LA Angels Monday News Crash:

Here is the official Post Season Bracket Watch article. This article is about the non-playoff teams that are most likely to play in October 2025. Sadly, there is no mention of the Angels.

Cody Bellinger had a not-so-good season, so of course he and Boras are deciding whether he should opt out of his three year deal and seek more money. A bird in the hand, Cody. Nori Aoki of the Yakult Swallows will retire at the end of this season.

Pablo Sandoval just pitched 5 1/3 scoreless innings for the Staten Island Ferry Hawks. Tyler Glasnow has been shut down indefinitely with an elbow sprain.

The Twins just released minor league catcher Derek Bender for telling opposing hitters what pitch to expect during a game in which Bender’s team was eliminated from the playoffs.

Designees For Assignment

The Phillies designated catcher Aramis Garcia for assignment. The Diamondbacks designated catcher Andrew Knizner for assignment, The Orioles designated both left-hander Cole Irvin and infielder Nick Maton for assignment.

Photo credit: Rex Fregosi

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red floyd
Legend
27 days ago

I still haven’t forgiven Nori Aoki (and the Baseball gods) for 2014.

BannedInLA
Super Member
28 days ago

Apparently Trout is openly talking about moving to LF/DH and I’m glad to hear it.

I brought this up the other day and someone mocked the notion as though it was ridiculous. This is simply a common sense approach by Trout & the team.

Roy Hobbs
Super Member
28 days ago
Reply to  BannedInLA

I think there is virtual unanimity here regarding whether he should move to a corner OF spot or DH. The question has always been whether he was open to doing so which previous to now he wasn’t and the organization was unwilling to sit him down and tell him he was going to DH because it was in the best interest of both himself and the club.

Eric_in_Portland
Legend
28 days ago

Dana down, Hindenburg up

angelslogic
Super Member
28 days ago

A phoenix rising from the ashes.

BannedInLA
Super Member
28 days ago

Ironic, considering Dana went full Hindenburg whilst he was up.

halofansince1978
Super Member
28 days ago
Reply to  BannedInLA

So…how many young pitcher’s confidence did we destroy this year by rushing them to the big leagues?

BannedInLA
Super Member
28 days ago

These lineups are as Spring Trainy as Spring Trainy can get.

angelslogic
Super Member
28 days ago

So it’s a mixed Bees/Trash Pandas game.

Eric_in_Portland
Legend
28 days ago

I predict the white sox will win all 6

Jim Atkins
Super Member
28 days ago

Just saw on MLB Trade Rumors that the “White Sox plan to cut payroll for 2025”. I guess this year is just a stepping stone to a Most Losses record that will stand for all time.

Senator_John_Blutarsky
Legend
Reply to  Jim Atkins

“It’s good to have a goal”
~ Tony Rendon

Jeff Joiner
Editor
Legend
28 days ago
Reply to  Jim Atkins

I think Arte’s PR team planted that article, ha ha.

I was shocked at the headline but if you read the piece it makes sense. The White Sox are paying a lot of players who are no longer on their roster. Simply dropping that dead weight will shave tens of millions off the payroll.

Last edited 28 days ago by Jeff Joiner
Angelz4ever
Super Member
28 days ago
Reply to  Jeff Joiner

Unless the contract(s) run out, they won’t be able to shave those warts off. I can’t imagine too much of their active overpaid talent will look very attractive to another team. If they tank for a few more years I think MLB may start eyeballing their org a little closer.

Tim Anderson says hi to the ChiSox.

AnAngelsFan
Super Member
28 days ago

Anyone else notice the minor league catcher was banished to the bullpen for the last two games? I wonder if any of the bullpen pitchers used the opportunity to give him some tips on better behavior.

Angelz4ever
Super Member
28 days ago
Reply to  AnAngelsFan

Yeah, I also see why it was so easy to release him:

Bender, 21, batted .200 with a .606 OPS, two home runs and eight RBI in 19 games (67 plate appearances) with Fort Myers. Defensively, he threw out four of 24 baserunners (17%) at catcher and allowed no passed balls or wild pitches.”



Jeff Joiner
Editor
Legend
28 days ago
Reply to  Angelz4ever

He did his part to get his team eliminated.

Angelz4ever
Super Member
28 days ago
Reply to  Jeff Joiner

Yes, a true role player.

