February has started which can only mean one thing: baseball is on the horizon. So sit back, enjoy the Pineapple Express, and read some links.
We have 12 days until pitchers and catchers report. Yes, February 14th should be a holiday of some sort.
The Dodgers and Padres kick off the Cactus League season on the 22nd with a full slate of games scheduled for Saturday the 24th. Check out a master schedule here.
Outfielder Aaron Hicks was brought onto the MLB roster this week. The switch hitting outfielder is the type of complimentary piece a manager should love. Capable of rotating through the outfield spots and DH while providing a nice bat off the bench other days.
Proven MLB caliber depth is a great thing, but this signing likely has further roster implications with once standout prospect Jo Adell seemingly on the outside looking in.
Perry Minasian traded one of my personal favorites Trey Cabbage for an intriguing arm out of the Astros system. He’s both started and relieved and across two professional seasons carries a 10.40 K/9 ratio.
We might’ve added an entire new minor league battery as catcher Caleb Hamilton was brought in on a minors deal. I’d probably avoid signing anybody with that last name for a long while.
Why was Trey one of my favorites? Well, for taking time for interviews like these.
But mostly for walking over to say hi, sign a ball for my son, taking pictures with us, and waiving other players over to sign for him at Spring Training last March. My son was 5 and in the middle of his first tee ball session and thought it was great. I’ve always appreciated guys who take time for kids. As a father, that appreciation has only grown.
From around the league:
Two Peralta’s were signed. Wandy Peralta went to the Padres while Wily Peralta took a minors deal with the Pirates.
The Padres Peralta deal is a 4 year deal with 3 opt outs. Contract structures are definitely getting weirder. As Fangraphs perfectly states, that “isn’t a baseball contract, it’s being married to Larry King.”
No strangers to weird contract structures, the Dodgers dropped the guarantee to the oft injured James Paxton after finding some red flags during his physical.
The biggest story of the week came from Baltimore. A new investment group, including franchise icon Cal Ripken Jr., will take control of the franchise. It gets no more feel good than this.
In our modern day society, I think we oversimplify too many things. Ripken should always be noted for the streak first and foremost but what is getting lost is how great of a player he was.
Enjoy the rainy weather, stay safe, and please link what I missed.
Anyone here oppsoed to a 2 year $30 million deal for Brandon Woodruff? Again this year is a wash, but I truly think that 2025 is a window for us with how much we have available in payroll.
Sounds like the Angels are just sitting around waiting for Boras’s price to drop on Snell. Perry has certainly not been overspending thus far. Are the Angels really willing to give him a 5-year? Lord have mercy on us all. Closing my eyes and praying. I sure hope a team like the Yankees lose a starter soon so they can overpay for Blake. I definitely think Bellinger is out of the picture and pleased with this.
Yankees have already offered him 6/150 and Boras turned them down.
Jose Cisnero
2019: 111 ERA+ (35.1 innings)
2020: 150 ERA+ (29.2 innings)
2021: 117 ERA+ (61.2 innings)
2022: 365 ERA+ (25 innings)
2023: 84 ERA+ (59.1 innings)
I will always support picking up relievers on the cheap, who have been good before and are coming off a down year. Positive regression is a real thing with relievers.
Taking shots at Cimber/Cisneros bouncing back makes sense imo.
Estevez
Stephenson
Soriano
Moore
Garcia
Cimber
Cisnero
Joyce
I dig the ‘pen.
Looks like his strikeouts were up, while keeping the walks to a minimum last year – even while giving up more hits.
Even with the down year last year, he seems a better bet than Wantz, Ingram and Herget. Better depth, with the potential from the 2019-2022 is a good thing.
“Better than Wantz, Ingram, and Herget”?
Respectfully, the comparison point you are using is under-performing players in one of the worst bullpens (#28 of 30) in MLB over the past two seasons.
