Morning Angels fans. Have some links.
Angels News
New Angels OF Aaron Hicks seems to be an everyday player? At least that’s what he says he was? Or will act like it? I am confused.
Luis Rengifo has the 6th fastest average HR trot in MLB last year. There is not much Angels news. Tim Anderson is the slowest, so, like, maybe do not get him or something.
Around Baseball
Baltimore gets a new owner. Not only were they sold for 1.725 Billion US dollars, but Cal Ripken Jr is part of the ownership group. Meanwhile the Angels are still owned by Arte Moreno.
MLB the Show gets a new face. And that face is Vlad jr. Interestingly, he is right in the middle of MLB the Show cover athletes in terms of production at the time of cover. Jazz was on the cover last year, for some reason.
Some racist vandals stole a Jackie Robinson statue. The Negro League president has some words to say about it.
Blue Jays get Justin Turner. He will be a DH most days.
Giants will honor Willie Mays on 2/4/24. Fitting.
There are still a lot of unsigned FA as we are about to enter FEB. Is it Boras’ fault? CBS says no. But what about YOU?
Anything else I missed? Post below for upvotes.
Down by the seashore Sally collect sea Snells.
Thats Snells by any OC shoreline when not pitching at the Big A.
We really don’t want another long term contract do we? Reports posted late tonight claim it’s coming.
Long term contracts – not really.
Ace pitcher to headline the rotation – yes, that would be nice.
(Whether Snell is the latter – up for debate).
IMHO the only long term pitching contract that didn’t go belly up was way back to Kevin Brown.
Pedro’s deal worked out for Red Sox. Maddox for Braves. Current Yankees deal. There are other examples too. It can work — but it’s ugly when it doesn’t.
The Bill Travers deal didnt go well for us from the beginning. The last year or two of the WTY, Mr Head & Shoulders and the Langley contracts were dumpster fires too.
I guess under all of those deals you might as well just write off the last season?
Source-ry?
Just saw something about Diamond being settled to pay the Rangers and other teams for 2024.
I wonder if now the floodgates will open for the signing of all the remaining free agents.
Good catch. Its my understanding that The settlement is for the remaining 3 teams that Diamond said they would not carry unless those contracts were renegotiated . The revised deals are for 2024 only and at a reduced rated for the Rangers Twins & Guardindians https://www.mlbtraderumors.com/2024/01/diamond-sports-group-expected-to-retain-guardians-rangers-twins-broadcasts-for-2024.html
Corey Seager pulls a Shaquille O’Neal and has surgery right before the season-Bravo Seager, great leadership.
Self-shortening seasons, lots of ways to do it. We get a health dose of it here.
The best example I guess was Hamilton away from the team, by the OF wall with reporters, self-reporting that he had recently threw himself off the wagon, while basically making a ST appearance so he met contractual obligation.
You mean a Jimmy Edmonds?
No, back in the day Shaq got knee surgery literally right before the season started.
Oh I thought you were referring to Edmonds season where injured himself weight lifting at the end of the previous season but waited too long into the offseason to schedule the necessary surgery thereby making his debut in August of that last season. Even Mo Vaughn was pissed off about that.
I got a little excited there….I misread the headline “Angelos family agrees to sell team” as “Angels….sell team”. Oh well. Maybe tomorrow.
The garden is less one head of cabbage.
Crashing the Pearly Gates: Now with even MOAR limp dick envy!
But I thought the players were full of feelings and they would sign with an Indy league team before playing for the Angels again.
https://twitter.com/TaylorBlakeWard/status/1752461210132660530?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw%7Ctwcamp%5Etweetembed%7Ctwterm%5E1752461210132660530%7Ctwgr%5E4f7414a00e2847191fcff260e71682ce6806c699%7Ctwcon%5Es1_&ref_url=https%3A%2F%2Fbleacherreport.com%2Flos-angeles-angels
I wondered how he felt. It looks like this guy wasn’t really bothered, and had a pretty mature take.
Other players might very well have different positions. Who knows.
