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LA Angels Monday News Crash: Optional

November 6, 2023

38 Comments

As some of you may know, the Angels declined the club options of Aaron Loup and Eduardo Escobar on Friday. With Escobar gone, I guess they must be counting on Rendon. (LOL!) The Red Sox declined their club option of left-hander Joely Rodriguez while the Pirates declined their club option on left-hander Jarlin Garcia. The Padres declined a two year club option on Michael Wacha. The Reds declined their option on Joey Votto and Curt Casali. Marcus Stroman turned down his option with the Cubs while Wade Miley declined his option with the Brewers. Cody Bellinger also declined his option with the Cubs.

Josh Bell exercised his player option and will stay with the Marlins. Andrew Heaney exercised his player option to stay with the Rangers. The Rangers also picked up their option on right-hander Jose Leclerc. The Dodgers declined their option on Alex Reyes. The White Sox declined Tim Anderson’s option. Eduardo Rodriguez opted out of his deal with the Tigers. The Blue Jays and Whit Merrifield both declined their mutual option. The same thing went down between the Padres and Nick Martinez. Hector Neris declined his player option with the Astros.

The General Manager meetings begin tomorrow in Scottsdale, and naturally Nez Balelo will be a very popular guy. The Players Choice Awards are out. Shohei won something and he’s also a finalist for a Silver Slugger.

Former Angels pitcher Dick Drago passed away on Thursday at the age of 78.

Clayton Kershaw had shoulder surgery. He hopes to come back next summer.

The Orix Buffaloes have approved the posting of Yoshinobu Yamamoto. The Detroit Tigers acquired first baseman Mark Canha from the Brewers in exchange for minor league reliever Blake Holub.

Criticism from bloggers and tweeters played a role in convincing Dusty Baker to retire. Craig Counsell wants big money. I guess he won’t be coming to the Angels. MLB reached a confidential settlement with three minor league teams that were suing it over the loss of their affiliations. This avoids a potential challenge to the antitrust exemption.

Photo credit: Rex Fregosi

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Trusted Member

25 days ago

A live look when Wash gets the Halos job:

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Super Member

25 days ago

Reply to Shohei Now

LOL. skeletons in the closet never go away. He is not getting the job.

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Trusted Member

25 days ago

My totally uneducated prediction: By Wednesday, they’ll announce Ron Washington as Manager with Torii as bench coach/ heir apparent. They’ll bump Montgomery up to be Perry’s assistant GM where he belongs.

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Legend

25 days ago

Reply to Shohei Now

Source?

Cuz I’m getting the same feelings . Unlike Showalter at least Wash has been to a World series ( or two) but that dude is old ( a young 71-1/2)

Last edited 25 days ago by Cowboy26

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Legend

Senator_John_Blutarsky

25 days ago

MLBTR has the Free Agent predictions out – they have Ohtani to the Dodgers: 12 years, $528M

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Legend

Eric_in_Portland

25 days ago

Reply to Senator_John_Blutarsky

no. No team will offer 12 years. That’s $44mil per year, barely more than the old guys, Scherzer and Verlander. But then again, I expected a higher number for Trout.

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Trusted Member

25 days ago

Reply to Eric_in_Portland

I feel like they kinda phone’d in the contract numbers this year. But I used the numbers in my spreadsheet and I’ll play by the rules set. I did have to make some adjustments already. FYI, I’m under $220 mil total payroll and feel like we are compeitive.

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Super Member

25 days ago

Kinda get the impression the Angels aren’t hiring a manager until Ohtani either signs elsewhere or tells them he’s gone. Like if he stays, we hire Buck but if he leaves we hire some Torii Hunter nonsense where there’s lower stakes.

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Trusted Member

25 days ago

Anybody else getting that, “Hell No! I’m not going to manage the Angels!” feeling?

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Legend

Senator_John_Blutarsky

25 days ago

Reply to Mikeal1st

The issue remains that the Platypus is a lame duck. If he gets canned after the 2024 season, the Manager is likely gone too.

