Morning Angels fans. Have Links.
Angels News
There is still no Angels News. There never was going to be any Angels news. David Fletcher has his Poker Tournament Charity thing though, which is only sorta Angels News since he isn’t an Angel anymore.
Around Baseball
Shota Imanaga is now a Cub. It is an incentive deal of 2/30M that can be 4/60M somehow. Angels and Giants were the other finalists.
Julio Urias escapes felony charges. Behave in the comments.
Wander Franco case is still ongoing but he may be barred from coming to the US. MAYBE. Again, behave in the comments.
Braves AA team moving from Mississippi to Georgia in 2025. Must be nice having close minor league teams to your MLB team.
National Sports Media Association elected 5 new members. No idea that was a thing.
This is a complex one. Diamond Sports (Bally) is in big bankruptcy trouble and Amazon is trying to bail them out to maybe get MLB rights for cheap. MLB rejects that since that would be bad for them, but also because Bally should die since no one likes them.
Miami Marlins hire Rachel Balkovec as their farm director. She was the first woman MiLB manager and spent 2 years with the NYY.
WBC for 2026 is down to Houston or Dallas since they want a CST location with a roof. Wait, so Milwaukee is a possibility?
Anything I missed? Post below for upvotes.
Best article of the season.
ESPN gives the Angels an F for their off-season moves so far. I’m not linking to it because it’s behind a paywall. And it’s a very obvious grade anyway.
ESPN is an F too
No thought was put into the blurb.
No G was available in the grading?
Just a rumor, but ’71’s dream come true…
https://twitter.com/angelswin/status/1745201219583230189?s=46&t=HAtspxHLo68XsSlqRPS2KA
When it says “by all reports” does that mean the Journal of Wishful Thinking?
Cuz NOBODY is reporting this.
If they end up being right they get to jerk themselves off over it, and if they’re not they’ll delete it and the majority will forget it ever was posted.
Yeah that’s kinda what I’d expect from a blue check mark these days. Pure speculation and wishful thinking parading around as some kind of insider info.
Oh man don’t get my hopes up!!
If this turns out to be true, I really hope he starts the process and we could have a new owner by the next free agent class…
Woo Hoo???
https://twitter.com/HanSeongJanNEWS/status/1744981087947026892
I’m not even sure how to respond. I don’t even know who this is… I need to go back and re-read all the player listings…
A’s pursuing him, the cheap ass A’ss?
Who knows… Las Vegas Hotel suites? Insert stereotypical Asian casino reference? Maybe?
https://www.baseball-reference.com/register/player.fcgi?id=uwasaw000nao
He pitched 170 innings last year and is only 29.
We could use that.
But wouldn’t the Angels need to go back to a 6 man rotation?
.Why? Anderson could be pushed into a long relief role (with Suarez) and make spot starts if needed – or Silseth/Canning could be optioned – or, hear me out, we just have some depth in the rotation.
We probably should stick with it anyway.
Detmers and Sandoval’s high water marks are 148 innings. Canning already had a big increase in his normal innings last year and Anderson sucks/is getting old.
At best I can see a 5 man rotation with Plesac as a flex starter/long reliever.
You don’t know who this is?
I don’t either.
He’s perhaps the finest chef at Benihana’s
Nippon Ham? Whose MiLB team is that?
Wife: “Not so good. Not as good as others. Was Sho-chan’s teammate on Ham Fighters.”
David Fletcher is no longer an Angel but he knows being a part of the community is more important.
I got to be pretty good friends with his dad and spent plenty of time with the Fletcher family. Good folks.
Did you see the “report” that some team offered Imanaga double the amount that he signed for, but he still chose the Cubs?
Of course, it is natural for us to wonder if it was the Angels, and free agents are turning down money just to not play here.
I just saw it and thought that. Then I read a couple of recent articles about how the Giants were a lock to sign Imanaga. I guess it could have been them.
Edit: Things are boring enough that I might consider making a batch of Sarcasto-Links Using articles like those Giants articles.
Yeah, hopefully.
If things get to a point that free agents really are saying “yeah, no thanks” to the Angels’ bigger offers, that would indicate that we are in such a low and damaged state that hopefully Arte would want out.