MarineLayer
Super Member
28 days ago

The Twins picked up Cole Irvin who was waived by the Orioles. I don’t know why we didn’t pick him up — I’d much rather give him a try instead of Jose Suarez. It’s like we’ve just given up.

gitchogritchoffmypettis
Legend
Reply to  MarineLayer

I figured, given the constant extreme bitching from about Nov1 – the end of each season that our unspoken goal around here was for the team to give up around March 20th. So this is good right?

Go JuJu?

Angelz4ever
Super Member
28 days ago
Reply to  MarineLayer

Why, it’s the new and improved Jose Suarez that we now have.

Last edited 28 days ago by Angelz4ever
MarineLayer
Super Member
28 days ago
Reply to  Angelz4ever

He’s not new and it’s pretty certain he’s not improved. Small sample size.

Angelz4ever
Super Member
28 days ago
Reply to  MarineLayer

I was being facetious

Jeff Joiner
Editor
Legend
28 days ago
Reply to  MarineLayer

Agreed.

107 innings of 4.85 ERA ball pitched this season. That’s about an ace around here.

He’s 30 and not eligible for free agency for another 2 years. Career ERA+ of 88 is about what to expect from a back end starter. I’d have taken him.

PedroCerrano
Super Member
28 days ago

I would love to know the back story on just why the minor league catcher was tipping pitches. MiLB has always been full of politics with guys upset when they start to figure out that they’re not likely to be retained.

You almost never meet a X MiLB player (sorry, especially pitchers) that admitted to not being good enough as most of my conversations devolved into “I wasn’t a high draft pick so I never got a real shot” type stuff.

Last edited 28 days ago by PedroCerrano
steelgolf
Legend
28 days ago
Reply to  PedroCerrano

Yeah, either pissed at the pitcher/manager/organization or he did it fir gambling reasons.

cookmeister
Trusted Member
28 days ago
Reply to  PedroCerrano

he wanted the season to be over. That’s pretty much the story.

Senator_John_Blutarsky
Legend
Reply to  cookmeister

Well, his baseball career is now over. The dude is radioactive for selling out his teammates.

PedroCerrano
Super Member
28 days ago
Reply to  Charles Sutton

Their yellow unis work work as that is the color of choice for cowards. Bluto nailed it as that kind of thing that will follow him wherever he tries to play.

gitchogritchoffmypettis
Legend
Reply to  PedroCerrano

“It’s not that I’m not very good. It’s the the Angels system is a hell hole.”

PedroCerrano
Super Member
28 days ago

Back in the day the Angels were almost legendary on how brutally they cut guys.

Angelz4ever
Super Member
28 days ago
Reply to  PedroCerrano

Talk about being unemployable in your trade at a young age. What a doofus.

Hate your team much?

PedroCerrano
Super Member
28 days ago
Reply to  Angelz4ever

I’m remember playing with guys that sabotaged their own careers because they never really loved baseball or the grind. Central theme was that they felt like they needed to live up to family or other expectations. Usually it was the typical vices of women or substances but perhaps this guy is just super creative.

DowningDude
Legend
28 days ago
Reply to  PedroCerrano

I saw Kevin Costner do it to Tim Robbins in Bull Durham.

halofansince1978
Super Member
28 days ago

We might win tonight!!

Roy Hobbs
Super Member
28 days ago

Interesting comparisons: Cody Bellinger is making 27.5M next year for production very similar to Taylor Ward, Zach Neto, and Luis Rengifo and is considering opting out of his contract?

Current OPS+
Ward 111
Neto 113
Bellinger 114
Rengifo 114

Bellinger probably has more updside potential and a much better history, but he is 29, whille Neto is 23, Rengifo 27, and Ward 30. If I was Taylor Ward I’d be using Bellinger as my comp for next year. Two yeas ago, ward had an OPS+ (134) similar to Bellinger’s 138 last year.

Roy Hobbs
Super Member
28 days ago
Reply to  Roy Hobbs

This year, the Angels essentially paid approximately 10M for 3 Cody Bellingers. So they did something good!  🙂 

Mikeal1st
Trusted Member
28 days ago
Reply to  Roy Hobbs

Is that anything like those two ten game winners they replaced Nolan Ryan with?