I doubt it, they won’t last long if they don’t catch on early that the MLB is a business and they are assets.
I need to know how Shohei and his mom feel.
Rich.
$9M reasons why Matt is all good
Cabbageless…oh my
Just got a call (714)940-2294 Eric my new Angels Tickets Sales representative. I told him I was going to hold out for $2 seats on TickPick and he hung up on me, I spread the love around FYI 🙂
oh man, I read this fast and thought the phone call was from Erica (Weston). Sold.
I like his toughness………trade Moniak while the iron is still hot
Future Angel Killer?
https://www.mlbtraderumors.com/2024/01/astros-acquire-trey-cabbage-from-angels.html
Trading our AAA+ players for young controllable arms is what most here have been asking for, right?
We all hope this trade with the Astros goes in the Sandoval direction…
more on the prospect https://twitter.com/TaylorBlakeWard/status/1752790257379287293
LOL, now it is “Complex League”
How’s that, a SP with 13 losses who can’t win a big important game?
9th rd pitchers don’t usually become the Tom Brady’s of MLB.
I didn’t follow, sorry.
I’m just saying it will be nice if this trade trends to be more like the trade with the Astros where we got Sandy, which turned out pretty decent for us.
Yes, if they’re any good
Not if theyre the next Tucker Davidson however, maybe we shouldn’t do any business with the Astros and Braves for obvious reasons.
I’m also in favor of taking on bloated contracts from other teams along with minor league talent.
I’d totally do that during “rebuild”. Run a 200M payroll for a couple years till Rendon’s off the books and other expensive dudes fall off, then come out with a top 10 farm and 100M in payroll space? Hellz yeah.
Boom, cook that shit up.
That’s one viable approach. This is my complaint. They don’t have a plan. I don’t care what approach they take, but implement a long term plan to get better. There are many ways to do it, just pick one, instead of starting over every year, and stop waiting for Rendon’s contract to end. It’s getting embarrassing how inept they are.
They have/had a plan. Hell, for years they had a plan. It just didn’t work, mostly due to injuries. Now the plan looks like “Regroup since we can’t beat out anyone but the A’s, see what we have, go from there.”
Funny thing about plans, they usually don’t look like a plan to most people till after they work out well.
“Everyone has a plan until they get punched in the mouth” – Mike Tyson
I disagree. I’m not buying injuries for the last 10 years. I’ll accept injuries for last year. If, for the sake of argument, I accept your position that they have had a plan, how many years do you wait until you realize that whatever you are doing isn’t working. Whatever plan you say they have had, never included any development of their minor league system. I absolutely disagree with your last sentence. Real plans look like plans while they are being executed whether they are successful or not and have well defined steps and measurable metrics, and adjustments are made when they aren’t working. If as you say, they have actually had plans, those plans have failed, and not because of bad luck. The organization is incredibly non transparent so you never really know what their intentions are, and based on what you just said, their public statements are completely in conflict with what you say is their actual plan. So apparently they have secret plans.
Just because Perry did exactly what I want him to do doesn’t mean I can’t complain bitterly about it. Fan is short for fanatic and other bullshit and also accountability.
He had as wide open a path to an everyday MLB ball player the last 2 yrs here, but really wasn’t good enough to make back-to back 63 win clubs…but yeah with the Astros he will Wally Pipp Jose Abreu and make a few WS.
The Angels are not the only team facing a potential roster crunch and Perry has yet to make a trade this off season.
The return for Jo won’t be great but somebody will have an infielder or arm they don’t want to pass through waivers as well.
Wash will want to get his eyes and hands on Adell for a month at least I think.
maybe he’s tantalized about the player Jo could be and wants to take a crack at it. If anyone wants him around in the org, it’s Ronnie.
15 WAR Ron is gonna’ break off 7.5 WAR and give it to Jo….
puff puff pass
You’re probably right Rex. I would think that any trades involving Adell would happen near the end of Spring Training . Of Course the Angels will have to make other 40 man roster decisions if they add anyone between now and then. Updated list of DFA candidates are:
Stefanic
Herget
Suarez
Rosenberg
Soto
Actually Perry’s made 2 trades now. Stassi/Fletcher Trade to the Braves and Todays Cabbage trade to the Asstros. I’m curious on your thoughts JJ . Would you think a similar return if the Angels traded Adell even considering that Cabbage had options remaining?
