In the minor league phase of the Rule 5 Draft the Angels selected first baseman Eric Wagaman from the Yankees organization and RHP Ryan Miller from the Boston organization. The Angels have a deal with Adam Cimber for one year at $1.65 Million. Meanwhile, they are still aggressively looking around for starting pitching. This supposedly involves Tyler Glasnow, Shane Bieber, and/or Corbin Burnes. They checked in on Alek Manoah, apparently without success. Apparently, other clubs are interested in Logan O’Hoppe, Zach Neto, and/or Nolan Schanuel who should all be untouchable.
The Yankees finally completed their Juan Soto trade. Seven players are involved in total. The Diamondbacks agreed to a four year deal with Eduardo Rodriguez and the Reds agreed to a three year deal with Jeimer Candelario. The Nationals came to a one year agreement with infielder Nick Senzel.
Yadier Molina got a job as Special Assistant to the POBO with the Cardinals.
It looks like Craig Kimbrel got a one year deal with the Orioles for $13 Million. Michael Tonkin got a split deal with the Mets for a prorated one millon while he is in the majors and a prorated $400,000 while he is in the minors. The Yankees acquired Alex Verdugo in a trade with the Boston Red Sox in exchange for a bunch of pitchers. The Rangers signed Kirby Yates for one year at $4.5 Million.
Minor League Deals
The Angels signed Willie Calhoun to the minors with a spring training invite.
Dennis Santana to the Yankees.
The Mets acquired LHP Ryan Ammons from the Red Sox in exchange for their recent Rule 5 pick Justin Slaten
Photo credit: Rex Fregosi
Feel the fierce fire of the winter hot stoves!
Keep that stove cold baby! No trades for a pitcher that won’t even be here when the teams good again. I want to feel zero excitement headed into ST. DO IT PERRY!
We’ll all be fired up for spring training regardless of the roster. It’s a beautiful thing….then It dies
This Alex Cultice hire is directionally awesome. This is my favorite move, and I almost included something similar in my IIWPM. I hope they hire Perry Husband to consult with him as he has done for years with Brent Strom. The guy consulted with both the Rangers and DBacks last year. Inside baseball circles, he’s highly regarded as a savant on this pitch sequencing and tunneling. He started as a hitting coach. Carlos Pena swears by him as he gave him the shift when he had his HR break out. Oklahoma Softball is dominating on the mound and at the plate using his philosophies and they’ve given him huge credit. He was the guy who came up with all this EV and tunneling stuff after doing a deep data dive. At a coaching conference, I saw him show a chart of Mike Trout, and he had people guess his exit velocity over 5-plus years on balls up and in. Anyone want to guess?
If you’re intrigued about all this stuff – you’ll enjoy this. This is the type of stuff people are talking about when they talk pitching strategy and plate discipline. https://youtu.be/tVIvGzb_YKY?si=TW6CL8XUVqazqGR1
This is how you use tools to with a purpose in mind and an idea of what you are doing, and not because it’s the latest fad and you have no idea what you’re doing. This is all great and it’s water under the bridge at this point, but this should have been done when Perry was hired. The coaching and advising staff additions this year are a big step forward and may make more of a difference than anything else they’ve ever done. We are finally out of the 90s and are moving into the 21st century, albeit about 20 years late.
This is impossible. Perry doesn’t hire good people who do good baseball things.
If I remember correctly, Ohtani decided to sign with the Angels on the Friday before my birthday, which was December 8, 2017. My birthday was on a Sunday, December 10. Guess what day it is this Friday and Sunday? 🧐
Also, I heard Gene Autry on the radio singing his song just before I got to work… surely that means Ohtani will sign with us.
Lucky you. I keep waking up to Sonny & Cher “I Got You, Babe” every single day.
I can’t wait till he shocks the world and takes a shit ton of money from the Doyers so we can stop being pathetic about this.
It’s obviously sarcasm just like your comment lol. If he signs elsewhere we all know Arte is going to go for the “big splash” in Bellinger instead of doing the smart organizational move and rebuild.