YOUknowulovetheIE
Trusted Member
28 days ago
Reply to  Roy Hobbs

I wouldn’t want arte to pay 30 mil for taylor ward.

Roy Hobbs
Super Member
28 days ago

No, and I wouldn’t want to pay 30M for Cody Bellinger either.

Angelz4ever
Super Member
28 days ago

Nor will arby side with him for that amount either.

Roy Hobbs
Super Member
28 days ago
Reply to  Angelz4ever

Agreed. My point was just the comparison.

Angelz4ever
Super Member
28 days ago
Reply to  Roy Hobbs

I know, if I was the Halos I would hope & pray Ward asks for $30M-Easy win for any reasonable Halo offer.

GrandpaBaseball
Legend
28 days ago

If just assuming for a moment you purchased the Angels, what would you do with the problem of where to play, needing either a rebuilt Big A or an exciting new home what would you do if money was no problem?

GrandpaBaseball
Legend
28 days ago

The purchase price of the Angels at 2.5 billion is steep for not having a stadium, a weak roster, and not a lot to build on means a top to bottom overhaul and I would welcome having to build a new stadium. But where to find a location to move to is an issue now isn’t it. One coveted spot I have thought for years may just work is South of the 10, North of the 60, East of the 57 with access to RR tracks for Metro Rails along with being covenant to the 210, not far from the OC and LA County and the I.E. Enough space for green belts and nature, shopping and restaurants, apartments, condos, businesses and MLB. Imagination and money would go a long way there, don’t you think so? Or;

Plan B, stay in Anaheim and remodel the Big A and reengineer Arte’s plan with partners and make it happen faster.

In truth the area can and should keep 2 teams of MLB, and unlike the A’s who have always had limited success in the Bay Area, the Angels are part of SoCal and soon will be rid of an out of area owner who has no clue what he is doing. Where is Stan when you need him anyway?

gitchogritchoffmypettis
Legend

The Pomona Angels of Narod

Marcotor
Trusted Member
28 days ago

Where would you plop a stadium where you mention? The little open space heading in that stretch is San Gabriel River Park, and the other side of the 605 is a golf course. Or do you plan to eminent domain the “hard working homeowners and their community” ala the false Walter O’Malley narrative? As long as we’re on falsies, let’s get Standard of California, Firestone, and GM to buy up the “nearby Metrolink” and demolish it  😂 

The Puente Hills Landfill Angels does have a nice ring to it.

Last edited 28 days ago by Marcotor
Senator_John_Blutarsky
Legend

Okay – from the “what if $2.5b dollars was just hobby money”….

  • I’d replace Arte’s executive and middle-management administrative people immediately. I’m not vindictive and would not look to “hurt” anyone, but “my people” need to be all administrative (business) leadership positions. To foster goodwill, I’d make sure those exiting all had “parachutes” as part of the acquisition transition.
  • I’d end the posturing and threats to move out of Anaheim. It’s counter-productive to building stability within the franchise and strong relationships with key external stakeholders..
  • Since I believe the SoCal market can support / has supported multiple teams, I’d rebuild the relationship with the city of Anaheim. My motivation is that for the Angels to succeed, I need the city Anaheim to be successful.
  • I’d work with the city, county, state and fans to establish a multi-decade strategy for the ballpark and the immediate surrounding area. I’d be inclusive and include other private parties like Disney, Knotts, major hotel brands, etc. looking for broad input and support for the final direction.
  • I’d also extend an olive branch to the Dodgers and build relationships with the other sports franchises in the SoCal marketplace to establish a foundation for us to work together in the future.
Roy Hobbs
Super Member
28 days ago

I would build a new state of the art stadium in the current location along with all of your suggestions.

DowningDude
Legend
28 days ago
Reply to  Roy Hobbs

I saw State of the Arte

halofansince1978
Super Member
28 days ago

You guys got it all wrong…first purchase is a Miura.

Second would be a KB block F/AA alcohol drag boat.

Then I would buy a few hundred pounds of gold bars.

Somewhere in there my 25 year dream of Vairy Tanked.

All this after I paid off my immediate family’s mortgages.

miura12.jpg
picklefork1.jpg
vairytanked.jpg
Eric_in_Portland
Legend
28 days ago

if I bought the Angels I’d fire all Arte loyalists, hire Turk’s Teeth (for one) and a bunch of scouts. I’d get Branch Rickey’s Ghost to be GM.

