The long awaited monent has arrived! Jake Marisnick is now in the Angels minor league system. Anthony Rendon is merely the runner up in the list of the worst Angels free agent signings since 2000. He’ll have to put up at least a negative 0.4 WAR to beat out Josh Hamilton. Hey! It could still happen.
Trigger warning: This article is about whether Lucas Giolito can reinvent himself as a viable starter. The Mets traded Coleman Crow to the Brewers for RHP Adrian Houser and outfielder Tyrone Taylor. The Dodgers signed Nabil Crismatt and Travis Swaggerty to minor league deals while the Tigers signed right-hander Jack Flaherty to a one year deal for $14 Million.
A couple of days ago, the Athletics signed Trevor Gott to a one year deal. It looks like he gets $1.5 Million in guaranteed money. Also a couple of days ago, the Giants signed veteran catcher Tom Murphy to a two year deal worth $8 Million. The Brewers signed catcher/outfielder Eric Haase to a one year deal to replace Victor Caratini who went to the Astros earlier in the off season. The Marlins acquired right-hander Roddery Munoz from the Pittsburgh Pirates for cash considerations.
The Braves signed right-hander Taylor Widener to a minor league deal. Don’t fret though. There are other cast off right-handers still available. Exhibit A: Luis Patino was just designated for assignment by the White Sox.
MLB intends to hold a “Spring Breakout” series featuring each team’s top prospects. It appears the first game for the Angels prospects will on March 16 against the Dodgers prospects (aka all those guys the Angels could probably have gotten if they traded Shohei Ohtani at either of the last two trade deadlines).
And finally, Adam Wainwright is beginning his crossover into a musical career.
Photo credit: Rex Fregosi
I’m curious if the narrative of the lovable, honorable, only about the game narrative that Ohtani’s PR team has spun will wear out soon… judging by the rest of the internet sphere etc. he lost that really quick. It’s kind of wild but in America the dude lost his legacy overnight. I mean perhaps he lives around in his world of Japan, which is fair. But I’m terms of here, any WS they win over the next few seasons will be cheapened by the insane payroll. The “super team” thing is loved by agents and the media, but this insular bubble hides that most baseball fans are angry and Ohtani is now a villain. For a guy that supposedly didn’t want attention, any minor miss and that same media machine will turn on him and the Japanese fans will quickly learn how brutal -and other things -American fans can be. The only success here is WS or bust every year.
As far as fighting “marketing” boy Arte is probably now on the “us and everyone else” vs the Dodgers bandwagon. That’s something that you can market if you’re winning…. There’s a big enough population here to roll with that. And you dont think Ron Washington isn’t texting everyone f*** Dodgers right now? I’m curious if any Free Agents are interested in joining the “anti” Dodgers squad here. I’m not sure it’s doom a gloom. And you know me I have I hate Dodgers in my blood. That being said, you have to win and out together a team that can compete. I was sad when Shohei left but now not so much.
I don’t read reddit and this is the only message board I read/participate in, what is being said about his legacy?
Shohei is going to be just fine. He will definitely get booed in most every stadium this year for the first time in his career but its not going to be like A-Rod/Altuve/Bonds etc. More playful/disappointed than actual hate.
I am happy he landed with the Dodgers, rather than with the Yankees. Stay in the NL, and we only have to deal with him (and Ohtani) if we get to the World Series.
Much more interested in Houston, Seattle, and Texas, and how they are going to pay for their stars and who they can find to replace aging vets.
I am Japanese and was clearly fooled about the whole honor and dedication thing for Ohtani.. He obviously just cares about stacking championships for himself, could careless about fans, teammates, or organization. He turned out to be the MLB version of Kevin Durant, who only wants to play on a team he can surround himself with MVP’s. Believe it, if somehow Dodgers flop next couple years he will be crying for a trade to a better contender..
Certainly makes me now do a double-take on who I thought Ohtani was. 100% understand and support the decision to not re-sign here in Anaheim but this almost feels all staged like LeBron going to South Beach. Next thing that might happen is that he will now flip and be very accessible to the media and become the face of baseball.
It sounds like we were invited to match Doyers offer and Arturo declined.
It’s already started. He’s started his parade, ehem, his press tour with a highly publicized appearance watching the Rams on TNF.
Won 2 MVPs, and a runner-up in between, and he only “got” a field visit and customized Rams Ohtani jersey when he signed with the Dodgers. Watch him be beside Jack Nicholson courtside and hugging sweaty Lebron in lots of Lakers games this year. Ohtani will realize he missed all of this in 6 years when he was with the Angels.
