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LA Angels Tuesday News Crash: Shortstoppers

November 19, 2024

Rhett Bollinger works his way through the Angels various shortstop options in the event Zach Neto misses some of 2025. Fangraphs explored the Angels top 38 prospects. Some of them are not too shabby.

Here are all of the new guys appearing on the Hall of Fame ballot. Curtis Granderson is on there so I guess he is no longer available. What do you think? Is Fernando Rodney going to fall off the ballot for next year? Yankees righty Luis Gil won the American League Rookie of the Year. Paul Skenes won it for the National League.

Nick Martinez accepted his Qualifying Offer from the Reds. Sean Manaea rejected his Qualifying Offer. The Mets signed right-hander Justin Hagenman to a major league deal and they signed Rafael Ortega to a minor league deal. The White Sox signed Austin Slater to a major league deal. The Brewers picked up Deivi Garcia on a minor league deal. The Mariners got Casey Lawrence on a minor league deal.

Minute Maid Park shall henceforth be known as Daikin Park. The Tampa Bay Rays find that their 2028 stadium deal is now in jeopardy thanks to Hurricane Milton and local government. Speaking of the Rays, they just designated infielder Austin Shenton for assignment.

Photos credit: Rex Fregosi

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Jeff Joiner

21 days ago

Angels DFA Jordyn Adams and Eric Wagaman. Those roster spots go to Matthew Lugo and Jack Dashwood.

Super Member

smithy610

21 days ago

Reply to Jeff Joiner

Jordyn Adams – what a waste of a pick.

I hope he is the last remnant of the horrendous Billy Eppler draft era.

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Jeff Joiner

21 days ago

Reply to smithy610

Eppler – I’m going to draft raw athletes and develop them into baseball players.

Arte – I’m going to skimp on minor league development to the point we become the poster children for starving players.

At least Perry has taken a more practical approach of drafting guys who are mostly developed. He’s shooting for lower ceilings, but he’s notably raising the floor. And he’s talked Arte into boosting the development budget.

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Cowboy26

21 days ago

Reply to Jeff Joiner

Unfortunately, now Jordyn Adams becomes another poster child of Arte’s failed ownership.

Just watch some team sign him and turn him into a productive Major League player. From all accounts hes a great kid so I hope this happens (Just as long as it aint the Doyers)

trAdition

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gitchogritchoffmypettis

21 days ago

Reply to Cowboy26

It’s a sign of our sad daddy issues that we’re so hung up on “wasting” Jordyn Adams. Pretty much all of the teams I follow, especially teams that were drafting outside the top 10 most of the time, have the majority of their #1 picks be meh. And it’s just accepted as part of life.

But we’re so into wallowing in our shit that this is “YET ANOTHER SIGN OF HOW BAD WE HAVE IT” fist full of sand in our vaginas. Yah, the way the system has run sucks, I hate it, but if the vast majority of our players next year are either guys we developed or guys our scouts chose to target in trades/pick ups and they are fairly good I’m not gonna keep wearing the same pissed in complaint diaper year after year.

Epplers been gone a while guys. It’s pretty obvious that PTP talked Arte into some version of a development upgrade when he came in. These things take a while to show up on the field. It may still suck. We’ll have to see. But I don’t see why Angels fans have to have more of a persecution complex than friggin Pirates fans.

I’m actually more bummed about Wagaman. I was impressed with how quickly he just “gave third base a shot” and still managed to semi-hit while making that adjustment at the MLB level. Maybe we’ll get to keep these guys? If not, oh well.

Trusted Member

grichmanpoorman

21 days ago

Reply to gitchogritchoffmypettis

SHUT UP YOU F*&%ING ARTE APOLOGIST! Anyone who truly knows baseball knows that Jordyn Adams stalled-out at AAA because the Angels are skinflints who delight in sabotaging prospects, while Conner Scott, also a HS outfielder drafted four spots ahead of him by the Marlins, never advanced past AA solely because of his own failings. In fact, just look at this list of 2018 draftees. Even a fentanyl-addled hobo can see how all the failed prospects drafted well before Adams only hurtles Arte deeper into a damnation of his own making. Poor, under-cultivated Jordyn Adams. Poor us!