DowningDude
Legend
28 days ago

I’d also hire 2002heaven as an advisor to toilet maintenance

Marcotor
Trusted Member
28 days ago

As long as Anaheim bends over as deeply for the Angels as they do for Disney, I would support your plan.

PedroCerrano
Super Member
28 days ago

If I had that much money, I would likely make better choices on how to invest that sum.

Angelz4ever
Super Member
28 days ago
Reply to  PedroCerrano

Enron & Stuart Anderson stocks are a good choice.

Senator_John_Blutarsky
Legend
Reply to  Angelz4ever

Billboards are the way of the future…..

Angelz4ever
Super Member
28 days ago

I would require all Dodger fans to go through two metal detectors.

I’d then clean house and see if we could get experienced championship building baseball people in the brass. I’d admit we won’t legitimately compete for 2-3 years. I’d trade away our tradable talent that won’t be here in 2-3 years. I’d have a heart to heart with Trout and lay out the rebuild plans, as we are not, “Two or three pieces away from contending.”.

I’d try to build a relationship with the Anaheim city council; however, the political environment may turn on anyone that appears to be even lukewarm towards the Halos. I’m sure we’re all aware of the resistance for any city lately to put one dime towards a new stadium, add (Frankly) the liberal a$$holes that want “Affordable housing” to be part of the stadium building project.

Also, I’d probably realize that the Halos time in Anaheim is coming to an end and start looking at moving somewhere close in SoCal-I’d put that out to the ether and start evaluating offers coming in. I say with all seriousness, that the Inland Empire Angels could play in north Fontana as there is plenty of land for a stadium and it is served by two major freeways. Add to that: The Fontana Mayor is extremely business friendly and would probably offer tax incentives.

Lastly, I’d honor, court and bring back Halo legends-That’s been a glaring failure of the Moreno years. A team that honors its past always has a brighter future.

Last edited 28 days ago by Angelz4ever
steelgolf
Legend
28 days ago
Reply to  Angelz4ever

Ahhh, an August Sunday afternoon game in Fontana. Where multiple heat stroke squads would be stationed throughout the stadium.

Angelz4ever
Super Member
28 days ago
Reply to  steelgolf

Combined with a constant wind that would make it Wrigley Field West.

Mikeal1st
Trusted Member
28 days ago

I’d buy the Yankees and Dodgers then trade their best to the Angels. Who cares where we play.

GrandpaBaseball
Legend
28 days ago

So now Anaheim is going to have huge infostructure changes around the Pond with condos and shopping etc., and Arte’s offer for same around a Baseball Park rejected and not in renegotiation and no long-term deals to keeping the Halos in town-what next is in store for the Halos?

Senator_John_Blutarsky
Legend

What’s next?

We all hope Arte re-starts the process to sell the team.

ihearhowie3.0
Super Member
28 days ago

Recent article interviewed plenty of city people who said the Ducks and Samuelis are much more about making a deal that works for both sides but the Angels are more prone to play into the Anaheim backroom machine politics stuff, making threats etc.

Things that stood out to me was the OC Vibe project having tons of spacious public parks, trails and affordable housing that the city didn’t need to ask for, it was all just assumed.

Contrast that to the Angels renovation concept renderings that were densely stuffed with revenue generating offices and hotels packed in tightly together. One of the publicized sticking points from the Angel Stadium deal was the city asking for the same affordable housing and park space the Ducks just included without needing to be asked but the Angels expected kickbacks and discounts for including them.

At the end of the day, Arte isn’t all that different from a lot of sports owners. But the Samuelis with their philanthropic background specifically in Orange County have been more willing to lose a little upside on the margins in order for everyone to be happy.

Marcotor
Trusted Member
28 days ago

Perhaps the MLB Angels follow the path the PCL Angels blazed in 1958 to Spokane?

GrandpaBaseball
Legend
28 days ago

Good morning, with the future looking bright with our pitching and minor league pitching and a premier pick in next June’s first round we just might yet survive Artie’s brainless noggin, you know the brainless noggin that can’t answer the question “With Shohei having a possible historic season, just what did the Dodgers give you for him?”.

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