If Perry was aggressively building a winner, the comparison point should be one of the top bullpens from 2022-2023:
Dodgers
Atlanta
Baltimore
Philadelphia
Miami
Houston
Cleveland
Yankees
If we’re going to be honest, Perry is primarily finding players on the cheap that are coming off of bad seasons hoping he can capture “lightning in a bottle”. It’s definitely a strategy, but it’s not what you want to see after a decade of futility with a roster that included two generational talents.
You want even better players. That is fair.
I am just noting that this is an improvement over who we would have been trotting out there before the signing. Different perspectives, I guess.
I agree with both of you. I would prefer better players as well but I at least appreciate that they recognize the bullpen was bad and are attempting to do something about it employing a somewhat different approach than what they have been doing (signing relievers following career years) and not spending a lot of money while doing it. I’s a possible short term step forward. If they can end up 20th or better instead of 28th, that’s some progress.
Agreed. Perry has done good work with the pen.
Many of us liked the pitching staff editions past years too…looked good on paper. But it never worked out.
If these guys are going to do anything, we will need improvement from our pitching coach, pitching philosophy, better management, scouting, catching, etc.
True
But those pens didnt have this speed. And I have a need!
Need Quijada in there, he is pretty effective against left-handed hitters. Looks like the Angels will go with one lefty to start the season.
Love me some Quesadilla but I’m Not sure when he’ll return from TJS and how close to normal he will be. I just dont think you can count on him at all this year at least at this point in time.
Storm is Coming!
GPB grab your shovel!
-Dr George Fischbeck
Someone let Perry out of the playpen again…..
https://www.baseball-reference.com/players/c/cisnejo01.shtml?utm_medium=linker&utm_source=www.mlbtraderumors.com&utm_campaign=2024-02-03_br
Cisnero, 35 in April, made his big league debut with the Astros back in 2013. Over two seasons in Houston, the righty struggled to a 4.66 ERA across 48 1/3 innings of work before elbow issues brought his 2014 campaign (and his Astros tenure) to an end. After a brief 5 1/3 inning stay in the Reds’ minor league system, Cisnero stepped away from affiliated ball for several years, pitching in independent leagues across North and South America until he signed on with the Tigers during the 2018-19 offseason.
Not thrilled, esp since we DFA’ed Livan Soto to make room. Granted, it seems that Soto took a big step back last year, but we don’t want to dispose of 23 year olds for very marginal 35 year old. :/
Sotos offensive performance last year was beyond abysmal so This has to mean we have some FA shortstop on the way . No way we go to ST with only Neto and Rengifo (ha ha) on the 49 man that can man the most important infield position.
Paris?
Paris won’t break camp with the big club.
Depending on what happens with Drury past this year, Paris will be in play for the starting 2B gig in 2025.
No, I don’t suspect he will. I was just thinking he was our ‘depth’ at SS, as it stands. (Unless we can run Soto through and keep in him in the fold).
In the Spring time?
Not feeling this acquisition, Had a couple of ok years with the Tigers. Perfectly fine cutting loose Soto. Personally, I thought Soto’s 2022 splash was smoke and mirrors. His batted balls just found open holes.
I’d prefer Stanek but would require more than $1.75M. Perry seems to be fishing for cheap additions to offset Stephenson.
Much like Shanuels’ 2023 splash which is a concern. A lot of seeing eye ground balls. I’m certainly hoping that is not the case but Soto hit a lot of balls to the OF. He didn’t walk though so everything he did was driven by his .400 BA which was bound to regress which is not the case with Schanuel who had an OBA 100 points higher than his BA.
Yeah, I’m far from the biggest fan of Schanuel, as his offensive profile does not fit the position, but he has a legitimate contact skills that should keep him from crapping out.
Moniak also has serious risk of regression.
Horrible K rate. One of the highest BABIP’s in MLB.
I hope we can keep Soto in the organization. Last year everyone was called up, ready or not. He is young, and showed promise in the minors. Not ready to throw in the towel just yet (see also Adell, Paris, Jordyn Adams)
Is this reality or Wishful thinking?
https://twitter.com/BeyondTheHalo/status/1753935321677627392
Or just…..