Super Member

Angelz4ever

20 days ago

Reply to grichmanpoorman

Um Grich….did you miss a medication?

Noone, not even the Blew Crew has 100% success with prospects. Moniak was a number one overall, and we just picked up another number one overall/first round player for cash considerations.

Some guys just don’t equate to MLB talent. Some are used to being a big fish in a small pond and don’t adjust to the next level(s).

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FungoAle

21 days ago

Reply to Jeff Joiner

If the litmus test is making the MLB roster, Perry wins but lower ceilings is not what this organization needs at this time. Imagine, if Perry was GM over a decade ago, he would not have taken a flyer on an outfielder from Millville, NJ.

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Cowboy26

21 days ago

Reply to FungoAle

Not would have Billy or the JeDi

Super Member

Roy Hobbs

21 days ago

Reply to smithy610

I can’t believe they gave up on Adams like that. Probably a good sign.

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Cowboy26

21 days ago

Reply to Jeff Joiner

I had Wagaman & Adams as potential Rule 5 casualties, But Jake Dashwood was not on my bingo card as a Rule 5 protectee.

I am amazed how Victor Mederos continues to live another day though.

Trusted Member

cookmeister

21 days ago

Reply to Cowboy26

was Wagaman even elligible since he was on the 26 at the end of the year?

Mederos has struggled, but he has cheap control and options so, makes sense to keep

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Cowboy26

21 days ago

Reply to cookmeister

Wagaman is also cheap and controllable hes just an older prospect with only 74 MLB ABs and full options. But I think by adding, Noda, Kingery and Lugo the Angels liked these newest 40 man options better.

BTW, The other hugest winner for today in our good friend Jose Suarez

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cookmeister

21 days ago

Reply to Cowboy26

I guess the trade off is do you want to lose Lugo or Wagaman? Sorry, but I’m keeping Lugo 100 times of 100.

One could def argue for DFA’ing others lol

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gitchogritchoffmypettis

21 days ago

Reply to Cowboy26

What’s insane is Suarez probably has throw in trade value….

Super Member

Roy Hobbs

21 days ago

Reply to Jeff Joiner

Should be a wake up call for both Moniak and Adell. I think this year is their last chance.

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Fansince1971

21 days ago

Reply to Jeff Joiner

He had decent seasons in the PCL in ‘23 and ‘24 but there was little carryover to the Show.

At age 25 he still has time. Think of all of the American cheese sandwiches on white bread and lousy housing the Angels wasted on him.

Last edited 21 days ago by Fansince1971

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Cowboy26

21 days ago

Reply to Fansince1971

His 2023 stats were encouraging (.268/.352/.465) despite a strike out rate of 27.5%. But 2024 was a major regression slashing only (.261/.333/.386) where his power numbers and walk rate were down without any noticeable improvement in his K Rate (26%)

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gitchogritchoffmypettis

21 days ago

Reply to Fansince1971

He was a millionaire. So no. He wasn’t eating American cheese sandwiches.

Super Member

tanana40

21 days ago

Reply to Jeff Joiner

If nobody claims these players, can’t they just end up back in SLC albeit not on the 40 man roster?

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Jeff Joiner

21 days ago

Reply to tanana40

Yes.

They are also eligible for the Rule V draft.

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gitchogritchoffmypettis

21 days ago

Reply to Jeff Joiner

I think we have a shot at keeping both, though a team that just needs CF defense on the bench may take Adams.

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Twebur

21 days ago

Mets trade for Jose Siri, send reliever to Rays (source)
https://www.mlb.com/news/jose-siri-mets-rays-trade

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Jeff Joiner

21 days ago

The Royals have shown interest in Taylor Ward.

Somebody went pretty crazy on the sim with this information.

I think I’d take the Ben Kudrna and Gavin Cross return for Taylor.

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cookmeister

21 days ago

Reply to Jeff Joiner

I’d take Singer

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Jeff Joiner

21 days ago

Reply to cookmeister

In a heartbeat. But I highly doubt KC would do that trade.

