Welcome to my version of the “If I Were Perry Minasian” series. In order to rosterbate responsibly, we will use the following guidelines.
- Payroll is to be $200 Million, if you really want to spend that much!
- Use either MLBTR’s estimated free agent salaries or their counterparts at Fangraphs
- You can clear roster space by non-tendering players
- Run all trades through the trade simulator at Baseball Trade Values dot com
- (My rule) Show the full 40-man roster with payroll
It’s my favorite time of the year. A chance to sharpen my pencil, look at the players on the field, and come up with a plan to make this Halo team better and moving one step closer to a goal of getting back to the playoffs. We saw that the AL-West is weak right now, but I don’t think we get our hopes up in 2025. My goal though is to have a very compeitive team ready in 2026 with only a couple of FA addtions needed.
My needs this year are the following:
- Depth in the middle infield
- Protection/platoon for 1B with a strong lefty on the mound
- Keeping our next young core down in the minors to not start their “clock”
- 1 additional SP that will help in 2026
- A veteran 3B that isn’t a cancer and won’t block any youth in the future
- Continue to stock pile arms… because TrAdition
We are going to start here with the man that needs to go, Anthony Rendon. I think I have found a viable way to trade him and actualy justify it to both teams. Here we go….
Angels trade Anthony Rendon, Luis Rengifo, Reid Detmers, and $15.255 Million in cash to the Detroit Tigers for Javier Baez, Spencer Torkelson, Ty Madden, and Eric Silva
Here is why this works for both teams.
LAA: We have 0 MLB ready players on this roster who can play a legitmate SS in case Neto goes down or needs a day off. (Note: After writing this article we now know that Neto may be down to start the year) Baez defensivly is still very good. We give the SS job to Baez until Neto is legit healthy, no reason to rush now. When Neto is back, Baez goes to 2B. This allows us to keep Moore down to start the year and not start his clock sooner than it needs to. Torkelson is a bust in DET and he gives us a RH bat to platoon with Schanuel. Both of those players I believe are on a make it or bust year in 2025. Madden is another depth arm that got some action in the MLB this year and could be useful moving forward. Silva was given the chance to play in the AFL this year and I think is the reason we kick in money to get him in this deal. The Angels can eat a third year of a contract of Baez and he becomes the MI backup for two young studs in 2026. If he is still a pain because he isn’t starting, then you DFA him.
DET: They want offense badly, need more SP, and pick up Rendon and Rengifo. Rendon is almost a given to be DFA’d at camp. DET doesn’t mind the higher salary for Rendon because the Angels are picking up the difference from him and Baez. It also opens up room for Rengifo and their youth to man the 3B,2B,SS positions. Rengifo was one of the best hitting infielders in the league last year. Detmers is another change of scenery canidate and could be better for another coaching staff. I also don’t agree with the amount of value that he is worth here. He has a no hitter in the MLB and has showed great stuff, but he’s been very inconsistant. It also opens up a lot more payroll for the Tigers a year earlier with Rendon only being 2 years of pay instead of Baez at 3. The Tigers are also going to be players in the 1B FA market (Alonso I think) so Torkleson is going to be an odd man out.
Even trade values likes this straight up without the Angels kicking in cash, but I think money will be needed to get Silva.
Angels trade Evan White and Davis Daniel to the St. Louis Cardinals for Nolan Arenado and $19 million in cash to be paid over the next three seasons ($6.33 million)
Call me Atre Jr. on this one, but this is the TrAdition move that we have been making for a while now. I think the consensus is that we don’t have a long term 3B and that Fontenelle needs more time. Arenado is a 3 year, gold glove, and above average hitter that can keep the hot corner warm. He has deferred cash for 15 years at 2 or 3 million, but with the $19 million kicked in by the Card’s, I’m ok with this trade and paying $15,$10, and $9 million over the next three years for an above average 3B. We have the payroll to do this, and 3B is one of the hardest positions to fill in the MLB right now.
Why it makes sense for the Card’s? Big money dumb for a team trying to shed payroll and get younger. They buy Daniel as they are trying to aquire young arms like us. They have to take Evan White from us to try and offset payroll for us this year, but long term the Card’s get a good young arm and only give up $6.3 million a year to get out of 15 years of payments. They shed $7 million on this years payroll immediatly by doing this.