Especially if it isn’t just because of the fact we are not in a position to make the playoffs, but also because players are acknowledging the same disfunctions in the organization that we are. Like if players are starting to talk to each other with “yeah, the Angels are an organization I’d rather avoid”.
Obviously some players will still take money and play for us, if it means sign or don’t sign. I’m talking about ones who have lots of choices.
The Angels are a disorganization.
The Angels are a Grit-Less, Boeing Door-Plug of an organization on a OceanGate Expedition Submarine ride to the bottom of MLB.
Free CTPG Guy 😀
Lots of obstacles for the Angels.
For the mega bucks deals the lack of playoff opportunities sucks. Sometimes that can be overcome with more money, but still.
Then you add in the worst spring training facility in the Cactus League. Bare bones medical staff. So your injury risk is higher.
For guys trying to rebuild value, skimpy video and coaching budgets can’t help. I’d want the best possible scenario to improve.
And that’s before you factor in the taxes and cost of living once you move here. Again, not a big deal for the $200 million guy but that mid tier free agent and lower end guy probably wants to keep some of the money he earns.
That said, we also have some intriguing young talent, great weather, low crime compared to most urban areas. We’re a place families will love to visit. So there are some pros.
I’m guessing it was the Giants
Can’t wait to see who we don’t sign today.
YEEEEEESSSSSSSSS! NOTHING! Keep bringing the nothing Perry. Stroman is a punk and Snell is only good with a contract on the line. Just say no to 36 year old power hitters and twats named Cody. There’s no one left for Angels fans to squeeze their thighs together and worry “what will Trout/Shohei/Shohei’s Mom think?” so stick with the zero excitement plan baby. Adam Duvall and that’s all!
All youts, all the time! I don’t even want Duvall. Just bring someone up and see what happens.
Did you say “Youts”?
https://twitter.com/jonmorosi/status/1745075833415270417
So the only major free agents left are represented by Scott Boras? Good luck getting anyone else signed before Pitchers & Catchers report.
They might sign Trevor Bauer out of desperation.
Stroman’s a bitch. He’d be perfect for us. CTPGuy can bitch about his lack of fire and he can get fired up bitching about CTPGuy. For only 225M bucks!?! steal!
Ha!
In order to do a rebuild, you need a strong farm. Ours sucks. Unless the farm is addressed, we will continue indefinitely to need a rebuild.
We desperately need more good prospects. There are three ways to get those: invest in the system, scouts, etc (which sadly has not been happening); accept trades where we take on salary and receive prospects (which appears contrary to Arte’s apparent desire to not spend); or to trade anything with value (Rengifo, Drury, Sandoval, etc) for prospects.
We already don’t have enough kids to play. We really don’t want to be playing AA players in Anaheim, which would also mean all our minor teams would be terrible. So we really need to be signing mid level mlb talent. Nothing too expensive, just enough so that we can fill in the holes we already have and replacements for who we need to trade for prospects. Hopefully signees that if useful can also be traded near the deadline. Yeah, this team won’t win much, but there will be a future. With the way our minors are now, the only future is bleak.
In most cases a team that needs a rebuild also needs to rebuild their farm. So yes. And the sky is also blue.
Thankfully the team does have money, so we don’t NEED a top 5 farm. They need to build it up to a middle of the pack farm but they CAN afford to buy some talent too unlike Cleveland or the Brewers. We just can’t solve all our problems with FAs or trades for expensive guys. Besides that, rookies are fun. we want more of that fun…. at least in theory, it seems like CTPG hates it’s young unless it’s a 5′ 9″ white kid that reminds them of them.
If our prospects do well we can’t complain about our dad Arte anymore. That’s a real concern for us.
I would really love to be able to stream all MLB games or all Angel Games or buy individual games at a reasonable price rather than paying $80 a month for streaming cable… which I have refused to do.
Perry’s Giolito rental remains irritating/infuriating on many levels, for many reasons, not the least of which is… why didn’t he pay just a little more and get Cease instead? About the same age, peripherals… but with more controllability so we’re not floundering to find a reliable top-of-the-rotation guy. F*cking stupid.