Kudrna is likely another 4/5 type guy who will start the season in AA and could be in the MLB in a year or so. He’s more control/command over raw power.

Cross can play both center and right, hits lefty, absolutely mashed at Va Tech and got his first taste of AA action last season.

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cookmeister

21 days ago

Reply to Jeff Joiner

Just going based on the alleged Singer for India talk. Ward is better than India, controlled for the same amount of time (i think)

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Fansince1971

21 days ago

Reply to Jeff Joiner

Cross and Jensen works (approximately) on trade simulator.

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gitchogritchoffmypettis

21 days ago

Reply to Fansince1971

I’d take either of those Cross+ trades. BRING US DEE KIDZ!

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gitchogritchoffmypettis

21 days ago

Reply to cookmeister

Why? So he can be expensive/leave by the time having him matters?

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Fansince1971

21 days ago

Reply to Jeff Joiner

Kudrna and Jensen please

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Twebur

21 days ago

Royals Have Shown Interest In Alec Bohm, Taylor WardBy Steve Adams | November 19, 2024 at 1:30pm CDT
Anne Rogers of MLB.com reports that while no deals are necessarily close as of this moment, the Royals have also spoken to the Phillies about third baseman Alec Bohm and to the Angels about outfielder Taylor Ward. Like India, both Bohm and Ward are right-handed bats with multiple seasons of club control remaining

As for Ward, he’s an on-paper trade candidate for an Angels club that just finished dead last in the American League West. However, owner Arte Moreno and GM Perry Minasian have both expressed a desire to put forth a competitive club next winter. Ward, coming off a .246/.323/.426 (111 wRC+) showing in 2024 and a .259/.338/.440 line (118 wRC+) since 2021, is seemingly a part of that vision. Few outsiders see a path to contention for the ’25 Angels, but the team’s actions thus far — trading for Jorge Soler and signing Travis d’Arnaud, Kyle Hendricks and Kevin Newman — suggest that they’re more focused on adding than on subtracting.

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GrandpaBaseball

22 days ago

Which one is better;

Tampa Bay/St. Pete or San Antonio? Hmm San Antonio 😃
Tampa Bay/St. Pete or Austin? Hmm Austin 😀
Tampa Bay/St. Pete or Nashville? Hmm Nashville 😍
Tampa Bay/St. Pete or Charlottesville? Hmm Charlottesville 🙂
Tampa Bay/St. Pete or Durham-Rieleigh? Durham-Rieleigh 😊
Tampa Bay/St. Pete or Anywhere else? All things considered; I’d rather be in Philidelphia 😂

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cookmeister

22 days ago

Reply to GrandpaBaseball

it’s really not that simple

Super Member

Angelz4ever

21 days ago

Reply to cookmeister

The great philosopher Rosana Rosannadanna once said, “It’s always somethin’!”

Super Member

PedroCerrano

22 days ago

Tampa Bay should have been jettisoned as a MLB city at least a decade ago. The team has been consistently good despite their lack of support and resources. The Trop has always been a dump and the city/county don’t seem eager to help. I’m not convinced that taxpayers should carry the burden for billionaire ownership groups but there are other cities that would make for a better partner.

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gitchogritchoffmypettis

22 days ago

Christ. The Rays just make me sad. Bureaucrats are sassy about the county they are fleeing to for their refugee season. “You won’t play in the shittier stadiums that the MLBPA probably turned down that hold fewer people but are in our county but aren’t really THAt much closer to the Trop and are not as close as actual Tampa is to Tampa!?! Fk you then, maybe we’ll let those stadium bonds lapse and delay building that stadium that is in St Pete which is still not actual Tampa and in a shitty spot to have a stadium.”

Stupid. Flex. The Rays need to just move to Nashville and be happy.

Super Member

PedroCerrano

22 days ago

Reply to gitchogritchoffmypettis

Nashville was who I was thinking of as well. They would draw 2mm plus every year and could develop secondary revenue streams that aren’t seemingly available in Tampa/St Pete.

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Charles Sutton

22 days ago

Reply to PedroCerrano

Still reasonably east enough that they might be able to keep them in the AL East.