I dunno.. Perry talked Arte off the Trea Turner ledge last season.
I’m waiting but for a different reason… so everyone can stop pining over something that has been obvious for 6 months, and all the market can stop being held up so Perry can move forward with whatever he is going to do.
I’m supportive of a rebuild, but this team as currently constructed is not competing or consistent with “being aggressive”. With or without Ohtani, their bench is Thaiss, Rengifo, and Adell. Once Reny replaces Rendon at 3B, they have no middle infield replacements or back up 1B other than Thaiss unless you count Soto and Paris. They are a number of players short just to field a complete team besides improving the pitching.
Their eggs appear to all be in the Ohtani basket. Other than Trout, we have become a very expensive version of the A’s.
Lol.
That A’s comment is more than a little extreme.
I would never argue with a man who obliterated a baseball to win the pennant.
🙂
did you ever read the book?
I haven’t but know its a darker ending. Like the Angels in 2023.
Rebuild and “aggressive” don’t really go together unless you aggressively open up roster spots for young players that are cheap.
“Angels Aggressively Targeting Top Starting Pitchers on Trade Market, Per The Athletic” So tired of these taglines
later…
they tried
Yep.
Just like we “tried” with Cole. Then a full on Tilt Arte signed Rendone in probably the worst contract in Angels history.
Much like missing out on Carl Crawford (which was a blessing in disguise) and trading for the worst contract in sports history at the time. The pattern continues…
*simpson meme: ‘worst contract in Angels’ history so far’
They can be aggressive all they want but kinda hard to get top starting pitching when you don’t have much to offer in terms of prospects.
No doubt this is why teams inquire about O’Hoppe, Neto, and Schanuel. They were promoted quickly because they are about all the Angels have worthy of it. Maybe somebody brings up Davis Daniel now and again.
Totally off topic,
but my oldest friend past away this morning after a year long battle with brain cancer / chemo & radiation. Frankly,
the chemo was
worse than the cancer. 53 years old, non-drinker, non-smoker. Figures.
Anyway, cherish your friends & family. Life is really short.
Very sorry to hear.
Condolences on your loss
My condolences.
My condolences, I’m sorry.
Sorry for your loss.
May his memory be for a blessing.
My condolences, lost my oldest sister the same way. She was only 42.
Likewise, I’m sorry for your loss. It’s tough.
I lost my only sister at age 55 the same way. I am sorry.
Sorry to hear. Cancer sucks with my only positive take away being that we need to hug them while we’ve got them.
I seem to recall that you were having a health issue of your own earlier this year? Hope you’re faring better.
Thanks, doing much better. Super thankful for the medical providers that cared for me and countless others. Don’t know how they do it.
Life’s challenges are an opportunity to gain perspective on things you needed to know all along that could not be easily acquired by any other means.
Thank you all.
I only brought it up because he was good person that deserved to be mentioned. Positive energy. The well wishes are appreciated.
The good die young is so often a truism.
Sorry for your loss. 53yrs old is way too young to die. Cancer sucks!
I am so sorry to hear this. My only sister died of this terrible disease over 10 years ago at age 55.
Yes, life is really short. Love one another.
That is so hard. 🙁 I feel for you.
Sorry to hear about your loss.
About Soto to the Skanks: ok, now I believe it.
Perry poaching coaches from the DBacks seems like good work. Going from one of the most random and unqualified Nevin-led coaching staffs to the current one is night/day. Unfortunate we waited until possibly losing Shohei to assemble an MLB-caliber staff.
“Source: The Angels have hired Alex Cultice to the Major League staff. He’ll be the head of game planning on the pitching side.
Cultice previously held a similar role with the Diamondbacks.”
https://twitter.com/SamBlum3/status/1732839736186704036?t=1ZQvu99O0TeIpwzK-YtQkA&s=19
And just like the hitting program, there will probably be a consistency in the message and structure of the pitching program.
This is a departure from whats been happening here the last 11+ years.
Is his motto “throw moar sliderz “?