Free Agent Signings
The Angels have a few holes we need to fill especially now at 2B to start the season.
Angels sign Donovan Solano to a 1 year $1.2 million dollar deal
Solano is a good bat, average glove utility type that can be had on the cheap. He adds a better bat in the lineup, and can be mixed and matched at multiple places on the infield. With Kingery on the team as well, you can mix up playing time at the keystone to start the year. If Moore is knocking down the door at AAA, then we make the switch midseason and this move doesn’t hurt the halos overall.
Angels sign Shane Bieber to a 2 year $40 million dollar deal
I didn’t need to do this at all because I actually was only at $175 million in payroll. If the Angels really think they can compete in 2026, then Bieber makes sense as he won’t be ready to pitch until July 2025. If he comes back healthy, he’s a great top of the rotoation guy to pair with another FA signing in 2026. (Gallen,Efflin, Cease) A rotation with Bieber and 1 of those three has a great start to it with Soriano, Silent K, and one of our young arms at the #5 spot and it looks really good for the Angels. Again I think 2026 is when the window opens for us. We could also not do this and go with the $175 million payroll and use the money next year on two of the top arms on the market.
PS Side note; Vlad Jr is a FA which is why I believe Schanuel in 2025 is a make or break year for him. Bring baby Vald back home in 2026!!!
If the Angels go back to a $230-245 milion payroll, our 2026 team could get very good very fast with a few FA additions and another year with the young core. One last chance for Trout in his final years with the team!
DFA Jose Suarez and Brock Burke
| Outfielders | Infielders | Catchers | Starters | Bullpen |
| Trout-CF/DH | Aranado 3B | O’Hoppe | Anderson | Joyce |
| Ward RF | Baez SS | Thaiss | Soriano | Stephenson |
| Adell LF | Solano 2B | Kochanowicz | Quijada | |
| Soler DH/OF | Schanuel 1B | Hendricks | Crouse | |
| Moniak Bench | Torkelson Bench | (Battle for #5) | Zeferjahn | |
| Kingery Bench | Bieber (July) | Bachman | ||
| Neto IL | Sandoval 2026 IL | Silseth |
Here is the complete 40 man with payroll breakdown for you:
| Mike Trout | $ 37,116,666 |
| Javier Baez | $ 25,000,000 |
| Nolan Arenado | $ 21,000,000 |
| Shane Bieber | $ 20,000,000 |
| Tyler Anderson | $ 13,000,000 |
| Jorge Soler | $ 13,000,000 |
| Robert Stephenson | $ 11,000,000 |
| Taylor Ward | $ 9,200,000 |
| Justin Turner | $ 7,700,000 |
| Kyle Hendricks | $ 2,500,000 |
| Jo Adell | $ 2,100,000 |
| Mickey Moniak | $ 1,800,000 |
| Matt Thaiss | $ 1,300,000 |
| Donovan Solano | $ 1,200,000 |
| Jose Quijada | $ 1,100,000 |
| Logan O’Hoppe | $ 800,000 |
| Jose Soriano | $ 800,000 |
| Spenser Torkelson | $ 800,000 |
| Nolan Schanuel | $ 800,000 |
| Zach Neto | $ 800,000 |
| Ben Joyce | $ 800,000 |
| Sam Bachman | $ 800,000 |
| Jack Kochanowicz | $ 800,000 |
| Chase Silseth | $ 800,000 |
| Scott Kingery | $ 800,000 |
| Ryan Zeferjahn | $ 800,000 |
| Hans Crouse | $ 800,000 |
| Christian Moore | $ 800,000 |
| Cole Fontenelle | $ 800,000 |
| Ty Madden | $ 800,000 |
| Caden Dana | $ 800,000 |
| Samuel Aldegheri | $ 800,000 |
| Ryan Noda | $ 800,000 |
| Eric Wagaman | $ 800,000 |
| Victor Mederos | $ 800,000 |
| Niko Kavadas | $ 800,000 |
| Kelvin Caceres | $ 800,000 |
| Guilo Zuniga | $ 800,000 |
| Davis Daniel | $ 800,000 |
| Jordyn Adams | $ 800,000 |
| Kyren Paris | $ 800,000 |
| Bryce Teodosio | $ 800,000 |
| Total 40-man | $166,416,666 |
| Extra | |
| Payment to Tigers | $ 15,255,000 |
| Cash from Cardinals | $ -6,300,000 |
| Patrick Sandoval | $ 5,900,000 |
| Total Payroll | $ 194,941,666 |
Can someone explain to me why the Angels don’t just release Patrick Sandoval and save the 5.9 million for 2025 and 2026? I see he is eligible for free agency after 2026, and considering that season will be his first after TJ, it is fair to assume we will receive little to no production from him before his free agency. Am I missing something? This seems like a no brainer non-tender decision.