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MNeVjVu9O6w
Perhaps he’s finally come to the realization that there is no near term path forward for the way he is used to operating. It’s would also be consistent with not spending any significant money so far.
….and everyone in the front office and in MLB offices have kept this quiet?
No way.
As for Cuban buying, that’s just someone’s wet dream.
Not saying it’s true, but perhaps it’s a very recent decision.
I’ll say it…Cuban is a Jackass. But, better than Art M..
I’d be more excited if somehow the country of Cuba would buy the team. At least that way we’d maybe have a kick-ass pipeline to the best baseball talent….and sell Cuban Cigars at the stadium, with some good Cuban in food.
But what about the Rum?
I even read it like that, that it was a group from Cuba that was interested
Cuban does not make sense based on his rationale on why he sold the Mavs. Unlikely.
Or he now has the Cash to buy another sports franchise which is very likely. I could see a deal where Cuban takes control of the team but Arte still retains some percentage of owner while still being involved in rekindling the stadium development deal with the City . According to Cuban, he brought in the Las Vegas Sands group because of their real estate development expertise as he believes this is where the true future value lies in NBA franchises . It wouldn’t surprise ime f that same ownership group is part of this deal. Maybe they would be more successful in putting a deal together with the City. If Disney sure as hell can, they could probably do better than Arte did.
One key problem in that theory is that the Mavs are in Texas which is by all measures a much more “business friendly” state. Doing a Mavs-like sale in California would not yield many of the benefits Cuban received in Texas.
As for Disney’s expansion plans in Anaheim, it’s been a “vision” since 2021 that is not close to even receiving city approval yet alone starting the regulatory gymnastics.
DisneylandForward (https://www.disneylandforward.com/possibilities)
Although it’s fun to dream, other than fans wanting him gone and the nameless faceless internet sources that exist to generate “clicks”, there’s nothing else to indicate that the Angels are again up for sale.
Like it or not Disney still controls the City Council even with the fallout over the Sidhu debacle. They’ll get the expansion though but that shit always takes time especially with the large amount of established residential surrounding Walt’s World..
But Senator, have you what been going on around the Stadium lately? A Town directly across the street is about 80% completed while a huge chunk of property around and including Honda Center is getting completely developed. This is not speculation, this happening NOW. https://www.anaheim.net/5157/Honda-Center-OC-Vibe The Only piece left to connect the dots within the Platinum Triangle is the largest piece right in the middle. The Hallowed Big A (And also the second oldest stadium in the AL) Its not a matter if this development will go forward but when. The Angels through virtue of their lease still control the property and still remain the most logical candidate to partner with someone to get it done just like the Samuel’s are doing with parts of the surrounding Vibe.
Your points are valid. I have not been around the stadium and do not have the firsthand knowledge that comes with living nearby. I was mainly going off what the LAT has been publishing about the stadium, Disney and the city council.
Yeah and there is that. Maybe the whole group comes and starts working up the land development deal. Disney is working up their massive expansion so Angels need to get a move on before there is no land.
I think there is something to it. The price of sports franchises has shot up exponentially despite the on field success or lack of it.
I just saw an article saying Ohtani expects to be ready for Opening Day but uh…I’m offended by seeing him in a Dodgers jersey.
Who?
No one, just a high school hitter.
Already witnessed my first gaggle, heard, pack, of Doyer fans all wearing Ohtani jerseys out in the wild of SoCal. I quietly put a baseball curse on all of them. 😀
Doing God’s work!
Trader Jerry making more trades. Here a trade, there a trade.
https://news.yahoo.com/white-sox-trade-reliever-gregory-223956515.html
I know he’s not well loved here and I’m not saying I would want him as my GM but, he out performed all of his successors both before and after he left. And I know there are people that were not happy about him leaving in the middle of the season, but it took guts for him to say that the organization was dysfunctional and he didn’t want to be a part of it anymore.