Editor

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Jeff Joiner

21 days ago

Reply to gitchogritchoffmypettis

I read the bond measures passed by votes of 5-2 and 2 of the approving councilmembers lost in the November election to folks who don’t want to spend taxpayer money on a ballpark.

The region was just devastated by a hurricane and based on water temperatures in the area it won’t be the last one. Not sure if there’s ever a time to spend tax dollars on ballparks, but right now is definitely not that time in Tampa/St. Pete.

Super Member

MarineLayer

22 days ago

TBH, I see Newman as the viable option among this group until Neto returns, and I’m okay with that. He slides into utility guy when Neto returns.

Then, the Super Halo Bros suggested traded Ward for Bohm. I also like that because it allows us to remove RenDone from the equation and slide Rengifo to 2B which is his least bad defensive position and Newman slides easily into utility, while providing a defensive slot for Soler and Trout when they are not DHing AND saving Arturo a bit of money while acquiring a player who is younger than Ward.

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gitchogritchoffmypettis

22 days ago

Reply to MarineLayer

I still just don’t see the hot angry wet dream of just tossing Rendon aside happening. He costs too much and we don’t have alternatives that are WAY better. They aren’t gonna send away Ward to get Bohm, who we then have to pay or lose to upcoming FA. Or at least they shouldn’t. He doesn’t help the future the way trading Ward for prospects can, plus you guys will just start bitching about Bohm as soon as he hits one of his famous cold streaks.

He’s gonna get a last chance to be the starter. They will get guys like Newman to play other positions and take over for Rendon if he crashes on take off again. Hopefully they continue to develop Fontenelle and Wagaman AND get themselves another 3B prospect somehow.

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Cowboy26

22 days ago

Reply to gitchogritchoffmypettis

Plus Bohm is an immature asshole. Not sure we need any more of those.

Trusted Member

Mikeal1st

22 days ago

It says a lot about the state of the farm system when the top prospect is described as a “workhorse mid-rotation starter” kind of guy. Remember when the Angels had legitimate top-of-the-rotation prospects? You have to look way back, but they’re there… somewhere.
If you don’t vote yes to Ichiro you shouldn’t be voting.

Last edited 22 days ago by Mikeal1st

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Cowboy26

22 days ago

Today is Rule 5 roster deadline day where R5 eligible players need to protected by being added to the 40 roster by EOB today or face the potential risk of losing them in the December 11 draft.. Here are potential candidates to be added to the roster:

https://x.com/TaylorBlakeWard/status/1858867230198689895

Unfortunately , right now there is no room at the Inn right now since the 40 man is full. A list of potential target rich candidates to jettison in case the Angels want to add Lugo, Costieu and/or Seig is as follows:

Sandoval ( Non Tender candidate)
Daniel
Burke
Suarez
Noda ( Not sure why we added him in the first place)
Wagaman
Campero
Adams
Teodosio
Mederos
Caceres

Remember any players drafted by other teams have to hold them on their 26 man roster all season or offer the player back to the team he was drafted form. This is how we were able to reacquire Jose Soriano after he was a Rule 5 draftee of the Pirates a few years ago.

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gitchogritchoffmypettis

22 days ago

Reply to Cowboy26

I won’t be surprised if they just let the rule 5 draft roll by, expecting all of baseball to hate our system as much as we do. Who protects their garbage?

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Cowboy26

22 days ago

Reply to gitchogritchoffmypettis

Lugo is potentially worth protecting. The others are probably worth the risk of not protecting.

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red floyd

22 days ago

My list

Yes vote:
IchiroKing Felix
Probable Yes vote:
TuloCC (will definitely get in some day because MFY)
Maybe someday:
ZobristCarGo
Don’t think so:
Ped-ROID-aGranderson (he was available for too long 😀 )Kinsler
Don’t know, Don’t Care:
Everyone else except…
F**K NO!:
Fraudney

Last edited 22 days ago by red floyd

Legend

red floyd

22 days ago

Reply to red floyd

For some reason the bullet lists got messed up.