First problem that jumps out to me is that Rendone has a full no trade clause. Very doubtful he waives that to a team that he knows will instantly release him unless there is a big chunk of money offered for him to waive it.
thanks for the ideas. Really enjoying these IIWPM articles.
Since Rendon has such a huge negative value, I’d at least be inclined to keep him through spring training. Maybe he turns out to not be horrible. We can always dfa him later.
I think the best approach is to acquire as many potential deadline flips as possible. And young potential/wild cards. Presuming we are still headed for 80+ losses, we trade anyone with an expiring contract for prospects. Hopefully with two years of trades and two years of higher draft picks, we’ll be ready to compete in 2026 or 2027. Having been a die hard angels fan for nearing six decades, suffering is just part of being a fan. While not fond of it, I’m ok with it if we have realistic hope for the future.
This is the Gitch plan! 😀 And regardless of what we do, we should be trading for prospects.
Gritcho acts as if every GM is capable of doing what Billy Beane used to be able to do 15-25yrs ago. Now most GMs and POBOs are smart like me and have made Billy Beane.
What hasn’t been brought up about trading for prospects is the Dodgers ability to still get top shelf level veteran players for bags of Doritos. As I have pointed out before here that Alex Verdugo is the best player that the Dodgers have given up for Yu Darvish, Manny Machado and Mookie Betts!! What this means is trades usually come out in favor of the buyer.
I like it. Go Biggs or Go Home! Appreciate laying out the entire roster with their respective salary commitments, easy to read.
I’d be down with an Arenado acquisition, he’s got 3 more years of shelf life and a good stop gap. Angels don’t have anyone near his glove quality and this defense is horrific. However, that offer won’t get it done, I see a contender adding him as a key piece.
Don’t think Tigers would add Tork or Madden but maybe Javy for Rendon might be therapeutic for both players. Javy is more of a dog than Rendon.
Bieber or Solano don’t crush my spirits. For the Halos to get serious, need to sign 2 quality starters this off-season. Solano just hits baseballs well. Cannot be disappointed in this aspect.
Appreciate the work!
Hello and happy Sunday editors and staff. Just FYI, I just submitted my IIWPM article for your review and publishing. Thank you
We wait with eager anticipation. 🙂
https://crashingthepearlygates.com/2024/11/11/iiwpm-fansince1971-style/
Thank you for the time to develop this post. I respect your ideas.
The trade simulator tool remains flawed and unrealistic. I suspect at least 95% of the trades determined to be “within value range” of the simulator would never ever pass the sniff test by real air breathing baseball executives. The simulator creates the illusion that including more marginal players to make the values align when trying to get top prospects or players from teams is viable. Not even Tony Reagins would accept some of these trade proposals.
Detroit would never give up anything of material value for Detmers and/or Rendon. As for the White and Daniel trade – two marginal AAAA players don’t translate into getting a future HoF player even if he’s in the twilight of his career and over-paid.
Thanks again for taking the time to develop the ideas. This was a fun read.
Great thinking, that took a lot of work. Bieber signing would be our ‘huge’ off season FA signing. The trade with Tigers make financial sense, many question mark players involved, it’s difficult to predict if either team benefits. If Cardinals are in full rebuild mode, could Angels put a package to them for Arenado and Sony Gray? Obviously Rendon is the cancer, hard to make any moves with him on payroll and having zero trade value.
Interesting analysis. I always enjoy perspectives.
You seem to have Justin Turner on your 40 man. I may have missed something, but I don’t see him elsewhere and don’t understand his fit.
As to Bieber, I’m a fan of bringing him in but he’s more for 2026 than this season. The Halos are woefully short of starting pitching through July/August per your plans. Giving Detmers another shot here has to be part of the 2025 calculus, doesn’t it?