Obviously he outperformed those who came after him. he inherited an aging but still talented corp by then proceeded to leave the farm system in shambles 9which we have never recovered) Of course it didn’t help that Arte’s Big splashes left him without a first round draft pick in 2 of his 4 years here.
Jer Jer certainly didnt outperform those that preceded him.
You are correct but the point was that those who came after haven’t had any success and he’s been gone long enough that the farm system should be fixed. It’s no better than when he left. I also think he was just trying to do whatever he could to make the major league team better within the restraints under which he was operating. I am not defending him just stating a fact. It all points back to Artie unfortunately. He hasn’t hired the best people and then he’s forced them to work with their hands tied in some cases.
JeDi did well in Anaheim and has/still is doing a good job Seattle.
Not sure why that would ever be argued.
Challenge accepted on that Anaheim part. See below
Yes and no. When Jerry left things were much worse than how he found them. , our cupboards were bare and the international market was in shambles. His only 2 first round picks turned out to be Taylor Ward and Sean Newcomb. Ward is the only one left that could probably really improve his score card. The draftees that got more than a cup of coffee in the show during Jer Jer’s tenure were:
2012
Mike Morin
Anthony Benboom
Austin Adams
2013
Kenyon Middleton
2014
Newcomb (1st Round)
Chris Ellis
Justin Anderson
2015
Taylor Ward (1st Round)
David Fletcher
Jared Walsh
The international free agent market, heavily impacted by the Baldoquin disaster was not much better. They consist of
Oliver Ortega, José Suarez and Jamie Barria
Not exactly going to win any games there.
While Billy did not have all the restrictions that Perry does now like the Draft Lottery a 20 round draft and more limited International signing bonus money , he did have one draft of 5 rounds (only 4 picks for us since we signed Rendone) due to the COVID. unfortunately, he drafted primarily younger & highly athletic that had under developed baseball skills. And as JJ alluded to, if you couple that with a below average to poor farm system you have created a recipe for failure. Here’s Billy’s picks:
2016
Matt Thaiss (1st round)
Brandon Marsh
C Rod
2017
Jo Adell (1st round)
Griffin Canning
2018
Jordyn Adams (1st round)
Kyle Bradish
Austin Warren
Andrew Wantz
Cooper Criswell
2019
Will Wilson
Kyren Paris
2020
Reid Detmers
There maybe a couple other prospects that I failed to mention (Calabrese or Blakely for example) that could turn into something and there is time for some of those to turn into something but time is definitely running out. With the exception of Detmers, Billy’s lack of real success of no.1 draft picks would be enough to get him fired.
And his foray into the International free agent market did yield us the unicorn (By far the biggest fish of all) but absolutely nothing else.
Of course is hasn’t help Eppler’s cause at all that the 2 best players so far that he drafted (Marsh and Bradish) Are having great success wth other teams
Now Perry has taken a different approach including drafting and promoting for the most part, low floor but low ceiling college prospects while spending wisely on the international market This was probably the strategy that Billy should have undertaken considering what Jer Jer left him with but Perry can’t go back in the Way back machine to fix that. Considering the time it takes to develop international and draft prospects (sometimes up to 10 years) I’m not sure it would be of any value to analyze The Platypus work to date (Or I’m just too G.A. to do it at this time) But considering the circumstances he inherited including Arte’s previous frugalness in player development over the last 10+ years, I think hes doing a pretty good job if he can stick with it.
Ok now for the clarifications/retractions:
Jose Sorino was an International amateur free agent under billy’s reign in 2016. Kelvin Cáceres, also an IAFA ,who had a cup of coffee last year but the organization is pretty high on was signed by Billy’s boys in 20218. and lastly, the recently DFA’d Livan Soto was technically also an International signing although he ws originally signed by the Braves but got to keep that signing bonus and get declared a free agent because the of the Shennanigans and rule infractions of former Braves GM John Coppolella (who ironically hired Perry in Atlanta)
For all of us here, I hope everything works out and all the players become what we want them to, but the team’s plans for this year are so far based on being optimistic, rooting for, and hoping. Anything is possible. Everyone has straight “A”s before the semester starts. Maybe rebuilding the bull pen and hiring a new coaching staff is just what we needed.