Lunch?
https://view.mail.milblists.com/messages/1701971986821e1d46a099a86/raw
MLB Network seems to have decided that Sho’s future is between the Doyers and Blue Jays, and the decision will come by the end of this weekend.
I beg to differ on both points. The Angels are dissed by most pundits. The Angels are very much still in the hunt. I believe the last team that Sho/Nez will meet are the Angels; one would always leave the best to the last. It is eerily that no media did not report anything regarding the Angels, who have kept mum, exactly what Sho desired. Sho has always been told no, and did exactly opposite all of his life. He has Mr. Kuriyama to thank to convince him to stay so he can develop his 2 way play in Japan (Had he come to the US at age 18, the Doyers would have forced him to choose one), and Joe Maddon for expanding Sho’s two way scope. Sho is truly thankful to the Angels and the fans. I still say that the Doyers have a slight edge, but the Angels are close second.
Sho will most likely wait for his countryman, Yamamoto, to make his decision. I think he would want Yamamoto to have limelight when he announces whether it will be MFYankees or Mets sometime next week. Sho had his 6 years ago.
It’s been fun to follow this winter hot stove time. We will find out soon whether you CtPGers are stuck with me for another season. As I said in earlier post, I hope to see Logan O’Hoppe catch Sho’s pitch for at least another season.
I remember reading that Ohtani apparently said to someone mid-year that he wouldn’t mind playing for the Dodgers or Jays. And here they are the finalists. No coincidence.
I think he is for sure going to one of them. Probably the Dodgers. It seems so weird to me actually that we’re drawing this entire thing out so long and he’s probably going to go to the Dodgers which everyone said he would months ago.
Well even if he goes to the Doyers my money is still on the Angels to win a World Series before Doc Roberts and Andrew do.
Wait? Andrew isn’t the evil mastermind behind Arte anymore?
Perhaps we should beat the rush and just call him “Blessed Saint Ohtani” from now on?
Was thinking about Ohtani Vs Trout… as far as Angel careers go…?
Still wish Trout hit an HR in the WBC.
Nothing stopping Ohtani from following Trout’s career line himself. Father Time is undefeated.
C: O’Hoppe, Stassi
1B: Schanuel, Thaiss
2B: Drury, Rengifo
SS: Neto, Rengifo
3B: Rendone 😂, Rengifo
LF: Ward, Adell
CF: Trout, Adell
RF: Moniak, Adell
DH:
SP: Detmers, Sandoval, Canning, Silseth, Anderson
RP: Estevez, Soriano, Joyce, Garcia, Cimber, Kolarek
We need pitching, pitching, and more pitching. Did I mention pitching ?
Replacing Canning and Anderson would significantly improve our starting pitching.
I actually think Canning is a potential breakout candidate in ’24 (with us or elsewhere). Anderson has 2 years left and will get every opportunity to bounce back.
Even without Shohei, I wouldn’t mind seeing us stick with the 6-man rotation.
*Snell*, Detmers, Canning, Sandoval, Anderson, Silseth.
OK, brother! You have become a believer in 6 man rotation. I love it.
And I totally agree with you in retaining all the young core. Especially with Ron Washington, who worked with Acuna Jr.
In the last 2 seasons, Detmers and Sandoval have proven remarkably durable under a 6-man rotation. I’m all for it!
This is what happened when Arte and Perry were interviewing Ron Washington.
Perry: So, who did you work on as far as young players were concerned?
Ron: Have you heard of Ronald Acute Jr.?
Perry: (to his assistant). Cancel the rest of the interviews. We will hire you, Ron. Congratulations.
Exactly. 6 man rotation kept our rotation relatively healthy last season.
I like the 6-man also. The 6th guy can also be a swing dude based on days off, etc.
And Sandoval.
Replacing Rendon and the human error leader Rengifo would improve the team too. I don’t think Washington can do much with Rengifo. The guy just doesn’t seem to have a plan ahead of time if the ball comes to him. Just doesn’t have that baseball instinct he should have at this level.
Agree on Anderson, but Canning is a viable #5 with a bit more upside IMO.
Canning will be the game 5 starter in the World Series, as we are up 3-1 and need to rest Ohtani for game 6.