The Platypus will hire someone, but my guess it’s either a “first time” manager or someone trying to rehabilitate their resume. We’re not getting a “Bochy” level manager given all the drama within the ownership dynamic.

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Legend

Eric_in_Portland

25 days ago

Reply to Mikeal1st

lots of interns would take the job

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Legend

GrandpaBaseball

25 days ago

Arte wants to man the phones to see if someone, just somebody to offer 3.0 billion for the team before hiring a manager, I think. Doesn’t bid well for PTP now does it. Jedi got his boys to a great record this year proving he is a good GM that maybe should still be here. I still will never like him quitting mid season left a bad taste in my mouth.

Now if I had 30 billion dollars and owned the team, I would hold on to Perry for two more years. I think he knows what he is doing as a GM, a lot more so than Eppler ever did. As for finding a manager my short list would be, Erstad, Gil, or Moose. He is ready to retire soon or let him be play/mgr.

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Legend

25 days ago

Great News “Happy Birthday Bitch” is now a free agent.

https://www.mlbtraderumors.com/2023/11/adam-ottavino-to-decline-player-option.html

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8rOUYS-RYTY

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Legend

GrandpaBaseball

25 days ago

Reply to Cowboy26

He is going to see that he may not be worth 6.75 in age 39 season.

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Legend

Twebur

25 days ago

Are we too mean here at CTPG? 😀 Maybe if we become nice and positive things will become better 😀

Baker hinted at a similar sentiment in his retirement news conference, answering “somewhat, yeah,” when asked if he felt “mistreated” by members of the Houston media. He also mentioned that there were “a couple instances, a couple articles” that helped him make up his mind.

https://sports.yahoo.com/dusty-baker-says-criticism-from-astros-bloggers-and-tweeters-played-role-in-his-decision-to-retire-032308550.html

Last edited 25 days ago by Twebur

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Legend

Twebur

25 days ago

Today is hire your manager day in MLB.

https://sports.yahoo.com/mets-reportedly-hire-carlos-mendoza-not-craig-counsell-as-new-manager-181502721.html

https://sports.yahoo.com/guardians-hire-stephen-vogt-as-new-manager-after-terry-francona-steps-away-174837083.html

Last edited 25 days ago by Twebur

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Legend

25 days ago

Reply to Twebur

Manager Monday ? we got another one.

https://www.mlbtraderumors.com/2023/11/cubs-to-hire-craig-counsell.html

Then there’s the Angels. Where rumor has it they will start interviewing candidates in the near future.

Last edited 25 days ago by Cowboy26

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Legend

Twebur

25 days ago

Reply to Cowboy26

Well, I think the office is closed for the next few weeks….yearly carpet cleaning and general maintenance. The shag carpet takes a solid week to dry before you can walk on it.

Who are we to question the timing of such things? No need for urgency. Waiting until all the good managers get hired is smart.

https://sports.yahoo.com/cubs-to-reportedly-hire-craig-counsell-away-from-division-rival-brewers-183346974.html

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Senator_John_Blutarsky

25 days ago

Reply to Twebur

Shag carpeting – when did Arte add that? Previously it was just wheat straw over dirt…like a stable.

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Legend

WallyChuckChili

25 days ago

Reply to Senator_John_Blutarsky

I thought it was just Peanut Shells swept in for the Stadium .

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Legend

GrandpaBaseball

25 days ago

Reply to Cowboy26

8 million dollars a year – good thing it doesn’t count against the cap. 😄 Cubs had a nice guy in Ross, but …….but David did not get to the WS and Hoyer wants to be in the spotlight again.

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Legend

Senator_John_Blutarsky

25 days ago

Reply to GrandpaBaseball

Ross has a losing record as a manager, but the Cubs fading in the stretch last season was fatal.

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Super Member

25 days ago

Angels should just hire Benji Gil to become the next manager. Seems well dialed in to the team and has some experience. With Perry’s last season, this year feels like a bridge year to a new regime in 2025.