You mean alot of more? Who else would Perry have had to add for a trade for Cease? Neto? Schanuel? Dana? Rada?
Cease is not moving this off season because the Pale Hose have put such a high price on him due to the fact hes not a free agent until 2026.
The Giolito trade was totally stupid but not because Perry didnt get Cease. That was never going to happen.
Sure it could have. Queto is CHW’s No. 3 prospect now. Bush also Top 10. Clearly an overpay for a rental, and the trade scenarios being kicked around for Cease this offseason aren’t offering much more than that. Maybe the equivalent of Silseth or Bachman. And yeah seems likely Cease is getting dealt this winter. When it happens, the return will not be overwhelming.
For 2 to 2-1/2 years of team control?
https://getyarn.io/yarn-clip/a263ab1b-6f8e-40fc-bd2d-5d8fc63dff2a
Every time I see one of us weeping over getting Lucas I wonder if anyone has looked at his stats BEFORE the trade. We needed a starter to back up Shohei. That’s all.
If we got Lucas for what we gave what did you think we were gonna be able to give for Cease? It wasn’t gonna be “just a little more” because Cease wasn’t a FA in 2023.
Plesac was the top signee, The season you are about to see is true and takes place in Anaheim California, the names and places have not been changed to protect the innocent.
I’m okay with the team taking a season and playing all the young guys to see what they really have. That would include pitching that maybe we are not considering as being ready but which is already in the Org. The team may not be very good and may be out of it by May. But it would be better in my opinion than dropping a bunch of money on a player or two that’s not going to make much of a difference. Why have Snell or Bellinger or Montgomery or anyone just to have them? It makes little sense to invest like that unless they are going to put the team over the top – which they won’t. So – let’s see what this Org really has and what it doesn’t.
If that’s the case, shouldn’t we at least move on from Rendon and give someone else some experience at 3B.
I agree….but the money says otherwise.
As does a complete lack of an internal option.
If we had a kid in AA or AAA who might be the future that would be one thing. But we don’t.
I can’t remember when the last time was the Angels had a good farm system. I think, a couple of GMs ago, we we’re excited about moving up to a middling farm system, but I could just be imagining it.
Probably 2010/2011. But after the super Draft of 2009 when players eventually graduated out or were traded away we have pretty much sucked.
Arte inherited a good farm system. As his hires took more and more control the farm system sunk along with the performance of the MLB club.
The super draft of 2009 was really the last one run by the crew Arte inherited.
Our top 3B options not on the 40 man roster are:
Werner Blakely
Cole Fontenelle
Ben Gobbel
Christian Sepulveda
?????
Roberto Baldoquin
Brandon Wood
Dallas McPherson
Kevin Maitan is a free agent, having been released by the Lake Country Dockhounds.
I love the last three names! I’d take any of them over our current options. We could also bring back Pujols.
George Arias?
It’s a sunk cost. We don’t build for the future running him out there everyday. Regarding internal options, as much as I’m not a fan, stick Rengifo there and be done with it. Maybe Ron Washington turns him into Brooks Robinson 2.0. Or at least Carney Lansford.
No. We should extend Rendon. If you can’t win be sexy.
I am still sorry that guy that looks like Rendon did what ever he did to you.
I just don’t like bad LONG contracts for guys who don’t give a crap. I literally don’t know what Rendon looks like since he’s barely played for us. And I still can’t get you to admit I’m right about him as player for the Los Angeles Angels, the team I root for. I guess it’s just more fun to troll mel
I also don’t like bad long term contracts… and yet you seem so much more fixated on the Latino Palomino, Anthony Rendon, than I have ever been on anything. From day one too. Incredible levels of commitment to your piss with Rendon. Breath taking, John Wick like focus. If you were as good at anything useful as you’ve been at being upset that Rendon exists you’d actually be able to buy the Angels and fk them up yourself.
We need a couple seasons that kill off the weak. This will be good for us. I just wish we still had Packy…..
wait, he’s hurt….