Slim Sano !!!
20 💣 and 100+ OPS+ 🙏🙏🙏
Sano is going to have to mash his way to roster spot. I heard of his makeover and him trimming down his physique. He has played 1st and 3rd with some OF.
Crazier things have happened. He’s been a productive player in the MLB and is literally in the best shape of his life.
I’m rooting for him.
Thats funny because our new DH/5th outfielder claims slimming down in the bronx was really a bad decision for him as it zapped him of his power
Remember when (Angels) Josh Hamilton lost all that weight and blamed that on his suckage and lost his power?
https://www.businessinsider.com/josh-hamilton-lost-20-pounds-with-the-help-of-a-juice-from-a-late-night-infomercial-2013-2
I remember seeing Hamilton after he signed his new deal and thinking he stopped taking whatever PEDs he had been on and the Angels were in big trouble. This is one of the huge risks with being an MLB club. It’s all speculation but these things seem to happen from time to time. That’s why players like Bellinger are hard to sign.
There’s no way Hicks is our new DH. I refuse to believe that haha.
Adell and Sano will outplay him in terms of games and production.
All I heard was “best shape of his life.”
Miguel “Ozempic – Slim Fast” Sano
Couple of weeks left, if Arte is still in win mode Perry pull the trigger. I keep saying offer controversial Bauer and Urias but now mainly because it’s looking like any decent pitcher has zero desire to sign with us. Ohtani’s departure has really left a negative image on the Angels. On hitting side we still could use a DH power bat whether it be Martinez, Soler, or Duvall. Urshela is a must for positional depth. All these guys on short-top loaded deals.
Arte is never in win mode. He is in billboard mode and does not see anyone out there worthy of a billboard.
I think that’s pretty accurate. His plan has always been to sell jerseys and tickets, and to make money. Which is not a bad business plan. If he’s able to win in addition, then that’s good as well. Manny of us would not follow this approach if we were billionaires, but he’s the owner of the business and he’s free to run the business as he sees fit. He lost his biggest money maker and now it looks like Ohtani would not have stayed with the club for any amount of money. Artie should have understood this and adjusted his plan so that he could acquire new money makers. The problem he faces now is that it appears that the really big ticket sellers are no longer just interested in money, they want the chance to win as well. In order to attract the money makers going forward, he will have to convince the them that he is also serious about winning. He will have to adapt if he want’s to continue making money like before. It will get harder and harder to attract people to the ballpark. It will be interesting to see how he reacts to the new market. Also, his most recent expensive ticket seller (Rendon) didn’t work out.
We have no place left in the lineup for a DH power bat unless we trade one (or more) of Adell, Ward, Moniak or Rengifo. Right now we have one 26 man positional roster spot available and if it does not go to someone who can play shortstop in a pinch we’re screwed.
I think one of the remaining “decent pitchers” would come here but only if Arte over pays and so far he has not been inclined to do so. Although as others have alluded to thats not been his M.O. with pitchers since C.J. Wilson
Arte in win mode?
Please share with me what that has looked like in the past 10 years.
He has tried to get players to help us win. Unfortunately, unlike our neighbors the Dodgers, every FA or trade player we have gotten that was supposed to be good (last 10yr) has come here and stunk, Start with Hamilton, Gary Mathews, Freese, Cozart, Maybin, Lucroy, Upton, Rendon, Thor, Renfro, Giolito. To say we haven’t tried to put a winning team is silly. Bad karma with player transactions have played major part of teams failures.
Big Trout news:
https://www.instagram.com/p/C22lWmxOw7j/?igsh=MW52bjN4cWczZXE5YQ==
Not on Insta, what’s the big news?
He’s celebrating being a Philly
Just kidding!
Hopefully he didn’t blow out his bicep muscle in so doing….
I’m not a social media guy so what was the news?