I thought he only has two hobbies in his life – playing baseball and training for baseball?! Snort!
Arturo and his minions seem so pathetic and irrelevant compared to the Doyer behemoth, as does the rest of MLB. Nothing profound here, but I feel certain there will never be another World Series victory in my lifetime. I’m glad I got to enjoy it once as a loyal fan since 1961. I think I need to take a step back, although I will always be a fan and I will never root for another team..
I’ll be surprised if the Angels average 18,000!per game next season.
That’s still about 10,000 more than an average A’s game !!!
Anyway, back away from the ledge dude, let’s see what course the Angels take over the next couple of months…..
It’s over dude. Don’t care what they do. The Dodger empire has won. We need a New Hope like Luke Skywalker to bring down the evil Empire
Also A’s will draw huge in Vegas. Once that revenue comes in watch out.
I don’t think the A’s will replicate with the fandom like the Las Vegas Golden Knights. A’s ownership misread the room.
Additionally, if Raiders games are any indication, the majority of fans will be from the opponents team. Same thing happens to the Rams and Chargers at SoFi, seems the opponent’s fans outnumber the home team fans or at least they are louder.
The Golden Knights draw well for Vegas because they are a homegrown team, they didn’t just move there. Also, they had success almost immediately due to the skewed expansion draft the NHL used. Lastly, there is a HUGE hockey base that was cultivated by the Kings having done Frozen Fury in Vegas so many times; had my bachelor party at Frozen Fury one year.
The Raiders being un-good doesn’t help and the financial incentives to sell these tickets to out of towners is strong.
The Chargers don’t draw because they belong in SD.
Must be a new angel fan if you think they won’t break 18k.
This ain’t the ducks
Not a new fan (obviously). Just not sure who is going to go watch this team other than the diehards like us. Casual fans will head up the I5 to Dodger stadium.
I won’t go to the latrine even if I had free tickets in a suite.
Wow, now Yamamoto. How one wealthy big ego team gets 2 of the most coveted players in same off season. And guess what, they are not done yet, how about Burns and Cease thru trades and Hader to close. Forget about Angels humiliation of being nothing, this is about the health of MLB. Ridiculous stacking of a team, it’s turning out to be Dodgers vs the entire league.. D team and Ohtani himself (the recruiter and defer) are destroying competitive competition.. Baseball is possibly looking at the next 5-8yrs of every season of being about who can upset the Dodgers. Sure, Champions are not guaranteed but LA is trying their best $$ to make it so. Go A’s and Pirates !!!
Correct. Dodgers are ruining the league and Ohtani is helping them. Without his ridiculous deferred money deal, they cannot sign Yamamoto. Dodgers got Mookie by paying him a high contract Red Sox wouldn’t. They outbid the Braves for Freeman. Then Ohtani and now Yamamoto. This is possibly worse than the Steinbrenner Yankees of the 70s. And nothing will be done to stop it.
BTW Ohtani seemingly worked behind the scenes to defer his money as part of ensuring Yamamoto also became a Dodger.
What are you implying? I was reliably informed that Ohtani is the most honorable thing since honor itself. Hahaha
Whatever. Let’s see how it plays out. Winning a WS is incredibly difficult and relies on many factors.
Baseball is all about increasing odds and Dodgers are doing a great job of that.
You will need to be a VERY wealthy person to afford good Dodgers season tickets next season.
Yes, indeed all you can do is try to increase your chances. We’ve seen it not work with the Mets, now let’s see how it goes with the Dodgers.
Ohtani has to know this drives a stake through the Angels and yet he doesn’t give 2 shits. Angels are reduced to a footnote in Southern California. Arte missed his opportunity to sell.
Ohtani is a Dodger and trying to win. Why should he care about how this move affects the Angels?
He shouldn’t
Im just saying we have all been overwhelmed here with Kiyo’s bs about respecting and appreciating the Angels. It’s all BS. The Angels are being destroyed by their cross town rivals and Ohtani could care less. I get it but let’s please stop the Ohtani hero narrative
Speak for yourself, I was throwing javelins at the “Ohtani is altruistic” narrative the entire time.
Yes. You were a voice of reason in the general Ohtani loves and respects the Angels BS. Ohtani loves Ohtani and that’s how it should be. But let’s put an end to hero worship.
BTW – I could totally see Arte overreacting to all of this and signing Snell and Bellinger and thereby repeating the mistakes of the past.
I’ve come around to the idea that we should restock the farm by taking on a few bloated contracts that teams are looking to offload. It would hurt in the short term but could set the team up for a legit resurgence around 25’ or 26’.