DH: Ohtani
and don’t forget the left over $$$ is all to be spent on pitching (starters)
Blake Snell makes too much sense
See here’s the problem: there’s nothing on the farm to trade that will return the type of player the Angels need. This is EXACTLY why not trading Ohtani prior to the 2023 season was equivalent to professional malpractice by the Angels front office.
If us minions can determine that Schanuel is “James Looney”, every other GM not named Tony Reagins will know it too. He’s not going to bring an “ace” in return.
For example, the type of package it would take to get Glasnow would need to include Neto and O’Hoppe along with others. Schanuel and scraps won’t get it done.
Take a look at what the vaunted “Trade Simulator” says about the Yankees trade for Soto: the trade was “scored” 60 to 34 by the simulator towards San Diego. The Yankees had to give up nearly 2x the “value” to get one year of Soto.
The *only* way the Angels get an immediate infusion of talent for 2024 is to overpay to retain Ohtani, and then overpay to add Snell, Montgomery, Hader and Woodruff.
Lastly, speaking the truth does not make anyone a “doomer”.
You didn’t have to type out the 1st 4 paragraphs — I’m on the same page, except trading Ohtani, but we’ve been down that hole enough lol.
I adamantly do not want to trade any of our perceived young core. The only viable path towards adding the type of SP we need is Blake Snell.
We are in agreement that the only real way forward to “compete” is re-signing Ohtani and signing Snell. It’s a pipe dream. If we strike out on Ohtani, I’m all for the rebuild (without trading Trouty).
My fault on missing the alignment – no slight intended.
Oh no worries, brotha! Clarifying that outside of Ohtani, we are in harmony.
It’s either the Sho returns and we try to “compete”, or the Sho moves to LA and we rebuild.
This Shanny to James Looney comp vexes me. Is that supposed to be a good thing?
I hope to God our guy is better, nay, much better than Looney.
It’s Loney and it means no power no speed first baseman. Not ideal when constructing a lineup.
Based on his size alone, you’d think he round into a 15-20 HR player and though his .400 OBP is probably not sustainable, his high contact/low strike out rate should keep him in the .350 range consistently.
You need someone like a good JD Martinez at DH.
Is JD a DH only at this stage?
Not necessarily. But closing in on that.
The Mighty Rengifo can also play some RF with than cannon arm.
Jimmy does not like the fact that You forgot Jimmy.
Jimmy deserves this treatment with his crappy pitching and his tendency to speak of himself in the third person.
I would definitely trade Schnauel for the right deal. He’s James Loney without the power at an easy to fill position. But Logan and Neto should be untouchable.
Detmers, O’Hoppe, Neto, Schanuel should all be untouchable imo.
Depends on if the team gets better or worse if they’re traded. I trade them all for one or two Ohtani’s.
Unless the Angels do it, then they would get an over the hill player that gives them one WAR a year for three years.
O’Hoppe, Neto, Schanuel – i’d trade them for a frontline ace that can win a day 1/day 2 playoff start
I would not trade our franchise C, SS and (maybe) 1B for a SP that will be drinking beers and fishing in October.
Who fits that bill?
The top WAR leaders for pitching were Cole, Snell, Webb, Gray, Bradish, Senga, Gallen, Wheeler, Montgomery, and Luzardo.
Which of them is worth trading your ‘young core’?
(At least two are active on the market. Gray is going to the Cards for 3/75 as a FA, and was the AL Cy Runner Up).
Glad the Halos avoided Candelario for 15M a year. Another 30 year old coming off a career year. I’d rather have Drury. I would think about extending him now if they could get a favorable deal.
Completely agree. Terrible overpay.
This breaking news just in: Ohtani still remains unsigned, and Generalissimo Francisco Franco is still dead!
For the hearing impaired, the top story tonight, “Generalissimo Francisco Franco is still dead!”
That reminds me to declare
Happy 82nd Pearl Harbor Surprise Attack Day when German Dornier Do 17 annihilated US Navy ships!
