
In fact, with the depth of Drury and Urshela, we could see all our starting infielders around the 120-130 games thanks to rest days.
That’s true. The whole performance by committee approach might eliminate everyone but Trout and Ohtani from accumulating WAR.
Interesting 30% on Stassi. He hasn’t had >3.0 WAR in his career and he was garbage last year. I’d be surprised if he’s >1.0.
I’ll be happy if he’s 1.0 or better. Hopefully I’m wrong but I think he’s done.
The only reason Phillips is on this list is because he’s a very good OF. If we did get trapped having to play him a lot because two starters break their coccyx in a tubing accident he could rack up Jackie Bradley Jr type WAR with his defense even if he hits .210 with 12 HR.
Rendon and Herget. Rendon was hitting the ball hard again last year, although it hadn’t translated yet in the stat department. Herget is a great EV change. One of my scouting buddies thinks you’re going to start seeing more submariners and even a trend of hard-throwing shorter pitchers that don’t work down like taller pitches do, playing right into the barrels of these new swings.
Having Drury or (Probably) Renfroe behind Rendon will be YUUGE! Part of Rendon’s game (You’ll probably have to see National’s footage) is taking walks if he doesn’t see anything to hit. If a 20 HR guy is behind him, more motivation to do so. The mighty Duffy is no longer needed to be plopped into a #4 or 5 in the Halo line up.
IF Rendon can stay on the field, he will rake in 2023.
Walsh with a 100% healthy back should spring back (Yes, bad pun).
I’d peg Urshela then Drury behind Rendon on the depth chart. And while I’d prefer to see Rendon, either is a capable replacement.
Why no Squid in the options? (By the way, I think Rengifo might surprise. Well, maybe I see the potential for it.)
I think Squid’s not gonna get enough time.
Because he will be optioning at the great Salt Lake
Barring no better option, Rengifo at short and Squid as a late inning guy.
No room at the inn for Squid slithering on the bench this year
I think between the 6 players you listed, the Angels will be fortunate to end up with 9 WAR combined.
I look for Loup to bounce back and the rest of them to basically pitch like ‘22.
We’re pretty close. Think that happens a lot. I was thinking 10.
Fletcher and Rengifo about 3 each.
Walsh and Rendon about 2 each.
Stassi and Phillips a total of 0.
Loup has really been ragged on, but with exception of that Shakespearean tragedy he threw in that one game (Five or six runs w/o an out), Loup actually pitched well in 2022.
Tepera needs to stay in the dugout the next team rumble.
You mean Bradley?
Tepera actually had an OK season for us. And you’re right about Loup too. Get rid of his three worst outings and he was OK too.
Yeah, they weren’t as bad as some on here say.
Loup gave up 25 earned runs in 15-1/3 innings spanning 19 appearances in 2022. These bad outings sprinkled over every month led to 5 blown saves and his 0-5 record. Those numbers were more like an Irwin Allen Mega Disaster movie than a Shakespearean tragedy.
I kept rooting for Darren O’day long after the Angels let him go, which was a huge mistake.
Yeah, that was a bad goodbye sitch there.
I think I’ve forgotten whatever it is you are referring to.
Thats cuz you’re 2GA2Care. I, on the other hand, NEVER forgive or forget
Got back from a short vacation in Hawaii last night. Been out of contact with the Halosphere. Tell me: does Arte still suck?
Oh no, that’s no longer a thing because he’s selling the…….oh dear…….oh my…nvm
His college buddies still run the team and he’s made zero free agent signings since the announcement, so yeah.
I actually did this thought process this morning….
Damn this is boring. Come on Arte, sign someone. > Sign…. Chafin? Eh, we have three lefties already. Britton? Gambling is fun? Wacha? Does that really make me happy? > Well, sign a bunch of guys to MiLB/ST contracts I guess. > Boring.
The Rangers actually had a nice bevy of non-needle moving deals there signing Frazier, Jankowski, Duffy, Moranta and Kennedy. That could add a lot to the team for very little risk.
I’d take Chafin in a heartbeat. Maybe Moore on the right deal.
That’s really it as far as free agents go.
He’s busy with closing Shohei’s contract
Good morning Halo faithful!
Good morning! By Faithful do you mean suckers?
No, by faithful I mean long-term/non-bandwagon fans. Of course, not too many bandwagons have shown up as of late…
Yeah I feel like at this point you got to be a real one to be sticking around. We are the cream of the fan crop.
Yep…we rule!!! Halo Power Baby!!!
Stupid Bowl means 10 days till P&C.