Last edited 25 days ago by FungoAle

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Trusted Member

25 days ago

Reply to FungoAle

Has no previous mlb managerial experience plus he’s older than 43

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Super Member

25 days ago

Reply to 2002heaven

Padres were greatly impressed by Gil’s interview and being a local product with their roster construct, that would be a good hire. Plus, preppy Preller likes to hire guys with low major league managerial profiles to make him feel superior.

I think it will boil down to Showalter and Gil. I like Buck, a lot, but Gil feels like that right guy to grow with the current roster. Arte turning down a Mexican American to take over the helm?

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Trusted Member

25 days ago

Reply to FungoAle

Good Gawd hope it ain’t Showalter!!!
Another overrated old guy who will never win (Gene Mauch 2.0) Dusty Baker almost became one of them.
all 3 sports have/had them……..mlb Gene Mauch, Buck Showalter, NFL Marty Schottenheimer, NBA George Karl

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Legend

25 days ago

Reply to 2002heaven

But doesn’t that make him a man.

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Super Member

25 days ago

Reply to FungoAle

always a bridge year.

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Super Member

25 days ago

Reply to FungoAle

I’m in favor of cleaning house and putting new voices in the room. The old voices didn’t work.

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Super Member

25 days ago

Reply to MarineLayer

Not going to attract top candidates to go along with a lame duck GM. Gil is a 1-year guy and new regime in 2025. Or maybe Arte forces his guy like he did Maddon against the GM having input. How well did this work?

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Trusted Member

25 days ago

From now on only one yr deals (Marcus Semien in 2021 with Toronto)
~~Long term deals~~ (Mike Trout BTW ITYS Halos Heaven, Anthony Rendon, Justin Upton,)
💪 💪 💪

Last edited 25 days ago by 2002heaven

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Trusted Member

25 days ago

Reply to 2002heaven

ah, yes, let’s do just one year deals with players that are looking for one year deals. Those guys are always really really good

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Trusted Member

25 days ago

Reply to cookmeister

And if they’re not THEN CUT THEM LOOSE!!
💪 💪

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Super Member

halofansince1978

25 days ago

Angels yardbarker.com quiz is kinda fun.

Author must be Pathetic CtPG Guy Loser.

https://www.yardbarker.com/teams/los_angeles_angels/quizzes

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Legend

25 days ago

Odds today on Angels signing Ohtani are listed at 6%. It’s probably lower than that.

Given that Ohtani may mot make a decision until 2024, the front office should presume they won’t sign him and handle the off-season like they won’t. But in true Angels fashion, they are likely to do nothing (or very little) until they are certain the money set aside for Ohtani isn’t going to Ohtani. And by that time many opportunities may be gone. Classic buttercup.

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Trusted Member

25 days ago

Reply to Fansince1971

I think Perry is smart enough to publicly say they are committed to staying in the bidding, but I think his plans this week and all offseason doesn’t include him anymore

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Legend

25 days ago

Reply to Biggiswrth

I hope you are right!

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Legend

GrandpaBaseball

25 days ago

Good Morning 😀 No more Playoffs! No more World Series! No more excruciating Angels defense to watch. This week is all about the GM meetings in Arizona. Trades and Free Agent signings this early have not helped much in the past, but it is still better to trade early and often when you suck as much as we do.

Gold Glove Awards have been released and no Angels mace an appearance this season, but we could make the list for the Red Brick Glove fielding awards.

What are the team’s needs-pitching, hitting, defense, pretty much sizes things up. 😂

I believe pitching will return to going 125-130 pitches per game, because 100 just is not getting the job done. PTP thought that a hitting team could hit their way to victories and learned that defense still counts. No matter how much analytics are to the game, sometimes your gut has to be the way to go. Why was Loup on the team? If someone offered Arte 26 billion bucks, think he would leave and just go away. Something tells me PTP knew they should have traded Shohei rather than hold on.

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