My mistake. Neither trade impacted the MLB roster.
Adell’s lack of options really kills his value. And his prospect pedigree is pretty far in the rear view mirror. Eppler calling him up so early trying to save his job is killing us here.
Jo likely nets a slightly better prospect. Maybe an MLB level player in the same situation of no home or options, just in a different area.
GM calling up prospects early to save their jobs in not only unique to Mr. Billy Epps.
Just give the job to Adell at least until the AS Game. What harm could it cause? Prevent us from a World Series?
We tried to do that a few other times and he was such a clown show in the field he made it malpractice to leave him out there.
He’s been given a lot of rope. People seem to forget that.
Call me crazy, but I think his total lack of productivity limits his trade value !!!
I don’t look at the Hicks move as a positive. On the one hand, Minasian saved Arturo some money by shopping at the Dollar Store. On the other hand, if it’s going to block Adell and/or Moniak from getting a real look, then it is the equivalent of bringing in Votto to block Schnauel. On the third hand, if we keep five OFs on the roster, then we will sacrifice an infield piece on the 26 man, or subtract one relief pitcher. Right now we don’t have a backup SS anywhere to be seen, and who’s playing 3B for the 100 or so games Rendon misses.
Why create a roster crunch for Aaron Hicks. It just feels like yet another cheap out move that inhibits development of young players and creates a roster management problem for Washington.
I’m kind of expecting a trade to occur. I’m not sure I agree or who for, but the way Perry is operating makes me think he is going to make a trade.
The other MLB teams know when a player is out of options and are loathe to trade for them as if they fail/flail, they have to clear waivers. They hold little value, so they won’t give up much. Ward, Adell & Moniak have no more options.
I expect, Ward may start the regular season @ AAA on a “Rehab” assignment.
I believe Ward has an option remaining. The others don’t.
That would make sense. There’s probably no reason to think Taylor Ward is an important part of the rebuild or that he will return to the form he had before the beaning.
If the Halos block Adell or Moniak they are basically strengthening another teams roster as they will never clear waivers. If the Halos cut Hicks, then they only lose (What they can consider) a pittance.
Why would the Halos want to lose face by jettisoning their very high, former #1 pick-Those guys always get more opportunities with their orgs.
#DALLASMCPHERSON (2nd round)
#BRANDONWOOD (1st round)
The Angels are not going to sacrifice a relief pitcher. We would carry 9 bullpen pitchers if major league would allow us so 8 roster spots will go to RP’s. And I doubt the Hicks move blocks an infielder since I dont believe the Angels planned on carrying 3 extra infielders on the bench instead of 2.
IMO What the Hicks deal does reduce is the likely hood that the Angels carry a full time DH or a fading veteran type like Joey Votto. If the Angels do sign say JD Martinez then a Blake or Adell trade will happen but I do not believe this is the plan at this point in time.
You’re probably right. If they DH Rendon and Trout frequently it could work but where is the capable 3B backup.
Not in this organization at the moment?
If you were GM, who would you get to address that?
Say he could do it himself?
Not me. And even though Banned in LA offered, I would have to decline ( Sorry BiLA) we’ve been discussing Solano, Gio, or even Tim Anderson.
Not knowing their mind set or health status of available FA’s, I’m not sure where Perry will be going but right now the extra bench spot would go to Soto or the Plumber. I seriously doubt that will end up happening.
I’ve seen that. Was curious what you thought. I like Gio best of the three, but don’t know his injury status, have no idea if Anderson has his head screwed on right, and Solano still seems meh to me.
I kind of feel we’d need two of those three on our roster to address the infield depth issues. Same if we kept either Plumber or Soto on the roster. Originally I thought they were going to use Rengifo as the fifth OF before they signed Hicks.