Applaud your ingenuity for shipping off Rendon. But Baez is the Rendon of the Midwest. We lose Rengifo who I think the Angels need and get Torkselson who seems to be another Schanuel so we have two of those. Arte is also giving money away — we’ll let you tell him. That may be a loud conversation.
Arenado intrigues but he has now reached his “too old” Pujols phase I suspect. He may be your next problem if you bring him in. I’d rather let him retire either in St Louis or Colorado. And more money sent out. Arte likes his cash.
Great thoughts overall. Fun to read.
First off. This is laid out beautifully. Really well done.
I like the Solano and Beiber pick ups too. Don’t know if they’ll work out well, but I like those players if we can get em. Not too sure about the Arenado trade either, but I like that guy too… so I’m soft for it.
But that Tigers trade reminds me of my mom. She watched one episode of Yellowstone. a show I’ve never seen. But she didn’t like it for some reason. There seem to be twenty ads for Yellowstone on every NFL game. we watch football together a lot.
Every. Fking. Ad. “I don’t like that Yellowstone. Why do they always talk about it? I saw it and and was crap.” Literally any time she sees or hears mention of it. Like a mental tik.
Anthony Rendon is CtPG Guys Yellowstone.
That trade makes zero sense. We trade away Detmers, who is a long way from washed in reality, and take on Javier Baez, who is a shittier player and guy than Rendon, so we can pay him more money. Oh, and we get a platoon partner for Nolan. Who doesn’t have crazy platoon splits. We don’t need Torkelson, even though I actually like him. We have him in Kavedas, etc. To top it off, why are the Tigers getting rid of Madden? He’s good and cheap. To get Rengifo? Rendon?
Not to mention Trout, Baez and Arenado…. that’s a lot of sunk cost.
On the other hand, my IIWPM involves taking on bad salary too… so you lend me courage.
Though man, it would be fun as hell if all three of those guys plus Soler just blossom in the California sun and we become Comeback Player Team of the Year….
I loved the effort and creativity, but I don’t think this really improves the team much. Arenado has only been a better than average hitter 2 of the last 5 years and not since 2022. He was actually slightly outhit by Schanuel last year. I would rather see us sing a real hitter like Alonso who actually makes us better and continue to acquire and develop young talent.
While I agree this 2025 team isn’t that much better, I belive it still sets us up for 26′. There isn’t a hitter on the FA market this year that would consider us, let alone still be in our budget moving forward.
Arenado was written this morning. My original idea was to sign Justin Turner for a 1 year 7.7 million deal and if he had anything left in the tank, trade him at the deadline to a contender.
I like the Justin turner idea better.
I’m also ok with the pitchers.
Some wild and fun ideas here. I don’t think anyone will trade for Rendon no matter if trade values says it could be okay. I think his real value is -1 gazillion. Might as well just DFA him.
As much as I liked your contribution, I agree with Jeff that the remaining team is probably a 65-70 win team evaluating WAR. And I’m not sure it serves any real long term goals.
I’m thinking more and more that IIWPM, I would jump off a bridge. 😎
I agree about Rendon value, hence I have the Tigers DFA;ing him almsot instantly. The value for the Tigers is they are getting Rengifo and Detmers for almost nothing and they have no additional payroll in 2027 when their young core is starting to get expensive. They are also in a win now mode so getting two players that help them in 2025 for little to nothing allows them to be bigger players in the FA market.
It’s a cancer for cancer trade. If you read the Tiger blogs, they hate Baez as much as we hate Rendon.
Oh I get where you are going and I think it’s wildly creative but I don’t think the Tigers or anyone would do it. That’s how awful Rendon is
Rick now has some serious competition for Most Outside the Box.
There’s a ton of movement here and I like adding Beiber and Solano.
But doubt this gets us more than 70ish wins.
Jeff I agree. I don’t think there is anything that can be done about the 25′. We would need our younger players to turn into all-starts somehow.
I do think though that the 26′ has a real shot at contention.
I went ahead and got a subscription to the trade simulator. I’m now so far down the rabbit hole!
Share credentials please 😎
Find a way to email me.
Rosterbate…funny stuff!! `;~}}