😀 😁 😂 😃 
Joking aside, I sincerely hope that there will never be horrible wars like that. It is amazing that how Japanese recovered from the devastation and how little or none Japanese people have historical grudges against American people in general. I attribute that to Japanese learned shortly after the war ended that they were terribly misled by militaristic Japanese Government of that time, to how General McArthur was instrumental in rebuilding Japan, and, of course, to baseball.
And on the flip side, I think TV manufacturers and Nintendo effectively healed any ill feelings Americans might otherwise have toward Japan.
I would also add Kawasaki, Yamaha, Honda, and Suzuki motorcycles that all those American GIs bought (¥360/$1 rate) before they headed home. 😉
There’s a FANTASTIC multi-part Podcast series by Dan Carlin (Hardcore History) that covers Japan at war from the lead up (in the mid 1800’s thru 1945).
It’s called “Supernova In The East” and it’s 6 parts in total. Roughly 16 hours of content. It’s fantastic.
I never encountered any discernible anti-American resentment in Vietnam, but they do dislike the Chinese.
Proof that not all commies are aligned. Besides, American commies are easily the worst of the bunch.
No politics.
Naw, it was a fleet Heinkel 111’s and JU-87 dive bombers.
Thank you, Garrett Morris!
Thanks, I don’t know why I thought younger posters would cancel me for dredging that classic up.
Who cares. They never got to watch SNL when it was awesome!!
People that think they know about the Spanish Civil War tend to know nothing about the Spanish Civil War.
Suggested reading: The Last Crusade by Warren H. Carroll.
Seems like price tag for Soto was lower than projected? No Top 100 prospects. One useful swing starter. Minor league over-performer with middling fastball. Backup catcher, etc. Halos could’ve swung that.
The price was pretty steep for a one-season rental.
Ohtani > Soto. Imagine what Ohtani would have fetched prior to the 2023 season!
Imagine what Ohtani as FA next off season would fetch with his right elbow all healed up. That is only if he signs one year deal, or opts out of any contract he would sign this year.
especially if he pitches some games in Sept 24 and is nails
And how little we would’ve gotten at the 2023 trade deadline.
Correct Grich. And the Padres threw in a salary dump with Grisham also. What they got back really is anyone’s guess. The articles analyzing it haven’t been kind.
Another Nikkan Sports article regarding Yamamoto points to fierce competition between MFYankees and Mets. It is a well known fact that Cashman went to Japan to witness Yamamoto’s most recent no hitter game. Now, several American media have confirmed that Cohen and David Stearns recently went to Japan and invited Yamamoto and his family to swanky French/Japanese restaurant just before the GM meeting in Nashville.
I thought Cohen at August deadline when he released Scherzer and Verlander announced that 2024 was going to be just a rebuilding year and focus on 2025 and beyond.
For those of you who are interested in learning some Japanese idioms, Cohen would be described as having two tongues (二枚舌). No, Cohen is not some genetically altered freak; it means that he says something, and then he does another that is totally different or opposite. I suppose baseball owners/GM should have multiple tongues.
My delusional thought process continues. I wonder extra finger that some people have would give advantage or disadvantage with pitching?
I will go ahead and take my morning meds now.
After the Soto trade, I’m sure the Yankees are all over Yamamoto. For Cashman, putting Judge and Soto together and adding a big pitcher in his prime to go with Cole should set them up for success. This is the problem with being an Angels fan. You have Houston, Texas, and others in the division plus the Yankees, Rays, etc. Let’s hope for some good news in Anaheim.
If they sign Yamamoto, that will take their payroll north of $300M
Must be nice…..
And according to Nikkan Sports, the MFYankees/Steinbrenner are ok with that. Now both NY teams would be paying luxury tax, which should help small market teams right? Is this the foundation how democracy works? Richer do not necessarily get richer?
The Yankees will be very good if they get him in addition to Soto. I want Yamamoto for us, better fit at at half the price.
Good Morning, everyone!
According to Nikkan Sports, Logan O’Hoppe is now represented by CAA, and Shohei welcomed him in his instagram. I DO want to see Shohei-O’Hoppe battery at least for another season.