Been awesome reading your content today Cowboy. Hope the picture of the team/roster becomes a little clearer in the coming weeks.
Wait, what?
I’m catching ‘strays’ and I have no idea why. Lol
Offered to play 3B for us next year.
Oh yeah. I’m still waiting breathlessly for the contract….
These things tend to sort themselves out during…. what do they call it? Oh yeah, Spring Training.
The handwringing over the Hicks signing is laughable. Moreover, everyone is assuming that this hurts Adell when in reality. it’s a veteran minimum insurance policy.
We keep hearing that Hicks was promised every day playing time, when it apparently wasn’t promised. I don’t want him blocking younger players. That’s all I’m saying.
I don’t consider roster analysis handwringing since I see us battling Oakland to avoid the basement unless significant other upgrades are made.
The dude is costing us the league minimum. Hicks is ecstatic because he still gets his big contract extension while getting to play at home.
It’s Wash’s call (as it should be) to fill out the line up card every day.The Manager’s job depends upon it This is so much ado about nothing
I hope Wash figure out how to handle this roster better than Nevin did last year. Using one of the five as the mostly everyday DH would balance things.
https://www.awesomescreenshot.com/video/24546569?key=7b60ae0da8e095d96c93d152c40434b7
There was literally a statement that followed the original tweet from Hicks through the org stating:
“What I meant to say is that I am preparing myself to play every day. That’s how I approach every season and that is always my goal.”
perhaps we should listen to him instead of wringing our hands over something that didn’t happen.
I’m not sure anyone is wringing their hands. It seems people keep responding trying to say “look everyone, let’s not wring our hands over this”, but I agree, the matter was cleared up really quickly by his second tweet.
I think the only handwringing was from Moniak and Adell. We’re all glad that was cleared up quickly.
Ah we never let facts get into the way of a good conspiracy theory here.
These days the only difference between Conspiracy Theory & Fact is 6 months. haha
When you factor in bumps & bruises AND the possibility that we don’t sign a full-time DH, Hicks has the POTENTIAL to play every day, but guys like Adell & Moniak perform at league average (or better), they will receive the lions share of the AB’s.
As I stated yesterday, the Hicks signing is less of an indictment of the “kids” than say a Cody Bellinger signing would represent.
Yeah, I’m not correcting my typos.
Typos are cool! 😀
I’m on board with Hicks! Creates roster flexibility when it comes time to (1) replace a wounded Trout and (2) make a trade to improve the franchise. As a GM, you need assets and payroll flexibility to make deals. Don’t forget the DH slot will likely have an OF fill it on a nightly basis.
That’s fine. The problem is we will need to keep five OFs on the active roster unless we trade one or demote Ward. I would prefer to use that fifth OF spot for backup at SS or 3B because we don’t really have any depth there.
Can Nolan Schanuel learn 3rd?
Where is it written that we break camp with 5 outfielders?
Nowhere. But again, can Schanuel learn 3rd? Or would it be a Trumbo situation?
If none of them have options except Ward, how do we avoid that other than trading one of them?
My point is that we may enter camp with 5+ OF’s, but I suspect will go with 4 by opening day.
Again, between injuries and poor performance, one or more of these guys is likely to fall out.
As someone else mentioned, Ward has an option remaining and if everyone is raking, you can go with 5 guys that share the DH job or they can release Hicks or they can trade someone away or Ward/Adell/Moniak suck so we’ll need Hicks.
The point being is that this could play out any number of ways and we’ll have Spring Training to properly sort it out.
There are 9 position players – 3 OF (Trout, Ward, Moniak), 4 IF (Schanuel, Drury, Neto, Rendon (I know), 1 C (O’Hoppe) and 1 DH (Adell or Hicks), and then 4 bench spots (Rengifo, Thaiss, Adell or Hicks and (for now) Stefanic).
We need to turn Stefanic’s spot into someone who can man 3B, and if so we don’t ‘need’ to drop an OF (the advantage is that there is more DH for the IF, in theory).