At least it would represent a coherent plan of action.
Let the Dodgers overload. History has shown us, baseball is a sport where you can go worst to first and win it all. Will now get some good odds on other teams winning the 2024 WS.
You know what really bothers me though? One of our favorite gripes about Arte is that he’s marketing first and baseball last. With these two signings the Dodgers pretty much locked up the Japanese market for an entire generation (baring a catastrophe or something). A country with the 3rd largest GDP in the world where approximately 50% of the population list baseball as their favorite sport all wearing Dodgers caps. Honestly, if Arte were really such a marketing genius that would have been right up his alley, right?
Or maybe rich people aren’t really that much smarter that the average Joe/Jane, if at all, and they were just more or less in the right place at the right time. One thing is for sure, I picked one hell of a decade to go all in on Angels fandom. Shows you how smart I am! 😅
Arte is a marketing lightweight compared to the Dodgers on the baseball front. He may know billboards but he sucks at baseball
He’s obsolete in the 2020’s
Made most of his fortune in the 1990’s, like watching Casino, Bugsy movies, and former AMC TV series Madmen in the 1960’s. That’s why I’m not on board with his Ron Washington hire who is MLB’s oldest current field skipper now that Dusty Baker retired. Arte’s just stubbornly behind the times.
The Angels were always playing second fiddle to the Dodgers. Then in 2002 and for a decade after the Angels competed and even arguably excelled over the team 35 miles north. It was like Star Wars and the defeat of the Death Star.
Now they have regrouped and are aiming to destroy their competition in OC (errr Los Angeles). They are winning the war and Commander Arte is outmatched at every level.
The Dodgers are beating the Angels senseless.
I really don’t like the Dodgers but frankly am quite a bit envious. I wish the Angels had half of the aptitude the Dodgers have shown over the last decade. I also think billionaires spending money to make me happy in a very bizarre but generally accepted way is great when they spend a lot and make me even more happy.
My gut would say though that a general reduction in parity is not so good for the sport in the long run. However, I think the poster child of “parity is dead” is the top European soccer/football leagues and yet, their popularity seems to only be growing, so the data seems to show that in general people don’t seem to care maybe? I really don’t like the idea, but maybe I’m the exception.
In the end, I hope the Dodgers choke, Arte sells the team, and we emulate and improve on the Dodgers model, and then don’t choke when it’s our turn. Is that too much to ask?
12 years for a pitcher.
Lmfao
Reallly, they have added a potential ace, Glasnow and a DH for next season.
They are likely moving on from JD Martinez – so the difference between Ohtani and Martinez’s bats is the improvment there. 1 WAR? 2?
They needed more pitching with May and Gonsolin out with injuries. They won’t have Gonsolin (Tommy John) and May is likely out for a long while.
So, back of the rotation is still Bobby Miller and Emmet Sheehan.
They have gotten better, but mostly they have been marginally improving, not adding pieces to a continued core from 2023.
Bobby Miller and Sheehan are reeeeeaaaal good.
Which means it doesn’t move the bar. They are as good as they were, even with the big splashes.
FUCK THE DODGERS
They will defy the laws of gravity……😀
Love it…screw NY, that’s the only benefit I can see with this. Such a stacked team, it will be a joyous occasion to see the Dodgers eliminated from the postseason.
Yes, the default becomes cheering for any team playing the Dodgers
Correct. And waiting for injuries to their stars.
Dodgers are awesome. I’m sure glad I chose to support the Angels and a lifetime of pain.
Sadomasochism manifests in various forms.
You’ll be fine – you’ll be tuning in the Dodgers on a daily basis as they are the face of MLB
Gotta respect greatness my guy.
If you can survive going back to your car at Chavez Latrine.
The violence at the latrine is overblown. I’ve been there whilst wearing an Angles jersey. No biggie.
Moreover, the ticket prices are likely to skyrocket which will reduce the homeboy element.
I disagree, the RF pavilion was infamous for decades for drunken brawls and in-game arrests. Thats why the LF pavilion used to be an alcohol/family zone, but that seems like eons ago…..
Don’t get me wrong, it’s not a docile den like Anaheim and fights will occasionally occur in LA, but the majority of those are between drunk & overweight dudes that are of “like mind”.
I seriously doubt you would get into a fight there unless you were looking for one. JMO of course.
You think I’m paying for those tix prices ???? Comfortably watch the LAD superteam from home haha
One might note the only NorCal fan actually killed in a parking lot was an A’s fan sucker punched by two Angel fans. True story, you could look it up.
Seriously. Thanks, Dad.