Now all we have to do is sign Plesac’s buddy Clevinger and the party will be back on
Close minor league teams that are close to the Big Guys is cool, that San Bernardino team is just to far away. 😃
If the team is out of contention while Trout is healthy (and playing relatively well), that will probably be the last/best opportunity to move him a trade…..
He’s an Angel for life brotha
Mike Trout at bats are likely to be the only thing worth watching all year. Hope he gets more stats to fill his legacy. He’s gotta feel like the team abandoned him – let’s make sure he knows the fans didn’t.
If we really don’t sign anyone, and we really do roll with what we have to “let the kids play”, I would think that Trout will ask for a trade.
Yo, Japan…
I promise not to complain when we finish with less than 70 wins and are mathematically eliminated from the playoffs by July 4th.
And we will have a 41.3% chance of getting the first overall pick for 2025 but will still be picking 10th
In 2021 on September first we had a winning record with a starting team that we can’t remember even all the starters, funny stuff dept. 😂
I will take total suck for a year or two if we start getting prospects advancing that look like they will be useful at the MLB level.
Suckage will happen, let’s try to build something while we do it.
It’s quite apparent that the Angels are rebuilding without saying they are rebuilding.
I, for one, am at total ease with the restraint Perry is showing. There is no need to add another major deal.
Unless Arte wakes up one morning and decides it a good day to commit $500 million to Snellinger lol.
Even if we aren’t going hard in on everyone, I still think we need some more signings: one to two SP, a couple of bullpen arms, and someone to play DH – ideally with versatility to support either in the IF (3B in particular) or OF (to give Trout some DH/time off).
So, if not Snell or Montgomery – maybe Stroman + Moore and Justin Turner? Maybe there are cheaper options for that too, but I am not sure we have even enough warm bodies to spell everyone if people get hurt at the moment.
That’s fair and I agree we need to make additions to the SP/RP rooms. Any FA deal should be 3 years or less so it lines up with Rendone’s contract imo.
Turner would be awesome. I know Brandon Woodruff will likely miss the 2024 season, but he’d be my #1 target. Buy low on a front-end starter with eyes toward 2025.
Hey guys the not spending comes from the top. First off it gives Arte more money to use in his court cases and payouts. Second it looks more attractive to potential purchasers. Thirdly the attendance will fall down to as high as possibly 2 million. There never was a plan in place to spend a lot of money to contend while loading up the roster. From top to bottom there will be personnel and staff cutbacks, Arte was on a hummer thinking that Shohei owed him something and would resign with the team. What you see is what we got.
2 million?! That requires 25,000 at every game. I’m doubtful.
I don’t want to sign anyone that we pay at a level where Washington/PTP/Arte feels they need to play the guy. I want totally replaceable tradeable cogs. WTF is the point of Stroman/Moore/Turner? Spend 45M on them instead of 70M on the version of this that includes Snellinger and still win 70 games?
No sir. I want to see the bottom. Bring me Josh Harrison!
IF the Angels have decided to go with the young guys, why do they need to sign anyone. They have plenty of arms. They may not be good or experienced- but there are plenty of arms in the system to field a team.
We don’t have enough young guys.
Just think of what a Stroman or Clevinger would add to the Detmers, Sandoval, Canning, Anderson mix. Not only quality innings but a chance for Silseth, Davis, and Plesac to develop and be used for injury replacement.
And I don’t like young guys just getting their teeth kicked in every night. Add one more decent reliever to hold some of those leads.
At that point might as well add a Turner or Jorge Soler type to hit some bombs and give the regulars a day or two off their feet.
That’s only if the team gives a shit about winning this season. Otherwise why invest like that? Why take on that type of payroll? I’m not being cheeky. The team has plenty of young pitchers – they just are inexperienced and maybe not good. But why not let them play versus spending all that money and still winning 70 games.
I guess I’d put it this way – is winning 74 games over 68 games worth $100 million?
If you believe in the young guys, why not give them a chance to win?
If the young guys take a notable step forward, this would give them a chance to compete for a playoff spot.
If the young guys falter, this gives Perry some trade chips at the deadline.
Clevinger, Moore, Turner would likely be $30-$35 million-ish in AAV and none would likely require more than 1 year to sign.