So, who is the Stefanic upgrade. I though JT, but now?
Urshela seems the best fit.
Then Tim Anderson, Solano (?), Moose …. 3B is thin out there.
BTW now that Fletcher is gone and Gio is a Free Agent , According to the Fielding Bible, our best defensive 3B in terms of highest DRS over the last 2 seasons is…. Luis Rengifo. Hes amassed +4 DRS in less than 300 innings there. Everyone else ( Drury Rendon & Stefanie has been negative)
Thats why I think it is as important to fill that extra bench spot with someone who can play a competent shortstop as well as I dont see Rengifo being that guy.
Rengifo has mostly played at 2B but has played more games at SS (95) than 3B (75).
I think the reason to seek out a 3B back up more is due to Rendon’s history rather than the potential that Neto needs a spell sometimes. Would rather Rengifo stay the Utility guy than end up our starting option at 3B.
It’s a conundrum to be sure.
I think Rengifo is a capable back up at 2B & 3B, but perhaps less so at SS:
To your point, I believe it will be Tim Anderson or Urshella in the end. Moose is a distant third here, but he faded badly when forced to play too much.
This is what it comes down to:
If you see Rengifo as 2B and 3B then it makes sense to get Anderson to cover 2B and SS and let Drury rotate and DH.
If you see Rengifo as a capable backup SS then you want a guy with experience at 3B and 1B.
I’d probably go with Tim Anderson at second and shift Drury to a rotational piece that gets several DH days per week.
I’m talking myself into Anderson for three reasons:
1.) He can play SS/2B fairly well, I think.
2.) I want to boost team speed.
3.) Solid “bounce back” candidate that is potential deadline trade currency.
No matter who we get, there’s just gonna be a ton of “well, we’ll see.” involved. And no one does that better than CtPG guy.
I’d go with Anderson because there is the off chance you luck into a solid IF who can win a batting title. In 2021, before all the injury boo hoo, he was still an almost 5 WAR player. He may just plain be broken, but he may also plop down 3 WAR for us.
OH shit! Ultimate Elmo Hope Clown dream…. Anderson and Rendon combine for 280 games and 10 WAR! Championships…..
But unlike previous years the “we’ll sees” are like Plesac, Hicks, Cimber, Garcia, Sano, Dozier, Calhoun, Marisnick and Kolerak that cost us Jack Shit (Yes I know him)
Its a far cry from paying Harvey, Cahill, Allen, Teheran or Quintana millions of dollars on one year deals only to have then continue their suckage here.
Our “we’ll sees” have Hawaiian shirts and flip flops on now….
Damn, that Bible again, I need to expand my Christian faith to get a copy.
I’m down with Rengifo at 3rd, has to punch in his bat to measure up to the positional offensive profile. Let’s roll with it as that will eliminate the need for Urshella or any other stiff. Heeefffoo!!!
Agree, Luis has limitations at short so what is our best option here for a slick fielding SS. Squid? LOL. Seriously, would be nice to sign a player who could flash the glove.
But I’m liking that Beers around the World bible you were mentioning the other day Fungo.
Relative to Rengifo, I’m sure Wash can have a positive impact on his defense but in the last 2 seasons Rengifo has been a -8 in DRS when playing Shortstop in just 300 innings of work, Now thats going to take a lot of practice just to get to “serviceable back up” status.
Don’t count on Rendon making the team. Washington has stated everyone needs to produce or the highway. Doesn’t that eliminate Anthony?
Hahaha… wishful thinking. It’s not 1985 anymore. Earl, Sparky and Tommy are dead. Tony could care less, he gets PAID either way, so he’s going to be on the team even if it requires an edict from above.
After cutting Fat Albert and Upton short of their contract end date, you never know. This was one of the highlights of Perry’s tenure here at the Big A, that I came away impressed.
cut in their last contracted year tho
Offseasons not over.
Also – depth gets used ESPECIALLY with the Angels. One Trout injury or embarrassing Jo Adell month and all of a sudden you’d wonder where we could get someone league average to fill in.