Where’s gitcho with his daddy issues psycho stuff when you need him?
Doyers and Angels have the same amount of world series trophies the last 35 years.
I suspect that’s gonna change over the next 10.
As much as I hate the dodgers they will be interesting. Ohtani only focused on hitting for a year and a complete unproven but likely stud in Yamamoto on top of an already stacked team…. All you can do is laugh
They doyers will be a home & ROAD draw all season. ESPN and MLB are orgasmic over the Ohtani/Yamamoto double dip.
Already got our Dodgers@Reds tickets. Had to add another for the brother-in-law coming from Tokyo. Maybe see Yamamoto pitch!
Of course they are. Eyeballs = MONEY. ESPN loves MONEY more than any single team.
Uruguayan about the details. Maybe it’s deferred, like Yamamoto gets $50k for 12 years then a lump sum of $324.4 mil in 2037
Nice auto correct, eh? Who knows what I wrote
I’m sure the Dodgers are in on Uruguayan stuff too.
It was “I’m curious about the details”
Haha!
Bottom line: How many of YOU would be in favor of (or bitching non-stop) if Arte signed Yamamoto for 12/325 ???
I’d be concerned, but eager to see if it works out.
But since he’s not on my team, I get to just be flabbergasted.
Would you be flabbergasted or merely dumbfounded?
Little column A, little column B.
flabberfounded?
Or dumbgasted.
I would’ve been super hype for Ohtani and/or Yamamoto.
Neither contract is that absurd. Good for LAD
Imagine if the angels signed ohtani.
Only a person hyped up on hopium would have thought there was any chance of that.
They are all-in on winning. Not to mention being exciting & interesting.
Dodgers are the face of MLB for the next decade.
I will be tuning on a daily basis.
As will the networks and national attention.
they’re going to be a draw wether they win or lose, though they’re very likely to win & win often.
Yessirr.
6 seasons left in this decade. I’ll say LAD wins the WS at least 3 times before we hit 2030.
Angels are back in the shadow of the Dodgers. Realistically to everyone other that is hardcore fans, they are irrelevant.
We can worry about being relevant if/when the team improves.
They doyers dropped the equivalent of an“aid package” to a foreign country on two players. How many good players can we pick up for a “billy” ???
It’s really sad dude. The Angels spent decades trying to get out of the Dodgers shadow and be relevant in Southern California. That is now over. All of us on CTPGs will keep tuning in but it’s going to be few others. The team has probably lost 90% of its viewership and relevance in the last couple weeks.
I lived with irrelevance as an Angel fan for many decades and can accept it again. But I think it has to be something that Arte sees and has to be worried about.
To many hypotheticals to get to an apples to apples point of comparison.
If Arte had a top farm system, if Arte could spend $325m and still be willing to invest in additional players, if Arte would pay the tax if necessary and not fire scouts, I’d be okay with it.
Thats clearly not what’s going on here.
So considering those parameters the doyers made a good decision?
The Dodgers made the best decision for the Dodgers, and that’s not necessarily good for MLB.
If they fall flat on their face, they’re hamstrung salary wise for a while.
I applaud the risk. It’s f*cking sports not anything important like war & peace.
These are better signings than Scherzer and Verlander but it’s definitely possible this could backfire on the Dodgers like those deals did on the Mets
B******* non-stop here
I suspect the Angels are no longer the favorite MLB team in Japan
After this contract, I wonder if the asking prices are going up across the board…
Of course. They only escalate. Always.
2 players, total contract value of more than $1B
This isn’t good for what’s left of the sport.
Dodgers are turning the MLB into the NBA.
NBA has a salary cap
That has multiple approved ways to circumvent
Not really in any way comparable to how the MLB salary structure works. Completely different
I Never said they were comparable
Yes, and “Sign & trades”
It is far more difficult to buy a championship in MLB than the NBA.
Truedat
That’s a different conversation haha
Dodgers are a model franchise. Billionaires spending money to compete should be commended.
Good for them and their fans
lol it’s fine.
Why or why not? The doyers are taking a big risk and they will reap the consequences or the rewards accordingly.
In terms of what’s “excessive” salary wise is subjective.
Whatever dude 😂😂😂
Japanese star Yoshinobu Yamamoto and the Los Angeles Dodgers are in agreement on an 12-year, $325 million contract, sources familiar with the deal tell ESPN.
https://twitter.com/JeffPassan/status/1738051081882530144?t=rqC-nstdT0sjsyv6qzlXgA&s=19
☹️
That is the right reaction. The Angels franchise in So Cal other than to we diehards is toast!