I don’t either…..probably pictures of his food at feeding time? Or golf. Or Eagle’s Football related.
A picture of Mike Trout and Tiger Woods sitting next to each other and supposedly discussing Trout’s golf course project.
At least he’ll have a project to focus on after he gets hurt again.
*ducks*
*Throws second shoe and hits target after Mia ducked the 1st one*
Lol what the hell is that?
Ok found it. Can’t believe it’s real and I never heard of it. Props to Bush for good reactions. The shoe thrower got 3 years.
For just his leadership skills, alone this may have been worth signing JT https://twitter.com/KeeganMatheson/status/1753487498398036015
Does holding 1/2 a trophy count? Or is he talking about finally winning a whole one this year?
Seemed like a good fit for the Halos, I would have liked it. Quite possible JT brushed the Angels off and wanted a better chance at rig.
Moustakas did that for us last year, but his skills are declining rapidly. Bench coach?
What’s crazy is the absolute crickets around Jordan Montgomery’s free agency.
I’d prefer him to any other guy out there.
I assume he’s been on hold until the Ranger’s Diamond thing was settled.
https://www.mlbtraderumors.com/2024/02/diamond-sports-group-in-agreement-with-rangers-twins-guardians-for-2024.html
It’s been settled at least for 2024. If that was only thing holding up the Ranger agreement it would have happened already. Considering the financial bump the Rangers will get in 24 for winning the World Series last year, the 15% haircut they will take Regional TV dollars should not really have any affect in 2024 plans. I would think the Rangers still have concerns over subsequent years and knowing the Borass multi year Squeeze play they are at long term standoff just like every other one of his clients suitors.
Its important to note, that even without re-signing Montgomery the Rangers payroll is slated to go over the luxury tax threshold currently at $243 Million which I believe is about a $8 million increase over last year so you can understand their quandary even this year with or without a TV deal
He would be an excellent pickup for us as long as we don’t expect him to be a staff ace.
he wanted boston or somewhere close to Oklahoma. None of those teams have met near his ask so, could be a while
Anaheim is close to Oklahoma. It’s just 3 states away.
Or Bakersfield is just a quick hop over the Grapevine.
Having driven from LA to OKC multiple times, this comment made my eye start twitching lol.
I know that drive all too well. I feel for you Mia.
40hrs round trip. Just brutal. Makes you thankful for cruise control.
It took me all day just to drive to Albuquerque and then another whole day to make it to Joplin MO. First there is all that desert and then you make it to grasshopperland.
Yep. It’s the perfect stopping point on day one of a drive like that.
I went to Joplin in August once. I don’t think I’ll ever go back tbh. The humidity just about killed me.
As someone living in Oklahoma, let me just say…
booooooooo
Interesting stat though. The difference between my house to Disneyland and my house to Magic Kingdom is less than 20 miles.
Which way?
My sis and I drove from NJ to California, hopped onto Rte 66 in St. Louis. Oklahoma was the first place I ever drove 100 mph. Still didn’t feel like we were moving. The lowlight of the trip was having the engine go out in Kingman.
My dad was driving home from STL, after we drove there to drop me off for my freshman year at Wash U.
He blew out his transmission in Prescott. Had to wait there 2 weeks for a new one (Fiat 128)
Snell and Montgomery are the exact same age. Snell has been the objectively better pitcher during both of their careers.
I doubt we get either, but gimme Snell. Rather easily too
Montgomery is the guy most likely to pitch 170 innings per year over the first few years of the contract.
On a per inning basis, Snell will likely be better. But saving our bullpen from 30-50 innings per year has value.
Plus no QO.
Given the dire situation of our farm system, I think there is very little excuse for our team to be giving up a draft pick and slot money, unless it is for a really good reason.
And a lower asking price.
Plus no 2nd round pick give away.
Montgomery is my choice.
Good take.
Is an extra 30 innings pitched worth a 0.25% hit on ERA?
I think it is.