Legend

red floyd

22 days ago

Reply to red floyd

Reposting without bullet list:

Yes:
* Ichiro
* King Felix

Probable Yes (I’m still deciding):
* Tulo
* CC (will definitely get in because MFY)

Maybe Someday, but not this year for me:
* Zobrist (I just really like the guy)
* CarGo

Don’t think so:
* Ped-ROID-a (though HoF will love him because RoidSux)
* Granderson (he was available for too long)

Don’t Know, Don’t Care:
* Everyone else except…

F**K NO!:
* Fraudney

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GrandpaBaseball

22 days ago

Reply to red floyd

Only one on the list should go in and he was G-R-E-A-T as Tony the Tiger would say, Ichiro.

Lowering down the qualifications for entry into the National Baseball Hall of Fame and the allowing of steroid cheaters into same, seems to be to me a cheapening of the prestige of the Hall. “King Felix was good, even got a CYA, but not really a pitcher that was dominating for a long period of time, say with 3k IP, or 3K SO, or 270 wins in an era that wins was still important measurement of success.

Tulo was great for a short period, but again not HOF period of time. And the rest are just a No Way Jose. Pedroia and Tulo are similar in that like Trout-injuries curtailed the best parts of their careers and we will never really know what could have been.

Super Member

Roy Hobbs

22 days ago

Sounds like the club is very sure Neto won’t be starting the season. So the one guy who was actually good last year and hit for the most power other than Taylor Ward will start the season injured and his 5 wins will be replaced by Kevin Newman. His bat gets replaced by Jorge Soler until he returns. No idea when he will return or what he will be like in 2025. We’re off to a very traditional start. I hear Trout is in the best shape in his life though.

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gitchogritchoffmypettis

22 days ago

Reply to Roy Hobbs

Some power bottom needs to post the tradition thingy here…. gotta keep the bitter loser vibe strong, see if we can wish that Neto thing into a Cozart/Rendon type situation.

Legend

Twebur

22 days ago

Reply to Roy Hobbs

It’s officially become a New Angel Yearly trAdition….😂😆

I hear Trout is in the best shape in his life

Trusted Member

grichmanpoorman

22 days ago

Re: the Fangraphs list… looking forward to the day when one of our high-dollar signees from Latin America finally breaks through at the MLB level. It has to happen eventually, right?

Right?!

Trusted Member

grichmanpoorman

22 days ago

Reply to grichmanpoorman

Also kind of funny that Natera Jr., previously ignored, has a break-out fall and suddenly all the ranking services are like “LOVE that guy.”

Super Member

Angelz4ever

22 days ago

Reply to grichmanpoorman

I am sure Maitan and Baldoquin are on the cusp of MLB success with the Halos……..

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Cowboy26

22 days ago

Reply to grichmanpoorman

With other teams or our team?

TrAdition

Trusted Member

CAoldskoll

22 days ago

Hate players who wear their cap tilted to the side, looks retarded. Nice of Rodney to become an allstar closer right after leaving the Angels.

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Twebur

22 days ago

Reply to CAoldskoll

Head! Move!

Some people have mis-shapen heads. Don’t judge Fernando!

Free us from the Anti-Symmetrical Head ‘ist and ‘isms!

https://youtu.be/xybLWdP119A?si=vkti8jkIhvRIWN6i

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Jeff Joiner

21 days ago

Reply to CAoldskoll

Rodney did it as a tribute to his late father, so he gets a pass.

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WallyChuckChili

22 days ago

Did someone say Fernando Rodney?

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steelgolf

22 days ago

Reply to WallyChuckChili

How? What? Who did Fernando Rodney pay off to get in an”Hall of Fame” ballot? I’ve heard of lowering the bar, but that doesn’t mean to drop the bar so just anyone can step over it. Yeeesh.

Trusted Member

Born_in_59

22 days ago

Reply to steelgolf

Considering Brad Lidge, Heath Bell and Rick Ankiel were all on the ballot at one time or another, the standard seems to be play 10 or more years and be mentioned on ESPN at least once.

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gitchogritchoffmypettis

22 days ago

Reply to steelgolf

It’s not that big a deal to qualify for the ballot… I forgot what is required, but it’s basically having had a career. Getting past your first year on the ballot is tougher.