I don’t believe or not believe in the young arms. I have no idea what the quality and depth of the Org is other than reading Keith Law and other pundits. I’m okay with actually seeing what the team has rather than the same ole add free agents that ultimately add little to no value but cost a bunch of money.
Do you believe Lee Harvey Oswald acted alone?
Yes!!
Yes
Well I wont be asking if you believe in the small of a woman’s back then.
I believe.
OT: I watched the JFK: One Day in America docuseries and found it fascinating. I love hearing first hand accounts of history.
I agree that we should make a few signings. It isn’t good for the young guys to just go out for a season and get totally thrashed. Like people said, we should make a few smart 1 year signings that won’t affect future payroll or draft picks at all, to bolster this year’s team. If the team overperforms, they can either trade away some of those 1-year rentals for something (e.g. Syndergaard) or just ride it out and boost the confidence of all our young players.
Plus, if NEXT YEAR’S free agent class actually sees something building here, some of them may be more likely to want to sign here.
I think long term payroll is a good idea maybe next year. See what we have this year, what we’ll work on next season too. But We can dole out 5+ year contracts to a pitcher or two once we have a sense of where the staff is at, for example.
Correct. The entire focus of this Org for at least 3 years has been Ohtani. Maybe a year to regroup is not a bad thing.
We definitely don’t have plenty of arms lol
Well yes the Org does. We just don’t know if they are any good or not. But there was a draft of 20+ pitchers on top of all the other pitchers. So arms actually exist. Who knows if they are any good or not (probably not).
https://getyarn.io/yarn-clip/f76da670-aecf-45f9-b7c7-6b1372f1a1ba
Over the last 2 years the Angels have averaged 15 starting pitchers per season. So just look at the current organizational depth:
Next years top 5 right now are:
Detmers
Sandoval
Anderson
Canning
Silseth
I show the next 5 to be:
Plesac
Suarez
Daniel
Rosenberg
Mederos
I have absolutely no clue on the next 5.
The system’s cupboards are bare so unless they’re going to pull someone up from Tri City, The IE (even though we love it) or possibly someone who just started their winter semester in college, there aint no-one left to start a game for us next year.
And dont get me started about the blowpen.
WE NEED MOAR PITCHING.
What if it doesn’t happen? What if this is the team they go with and no more additions? If so those young arms are going to get a lot of experience and time in Anaheim.
I am serious, and don’t call me Shirley.
Assuming you are correct that they have sufficient arms, the best approach for the Angels to supplement a “young guys” strategy would be to sign veterans to short-term deals and then to trade those veterans (possibly eating a portion of the salary) to competitive teams at the deadline for prospects.
The Angels shouldn’t be looking for long-term deals with big-name free agents in an attempt to become competitive, but they should be looking for short-term deals with tradeable assets.
I agree that any signings should be for 1 or 2 years max.
One exception: Bellinger.
IF you believe the 27 year old still has plenty of prime years left and that he will be a building block on a good team in 2-3 years, then you can sign him to a big deal.
There’s nobody else on the market I can see being a team leader in 2027.
I’m a fast no on Bellinger unless he’d sign a 1 year $25 million deal which he won’t. I respect your opinion but why sign Bellinger and incur that kind of financial anchor if this team has little chance of competing? – unless you think you can trade him for prospects at the break.
As soon as Bellinger is financially secure that dude’s gonna suck like 311.
YES! Flesh and blood hath not revealed it brother! Sign iffy FAs, dump the ones who suck and give kids time to play, trade the ones who are good for more kids. Yes!
That’s my fear right there. That rather than go with an actual plan Arte will do his usual an sign Snell as though one reigning Cy Young winner who is guaranteed to regress is going to fix this team.
I couldn’t agree more.
I don’t see this as rebuilding. If we were rebuilding, we would have traded Shohei while we had the chance. Maybe even Trout. To me, this looks like apathy. Just do nothing, lower payroll and commitments so future flexibility makes the team more attractive to bidders. Get ready to try to sell the team again…perhaps next year with a top three draft position.
If that’s how you see it, then I’m pro apathy.