Rangers (The Boch), Red Sox (Theo in town) and Giants (traded Stripling) are the top 3.
Giants must have a pitcher or three coming their way.
Ray is out until July at best. DeSclafani was traded earlier. Stripling today. Junis is a free agent.
The Angels won something!
It was the arbitration case against Suarez, but hey.
If we consider having him on the roster a win. Personally, I preferred Cabbage, and I don’t even like vegetables.
But can either of them pitch?
No.
He’ll make up the difference at the buffet table. the next time that guy shows up in shape will be the first.
Woo Hoo! Now we can afford 1/2 of a Trevor Bauer
And Suarez is still being over payed.
Suarez arbitration complete…
I actually was thinking last night that maybe further moves by Perry are partially waiting on Ward’s case to complete. Especially if it involves trading him…
Looking at the Angels future payroll obligations and the books are pretty clean in a couple of years.
Off the books after this year: Charlie Sheen, Brandon Drury, Matt Moore, Luis Garcia, Adam Climber, and I’m sure Zach Plesac.
Anderson falls off the books next year.
Rendone and Stephenson have 3 years left.
After 3 years the only guaranteed salary on the books is the Mike Trout lifetime extension.
Maybe Arte is getting ready to sell. Maybe the lack of a TV deal past 2024 is the reason. Maybe, just maybe the team is finally doing a rebuild. We shall see.
The next couple of years could suck, but if we emerge with a prime core and have money to extend the guys we like and add talent around them, I’d be happy.
Another reason Arte maybe should have sold last year is the TV deal. I would think the TV deal was more lucrative from last years viewpoint than it is now.
Yep.
I know we all have our theories. Mine is he must really believe he can get a stadium and development deal done.
There was never an inkling of him selling until the stadium deal fell through. And he pulled the team back about the time the DOJ investigation started winding down.
But everyone knew last year about Diamond’s impending bankruptcy and deal uncertainty. So I cant believe that wasn’t factored into any potential offers (That were rumored to be in the $3 Billion range)
If this year goes well for them, give Neto and O’Hoppe early extensions and empower them to be leaders on a young rebuilding team + Trout.
I’m good with this, especially O’Hoppe.
Evil Arte’s farm team mad about the JT signing?
https://twitter.com/trashpandas/status/1753256267152269403
According to MLB.com
Nelson Rada is our highest rated player not on the top 100 list.
Guess who is the White Sox player.
You mean the MLB pipeline’s #9 highest rated catching prospect?
That says alot more about Rada than it does about Quero.
Even tho Sho got the better of Trouty here, this AB was crazy. Gonna need to see this several more times over the next however many years in the Freeway Series.
https://twitter.com/BaseballQuotes1/status/1753158781368782916?t=WL_rc6ERdXJ_ZSEY1pDB9Q&s=19
The last time I was invested in a game and an at bat was Game 6 of the 2002 World Series.
WBC was great! I just wish it didn’t happen right before the season started.
Which at bat? Spiezio, Glaus, or the final out?
All of the above plus every Bonds at bat. I was at the edge of my seat hoping one way or the other. At any point Bonds could hit it out and you were hoping he wouldn’t and with ours guys up you were hoping for something to happen!
Believe in the Power of the Rally Monkey!
Erstad says he’s got it… Erstad… MAKES THE CATCH!!! The Anaheim Angels are the champions of baseball!!!!!
That was an amazing moment for sure but the WBC may have cost the Angels more than that marquee matchup added. I thought scheduling it just before the season started was a mistake.
Hopefully Trout and Ohtani will be healthy enough starting in 2025 to make this an ongoing rivalry.
I was in Japan during the WBC. The place was going crazy the whole tourney
that must have been incredible.
Unfortunately that is the only realistic time to have the tournament.
Pausing the MLB, NPB, and KBO seasons midway through for 3 weeks isn’t realistic.
Could always hold it in the winter in the southern hemisphere
That led to a second UCL surgery before the end of the season.
Maybe? Who knows.
His elbow was probably falling apart anyways