So let’s get this straight,
Wandy Peralta is a Padre
and Wily Peralta is a Pirate.
Say that fast 10 times.
I hope those 2 guys have it straight too, and don’t report to the wrong camp.
Thank God We didn’t get involved in the Peralta party. Perry probably would have got confused and signed the wrong Peralta.
I was going to make the same snarky comment but you beat me to the punch. 😀 OTOH, maybe signing the “wrong” one might inadvertently been the right one.
Happy Birthday Nolie – fastest fastball ever – all time strike out King
Strong Irish name meaning champion/noble. HBD KO King!!
Looking forward to your ST insights Rex!
Well, if Baltimore can sell their team, why can’t Arte?
Good business practice in Baltimore-Do everything that you can to reduce the value of your team, THEN sell.
Lessen the value of your team then sell, you do know that they won more games than any other American League team and that raised the value of the Orioles. $1.750 Billion in a smalless market is not chump change.
From $173 or so million in ‘93 to $1.75 billion is a decent ROI imo
Yes, but that is still 31 years under the bridge.
If you made that investment at 50, you would have to make to 81 to see it. Much can happen in the span of 31 years and some of it ain’t good.
Probably the Angel’s best non closer free agent relief pitcher signing ever.
https://twitter.com/excel_baseball/status/1752725199982592365
Enjoy your retirement Joe.
That’s awesome. Pretty solid career and one to be proud of. He and Scott Shields are two of my unsung Angel middlemen.
I consider Shields sung. He’s in my pantheon. We don’t win that WS without him.
Are you sure you are not confusing Shields with Donnelly? Scot only pitched one time in the playoffs in 2002 . It was the game 5 blowout where JT Snow saved Bakers kid form getting run over at home plate. Shields pitched 1-2/3 innings gave up 5 hits 2 HRs and 5 Runs ( one earned)
His dominance really did not come until Arte’s Halcyon years . In fact in 2003 I think they tried to make him a starter for awhile.
I guess my memory is bad.
Don’t get old!!
Too late for that.
Shields did at least definitely contribute to the Angels making the playoffs that year.
So long, Alias. Enjoy your retirement!
I hope this is the year of surprises. Angels beat Dodgers in a freeway World Series!
That certainly be a surprise, and certainly welcomed.
That would be hilarious, but to beat the Dodgers like that, you’d have to have to have a great farm system that brings up a few K-Rod like suprises. I don’t think the Angels system is built for that.
But what about that Kochan#@*Waz pitcher dude? hes got the stuff.
Bachman or Joyce could break out if they could stay healthy. I know they’ve already had a cup of coffee but we haven’t seen either at his peak or for very long.
So could Caceres. but because the comparison is KRod I assume it would be a pitcher that has not made his major league debut yet.
No M1st, the Halos would have to peak at the right time (Obviously making the PS) and catch the Blew Crew at a bad time. I agree with the K-Rod point.
Good morning, great news this morning-someone with to much time on their hands with the measuring length of time on a HR trot. Long Winters get to the best of us. Dang, should we feel bad for Anderson taking up so much of our time? 🕓 😀
Hicks is being paid the minimum. I’m sure they informed him that Moniak likely doesn’t play against lefties, Ward is coming off injury, Trout will need days off, and they have no assigned DH. Hence, if Hicks is playing well, he should see time in multiple spots.
It is likely Boras’ fault for the lengthy hold-outs for his unsigned clients. But I do get a sense that many of the MLB teams are holding tight with their money for his players and playing the long game in negotiations. But c’mon people. Pitchers and catchers report in two weeks.
There’s going to be injuries and under-performing rookies in spring training. Whether they sign today or after the season begins, Boras’ clients are going to get paid – they always do.
Bellinger and Snell are not frantically waiting by the phone for a call.
MLBTR did an interesting piece on Post January Boras Signees over the past few years . The list has some huge names and proves the Senator right. Boras Clients always get shown the money.
https://www.mlbtraderumors.com/2024/01/boras-clients-who-signed-after-january-in-previous-offseasons.html